Rounds Secures South Dakota National Guard Meal Entitlements

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), discussed an issue faced by members of the South Dakota National Guard with General Christopher Cavoli during a SASC hearing this week. General Cavoli serves as the Commander of the United States European Command (EUCOM) and is the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Ten South Dakota National Guard soldiers from the 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment did not receive payment of their meal entitlements for their nine-month EUCOM deployment, in support of operations in Ukraine, which recently ended. The South Dakota National Guard members reached out to Rounds to assist in correcting this issue. Rounds’ office engaged with the United States Central Command and was successful in securing these soldiers’ earned benefits.

“I want to take a moment to thank you and your staff for resolving an issue that the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment had, in getting its meals paid for, while deployed in support of Atlantic Resolve,” said Rounds. “It takes a total force to defend the nation. The Guard is a key component of that force, but sometimes the pieces just simply don’t fit together very well. And I want to thank you for going the extra mile to take care of these soldiers, even while tending to the strategic issues that you are responsible for, and I want to publicly say thank you for getting involved and getting that fixed for these young soldiers.”

General Cavoli responded, “Senator, my command was wrong in that case, and we appreciate your care for your constituents and for bringing it to our attention, and we are rectifying it.”

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