SOUTH DAKOTA REGIMENT

Organizational Concept:

 

The South Dakota Regiment is formed as a Cavalry Regiment to honor and remember our past, as well as those great Americans who came before us, settling the Great Plains and Dakota Territories. The duties of a well regulated militia can be sufficiently conducted by a Cavalry organized unit, as well as an Infantry organized unit.

 

 

Regimental Command:

 

The Regiment Commander, will serve as the Colonel of Troops for a two year period, will hold the power to administer discipline within the guidelines of this document, and also serve as liaison with the Office of the Governor of South Dakota and the Office of the Adjutant General of South Dakota. The Colonel of Troops will wear the United States Army Colonel rank insignia, as prescribed in this document. The Colonel of Troops shall appoint staff officers which will wear the United States Army Major rank insignia, as prescribed in this document.

 

 

The Regimental Second in Command shall be the Senior Squadron Commander.

 

 

The Regimental Command Sergeant Major shall serve as the Senior Enlisted Member, will be selected in alternating years from the Regimental Commander, will serve as an advisor to the Colonel of Troops, be responsible for the standards of training, discipline, and morale of the Regiment. The Regimental Command Sergeant Major will wear the United States Army Command Sergeant Major rank insignia, as prescribed in this document.

 

 

Staff Positions will include an Adjutant and aide, an Intelligence Officer and team, an Operations Officer and Operations Sergeant, a Regimental Training Sergeant, a Logistics Officer, and Communications Chief.

The Operations and Training Sergeants will wear the United States Army Master Sergeant rank insignia, as prescribed in this document. These will be appointed by the Regimental Command Sergeant Major.

 

 

Squadron Command:

 

The Regiment will be divided in two Squadrons, the West River and East River Squadrons. The Missouri River provides the natural land boundary between the two Squadrons. Each Squadrons sector will overlap to the opposite banks of the Missouri River

 

 

Squadron Commanders will be selected in alternating years, serving for a two year period, with the Senior Squadron Commander serving as the Regimental Second In Command, will hold the power to administer discipline within the guidelines of this document, and will be responsible for the training and recruitment of the Squadron. The Squadron Commanders will wear the United States Army Lieutenant Colonel rank insignia, as prescribed in this document. The Squadron Commander shall appoint staff officers which will wear the United States Army Captain rank insignia, as prescribed in this document.

 

 

The Squadron Second in Command shall be the Senior Troop Commander.

 

 

The Squadron Command Sergeant Major shall serve as the Squadron’s Senior Enlisted Member, will be selected in alternating years from the Squadron Commander, serving for a two year period, will serve as an advisor to the Squadron Commander, be responsible for the standards of training, discipline, and morale of the Squadron. The Squadron Command Sergeant Major will wear the United States Army Command Sergeant Major rank insignia, as prescribed in this document.

 

 

Staff Positions will include an Adjutant and aide, an Intelligence Officer and team, an Operations Officer and Operations Sergeant, a Regimental Training Sergeant, a Logistics Officer, and Communications Chief.

 

The Operations and Training Sergeants will wear the United States Army Master Sergeant rank insignia, as prescribed in this document. These will be appointed by the Squadron Command Sergeant Major.

 

 

Troop Command:

 

The Squadrons will be divided in three troops. The West River Squadron will consist of the Black Hills Troop, the WyoDak Troop and the Badlands Troop. The Black Hills National Forest will provide the natural boundary for the Black Hills Troop. The rough latitudinal line which runs from Sturgis to Pierre shall be the North-South boundary for the WyoDak and Badlands Troops, as well as the Wyoming State border and Missouri River providing the East-West boundaries.

 

 

The East River Squadron will be divided in three troops. The East River Squadron will consist of the Lakota Troop, the MinDak Troop and the Lewis and Clark  Troop. The Lakota Troop will be the area East of the Missouri River to Highway 281, with the North Dakota State border and I-90 serving as the North-South boundaries. The MinDak Troop will be the area from Highway 281 to the Minnesota State border, and from the North Dakota State border to I-90 as the North-South boundary. The Lewis and Clark Troops will be the region from the Missouri River to the Minnesota/Iowa State borders, and I-90 to the Nebraska State Border.

