SD Guard Battalion receives national training, readiness award

U.S. Army Capt. Thomas Wilcox, second from right, administrative officer in the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 153rd Engineer Battalion, accepts the Major General Milton A. Reckord Award on behalf of the battalion during the 136th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Chicago, Aug. 25, 2014. The Milton A. Reckord Trophy is awarded to the outstanding battalion in each of the Army areas determined to have the highest level of training and readiness. Presenting the trophy are, from left, Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst, president of NGAUS, Lt. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, First U.S. Army commanding general, and Army National Guard Acting Director Maj. Gen. Judd Lyons.