Chamberlain unit readies for active duty

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Pfc. Randy Martin, of McLaughlin, and Spc. Cody Allen, of Herreid, members of Detachment 2, 200th Engineer Company, of Mobridge, raise the ramp on a ribbon bridge to transport military vehicles across the Missouri River in this June 2009 file photo from the 25th anniversary of the Golden Coyote training exercise. The 200th received official notification this week for deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Theanne Tangen)

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CHAMBERLAIN — After nearly seven years with the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 200th Engineer Company, Spc. Mark Bilben, of Mitchell, will head overseas with his Chamberlain-based unit.

Bilben, 24, will be among the roughly 180 members of the 200th units based in Pierre, Chamberlain and Mobridge who will deploy to Fort McCoy, Wis., next May before heading to Afghanistan.

The unit learned last spring there was a chance it might get called up.

“When they first told us about it, it was, ‘Hey, be ready. We weren’t sure,’ ” Bilben said. “I’m excited to go. … I kind of always looked forward to getting to serve with these guys.”

The 200th is a multi-role bridging company that provides personnel and equipment to transport, assemble, disassemble, retrieve and maintain all U.S. Army bridging systems, according to the South Dakota Army National Guard.

In addition to bridge operations, the unit also will perform security missions.

Bilben, a Kimball native, is a member of the 200th’s Detachment 1 in Chamberlain, which will have 50 members heading to the Middle East.

The entire unit hasn’t been called to serve overseas since a 14-month deployment from January 2003 to March 2004.

Deployment is dictated by the Army’s needs, Sgt. 1st Class Mike Mullen said.

“It all depends upon demand,” he said. “We are training the guys the best we can to make sure they perform all tasks.”

Bilben said he hasn’t been surprised that his unit hasn’t seen much action because of the two bridges in which it specializes. The 200th creates floating and dry-span bridges.

The lack of action and desire to serve led Bilben, his twin brother, Matt, and their high school friend Eric Gould to volunteer with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 213th Air Defense Artillery Battery C for nine months in 2006 and 2007 at Camp Shelby, Miss., and Iraq. Mark Bilben returned to the state that September.

Bilben said he performed some security missions with the 213th, so he isn’t concerned about performing those tasks.

“As far as one country to another, I’m not sure what to expect,” he said.

Matt Bilben, of Kimball, is in the midst of serving two years of inactive duty with the 200th before he retires in October 2011. He has a 5-month-old son and is getting married next March.

“I’m kind of bummed I don’t get to go this time,” Bilben said.

The Bilben family is worried about their active soldier going back to the front lines after three years.

“They know they can’t try to talk me out of going,” Mark Bilben said.

Matt Bilben added: “That’s what he wants to do. We got to support him in that.”

Mark Bilben, who works with his brother at Christiansen Land and Cattle Co., is prepared to leave, having his affairs in order from his last tour.

Mullen said he anticipates training at Fort McCoy will take two to six weeks, with soldiers learning basic warfare training tasks.

Mullen did not know when the unit will arrive in Afghanistan, but anticipates members will know more closer to deployment.

Mark Bilben said soldiers have been told all deployments last one year from the time they start training.

Mullen said an activation ceremony will be planned, most likely taking place at the unit’s headquarters in Pierre.

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