 

 

Troop Commanders will be selected in alternating years, with the Squadron’s most populated Troop area elected one year and the remaining two troops of the Squadron in the opposite year, serving for a two year period, with the Senior Troop Commander serving as the Squadron Second In Command. The Troop Commander will hold the power to administer discipline within the guidelines of this document, and will be responsible for the training and recruitment of the Troop. The Troop Commanders will wear the United States Army Captain rank insignia, as prescribed in this document. Each Troop will have an Executive Officer appointed by the Troop Commander, to evaluate training. The Executive Officer will wear the United States Army First Lieutenant rank insignia, as prescribed in this document.

 

 

The Troop Second in Command shall be the Executive Officer.

 

 

The Troop First Sergeant shall serve as the Troop’s Senior Enlisted Member, will be selected in alternating years from the Troop Commander, serving for a two year period, will serve as an advisor to the Troop Commander, be responsible for the standards of training, discipline, and morale of the Troop. The First Sergeant will wear the United States Army First rank insignia, as prescribed in this document.

 

 

The Troop Training Sergeants will wear the United States Army Master Sergeant rank insignia, as prescribed in this document. These will be appointed by the Troop First Sergeant.

 

 

Platoons, Squads, and Sections:

 

Platoons will be determined by the Troop Commander, considering geographic dispersion and unit strength. At no time will a Troop have less than two Platoons. Platoons will consist of no less than two Squads, Squads will consist of no less than two Sections, and Sections will consist of no less than two Teams. Each Team will consist of no less than four members of the Regiment.

 

 

Platoon Leaders will be selected in even number years. Platoon Leader will be responsible for the training and recruitment of the Troop. The Platoon Leader will wear the United States Army First Lieutenant rank insignia, as prescribed in this document.

 

 

Platoon Sergeants will serve as the Platoon Second in Command, selected in odd numbered years, serve as the Platoon’s primary trainer, and responsible for the discipline, and morale of the Platoon. The Platoon Sergeant will wear the United States Army Sergeant First Class rank insignia, as prescribed in this document.

 

 

Squad Leaders will be appointed from those having earned the permanent rank of Staff Sergeant. The Senior Squad Leader will serve as the Platoon’s Assistant Platoon Sergeant. The Squad Leader will serve as the Squad’s primary trainer, and responsible for the discipline, and morale of the Squad.

 

 

Section Leaders will be appointed from those having earned the permanent rank of Sergeant. The Senior Section Leader will serve as the Squad’s Assistant Squad Leader. The Section Leader will serve as the Section’s primary trainer, and responsible for the discipline, and morale of the Section.

 

 

Team Leaders will be appointed from those having earned the permanent rank of Corporal. The Senior Team Leader will serve as the Section’s Assistant Section Leader. The Team Leader will serve as the Team’s primary trainer, and responsible for the discipline, and morale of the Team.

 

 

Regimental Members:

 

Regimental Members will serve in their assigned positions, primarily based on geographical location of residence. Cross assignments can only be approved by the Squadron Commander. Each Regimental Member will be held to the highest standards of conduct, training, discipline, and appearance as established in this document. No citizen shall be a Member of the Regiment unless a resident of South Dakota, at least 18 years of age, and able to pass the Regiment’s initial assessment, as prescribed in this document. Every Member of the Regiment will certify their oath upon acceptance.

 

 

Leadership:

The South Dakota Regiment will conduct leadership courses and training, as outlined in this document, for those seeking promotion to a leadership position.

 

 

Recruits:

Recruits are South Dakota citizens which are in the process of passing the Regiment’s initial assessment and are will be awarded the rank of Trooper upon completion.

 

 

Technicians:

Technicians are those Members which are physically not capable of performing the military duties aspect, but are still valued members of the Regiment. Technicians are extremely valuable as Camp Security, Communications, Medical Evacuation Center Staff, and Route Guides. Technicians will wear the United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal or Corporal rank insignia, as prescribed in this document, dependent upon their leadership position amongst Technicians.

 

Rank Insignia:

Member's Rank Insignias will be United States Army pin on rank, painted a light brown/tan color.

 

 

 

Technicians will wear the United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal pin on rank insignia, while Senior Technicians will wear the United States Marine Corps pin on Corporal rank insignia, painted a red color.