82nd Civil Support Team welcomes new commander
Incoming commander for the 82nd Civil
Support Team, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Allen Godsell, accepts the brigade
guidon from Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette, adjutant general for the South
Dakota National Guard, at a change of command ceremony at Ellsworth
Air Force Base, S.D., May 3, 2022. (U.S. Army National Guard photo
by Staff Sgt. Dustin Jordan)
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota National Guard’s 82nd Civil Support Team welcomed their new commander during a change of ceremony at Ellsworth Air Force Base on May 3.
Lt. Col. Allen Godsell received command of the unit from Lt. Col. David Sheets, who commanded it since September 2020.
Sheets thanked the unit for their dedication to becoming the best.
“Each of you chose to engage, equip and empower me and every member of this team for a single purpose; to ensure we are the best and most prepared Civil Support Team in the nation, and we are,” Sheets said.
Godsell spoke of his excitement about joining of the unit, saying, “I know this team is ready and I am ready to join it. It’s where I want to be and it’s what I want to be doing.”
Godsell’s military career began in September 1991 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army as an electronics communications specialist.
In October 1998, he joined the South Dakota National Guard and retrained as an intelligence analyst for the 109th Engineer Battalion, and he also enrolled at Black Hills State University majoring in social science with a minor in military science. He graduated in May of 2001 receiving his officer’s commission as an engineer officer from ROTC.
Upon returning to the South Dakota, he transferred to the 196th RTI and took command of the Headquarters Detachment from 2012 to 2014. He then served in various administrative officer positions until being selected to as the SDNG adjutant general’s executive officer in 2020.
Godsell joined the 842nd Engineer Company in Iraq as a platoon leader from 2003 to 2004, and deployed as their commander to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.
Upon returning to the South Dakota, Godsell transferred to the 196th RTI and took command of the Headquarters Detachment from 2012 to 2014. He then served in various administrative officer positions until being selected to as the SDNG adjutant general’s executive officer in 2020.
