Members of the 153rd Engineer Battalion of the South Dakota National Guard were officially activated Friday in a ceremony in Parkston.
More than one hundred sixty soldiers from the unit will go on active duty for nine months.

Unit Commander, Captain Mark Rieger says it is an emotional day…..

Rieger says they are ready to get the job done, and get back home…..

Senator Mike Rounds was also at the ceremony, and says the state is sending another generation to serve….

Rounds says they soldiers deserve strong support from everyone….

The unit will train at a base in Texas before they go to Kuwait for a nine-month stint.