South Dakota Guard: F-35 bid and 15-year leadership shift

The South Dakota National Guard is competing with eight other states to host two new squadrons of F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters. The decision by the Department of the Air Force will determine whether the state’s aging F-16 fleet receives a direct replacement. Maj. Gen. Mark Morrell, the adjutant general for the state, stated that the competition involves nine locations vying for the two new squadrons.

The current F-16s at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls were built in 1988 and 1989. Morrell noted that the aircraft are nearing the end of their life cycle. The guard has not replaced equipment at a steady rate in recent years, largely due to funding priorities set during the global war on terror and subsequent counterinsurgency operations. The new F-35s would replace the existing jets on a one-for-one basis.

Morrell has led the South Dakota National Guard since August 2023. He has served at the base in Sioux Falls for 15 years in progressively higher leadership roles. The force comprises roughly 4,100 soldiers and airmen, along with approximately 950 federal and state employees. These personnel work to maintain mission readiness for the state’s air and army units.

The guard’s operational status has shifted from a strategic reserve to an operational reserve over the past 25 years. Morrell explained that this change began in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The unit now deploys regularly alongside active duty counterparts. In the last five years, nearly 800 members of the guard deployed out of state ten times.

Morrell described the force as a group of ordinary citizens who perform extraordinary tasks. He identified the members as neighbors, business owners, teachers, and first responders. He said the primary mission of the guard is to serve as a combat reservoir for the Army and Air Force. The secondary mission is to ensure domestic tranquility during emergencies at the request of the governor.

The adjutant general emphasized that service provides a sense of purpose and impact to individual members. He also cited education benefits as a key factor in recruitment. Morrell is a native of Tyndall and graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings in 1999. He served as a command pilot and flight instructor in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years before taking his current role.