Exclusive Interview - Senator Mike Rounds Breaks Ground on $28 Million National Guard Facility in Watertown
- Steve Jurrens
- May 7
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds returned to Watertown on Tuesday to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for a new $28 million Army National Guard vehicle maintenance shop. While funding for the project was previously secured as part of a larger $406 million federal investment in South Dakota’s defense infrastructure, the groundbreaking marks the start of a critical upgrade to the state’s National Guard capabilities.
Closing the Capacity Gap
The new facility is specifically designed to handle the mechanical needs and equipment upgrades for several South Dakota units, most notably the 147th Field Artillery Regiment based in Watertown. Current analysis shows that existing facilities are only meeting about 20% of the required space for the safety and convenience of modern maintenance operations.
Senator Rounds highlighted that this facility is a forward-looking investment in the Guard’s continued excellence.
“Right now, based upon the analysis that was done, we’re only meeting about 20% of the demand and needs for space that—for safety and for convenience—would be necessary,” Rounds said. “This is kind of planning for the future. It’s recognizing that the Guard has done a great job in South Dakota.”
Supporting the “Entire Community”
Beyond the mechanical benefits, Rounds emphasized the profound impact the National Guard has on local communities. Having served eight years as South Dakota’s Governor, Rounds noted that Guard members are deeply integrated into the local fabric as employees, parents, and neighbors.
“In South Dakota, when you activate a Guard unit, you activate the entire community because these folks come right from jobs in the community, the kids are still there in the schools, the spouses are still there,” Rounds explained. “They need the support of the entire community when these guys are deployed.”
A Personal Mission for Safety
The Senator’s focus on high-quality maintenance facilities is rooted in a commitment to service member safety. Rounds shared that during his time as Governor, he attended 31 funerals for fallen service members, an experience that continues to drive his work in Washington.
“That’s when you realize that with the right type of training and the right type of equipment, maybe some of those losses could have been avoided,” Rounds said. “For me, my job is to make darn sure they have the equipment they need, and that’s the way I focus on my job in Washington today.”
By providing the space necessary to maintain and upgrade equipment to modern standards, the new Watertown facility aims to ensure that South Dakota’s young men and women are as safe and prepared as possible for their next mission.
