PARAMARIBO, Suriname (Maj. Chad Carlson, South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs) — The South Dakota National Guard recently wrapped up a large joint training mission in Suriname called “Operation Rumble in the Jungle,” bringing together South Dakota troops and the Suriname Armed Forces for weeks of engineering projects, jungle training and military coordination.

Leaders with the South Dakota National Guard said the mission focused on building stronger relationships between the two countries while preparing troops to operate in difficult environments. Col. Dennis Bickett, commander of the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, said the training helped improve teamwork and trust between the partner nations while also strengthening regional security efforts.

During the operation, members of the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 153rd Engineer Battalion handled logistics, coordinated with the U.S. Embassy and carried out bridge and river route reconnaissance. Lt. Col. James Forbes said the exercise was also designed to help troops learn how to operate with fewer resources and move quickly in situations where large command centers could become vulnerable targets.

Part of the mission also included an intense jungle survival and operations course involving 25 South Dakota National Guard members and Suriname Armed Forces personnel. Suriname Armed Forces 1st Sgt. Alvaro Ronoreso, who led the course instruction, said the tropical environment tested participants physically and mentally but praised the determination shown by the American troops. Sgt. 1st Class Richard Buechler added that the harsh terrain and climate challenged everyone involved, but teamwork and motivation helped participants complete the course.

Officials with the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo said the operation also served a diplomatic purpose by strengthening ties between the United States and Suriname. U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tony Leguia said the continued cooperation helps build long term relationships and supports stability in the region.

One of the most visible parts of the mission took place in the community of Brownsweg, where 16 South Dakota National Guard engineers worked alongside Suriname forces on a humanitarian construction project. Together, the crews renovated 14 classrooms, installed more than 8,000 feet of drainage and built about 4,000 square feet of security fencing.

Staff Sgt. Lee Gregerson of the 155th Engineer Company said the teams worked 10 hour days for two straight weeks to complete the project while also working through logistical challenges. He said the Suriname Armed Forces helped U.S. troops connect with local residents and businesses throughout the project. Gregerson said community members were grateful for the improvements and expressed interest in having U.S. troops return for future projects.

South Dakota National Guard leaders called the mission a success, saying it improved readiness for troops while continuing to strengthen the partnership between South Dakota and Suriname.

Assembling in the pre-dawn darkness, U.S. Soldiers and Airmen form up for a roll call after an unannounced readiness drill during Operation Rumble in the Jungle at Ayoko, Suriname, April 16, 2026. The operation is an austere environment survival exchange designed to test the forces’ ability to operate together in demanding jungle conditions. This event marks 20 years of security cooperation between the South Dakota National Guard and Suriname through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Kyle St. Pierre)
U.S. Soldiers, Airmen, and members of the Suriname Armed Forces construct survival structures during Operation Rumble in the Jungle at Ayoko, Suriname, April 17, 2026. The operation is an austere environment survival exchange designed to test the forces’ ability to operate together in demanding jungle conditions. This event marks 20 years of security cooperation between the South Dakota National Guard and Suriname through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Kyle St. Pierre)
U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Forbes, commander of the 153rd Engineer Battalion, South Dakota Army National Guard, points out significant chokepoints at the Afobaka Dam in Brokopondo, Suriname, April 18, 2026. The event was part of Operation Rumble in the Jungle, an austere environment survival exchange designed to test the forces’ ability to operate together in demanding jungle conditions. The operation marked 20 years of security cooperation between the South Dakota National Guard and Suriname through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Kyle St. Pierre)
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 155th Engineer Company, South Dakota Army National Guard, use a board to level concrete for a walkway during a school reconstruction project in Brownsweg, Suriname, April 18, 2026. This humanitarian engineering project improves local infrastructure while testing the engineers’ deployment capabilities. The operation marked 20 years of security cooperation between the South Dakota National Guard and Suriname through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Kyle St. Pierre)