Illinois National Guard Public Web Site

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Story by Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs<U><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></U></SPAN></I></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">URBANA</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> – The Illinois National Guard and nearly a dozen other emergency response organizations participated in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s (IEMA) emergency response drill Sept. 24 to 26 at Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System in Urbana.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The drill focused on the reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOI) process for deploying response assets to a notional tornado disaster in Muscatatuck, Ind. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">In Illinois, the exercise tested the RSOI process of preparing, deploying, tracking and redeploying assets to and from another state to provide relief efforts during a major disaster.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Any resources deployed to support the operation will go through the RSOI process to be accounted for and credentialed, said Trent Thompson of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Chatham</B>, the chief of operations with IEMA. This is to ensure they are mission-capable and can properly support the response effort.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Thompson said IEMA has used other means of tracking assets in the past, but this is the first exercise that will test the RSOI’s efficiency for joint civilian and military agency response efforts.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">“We spent the last couple months developing the concept to a standard operating guide and this is our first effort to exercise it,” said Thompson. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The exercise integrates several relief organizations to include the Illinois National Guard, <A name=OLE_LINK2></A><A name=OLE_LINK1><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2">and state and local law enforcement, fire rescue and other emergency response organizations and support assets</SPAN></A> said Thompson. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He said with so many organizations supporting the incident, it is critical IEMA is able to process them all through one system at one centralized location versus one location for each agency.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">            </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For this operation, representatives from the major commands in the Illinois National Guard were assisting with the in-processing of personnel going through the RSOI site, said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Ballard of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Athens</B>, with the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">“This is the Guard’s proof of concept, that we can work with the civilian agencies to manage that process of accounting for and pushing assets forward,” said Ballard.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">During the three-day exercise the Illinois National Guard worked with its civilian counterparts providing JRSOI support. The Illinois National Guard uses the RSOI process and was able to share and receive ideas and lessons learned with IEMA and other agencies during the exercise.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The Illinois National Guard is capable of assisting the in-processing, briefing and preparation of personnel and equipment prior to its deployment to an incident site or area of operation, said Col. Thomas Purple Jr., of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Springfield</B>, with the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Purple said the RSOI process is key to the mission readiness of civilian and military assets in the case of a major emergency and the need for relief efforts. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">“We have to go through this process before we send state personnel, civilian personnel or Soldiers to the incident site so we have good accountability,” said Purple.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>“If we don’t have this task done, there’s the potential for losing sight of personnel or not knowing their capabilities.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Purple said this exercise better prepared military and civilian relief agencies how to effectively deploy in a joint effort in the case of a real world emergency. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">“This is a unity of effort to make sure we’re ready when the next disaster comes,” said Purple. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>

Illinois National Guard Participates In Emergency Response Drill
Story by Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs office URBANA– The Illinois National Guard and nearly a dozen other emergency response organizations participated in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s (IEMA) emergency response drill Sept. 24 to 26 at Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System in Urbana.

<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">SPRINGFIELD </SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">– <A name=OLE_LINK6></A><A name=OLE_LINK5><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6">Two Illinois Army National Guard units from Chicago and Decatur recently won a <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>National Guard-wide Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME), two others placed in the top five. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></A></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%" class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">            </SPAN>The AAME program annually recognizes Army activities and units who have demonstrated excellence in maintenance operations. The primary objectives of the program are to assess the maintenance component of unit readiness, improve efficiency, recognize outstanding unit maintenance accomplishments and improve field maintenance readiness. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%" class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">            </SPAN>“The AAME competition is valuable for unit leaders, because it gives them the opportunity to take an in- depth look at maintenance operations,” said Col. Drew Dukett of Roodhouse, commander of the 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago. “The AAME program forces competitors to examine every aspect of the maintenance operation in great detail.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Each year, a unit may compete in the small (10 to 100 authorized personnel), medium (101 to 300 authorized personnel), or large (301 or more authorized personnel) size categories and also in a component category.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Winners include the 108th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) in Chicago for the large unit category and the 766th Engineer Battalion in Decatur for the small unit category. The Field Maintenance Support 4 in Decatur placed second in the National Guard Table of Distribution and Allowances component category and the 1644th Transportation Company in Rock Falls placed fourth for the medium unit category.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">All units qualified to advance to the Department of the Army level competition, which will be conducted in December. The 108th BSTB is a repeat winner from 2011 and is defending its title.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>

Illinois National Guard Units Win National Award For Maintenance Excellence
SPRINGFIELD - Two Illinois Army National Guard units from Chicago and Decatur recently won a National Guard-wide Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME), two others placed in the top five.

Sparta-Based Engineer Team Returns From Afghanistan
SPARTA-Approximately 130 Soldiers with the Sparta-based 661st Engineer Company who served in Afghanistan for approximately 10 months will return home Sept. 26. The homecoming ceremony for the 661st Engineer Company in Sparta will be at approximately 3 p.m. at Sparta National Guard Armory, 1803 N. Hillcrest Drive in Sparta.

Winfield Boy Scouts Honor Fallen Illinois Guardsman From Bartlett
ELGIN– As the sun glared off a series of flag poles on Sept. 22, a sense of pride and patriotism emerged as Boy Scouts from Winfield, Ill. Troop 575 honored a former scout leader, Illinois Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Kevin Grieco of Bartlett, Ill. A memorial, that includes three flag poles and a plaque on a concrete slab, were unveiled at Camp Big Timber west of Elgin, Ill. to honor and recognize the service and sacrifice of a Soldier who was killed in Afghanistan on Oct. 27, 2008.

<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">SPRINGFIELD</SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> – Kacy Norris, 5, of Springfield was presented a plaque of appreciation and a uniformed teddy bear by the Illinois National Guard Sept. 20 at Ball-Chatham Elementary School in Chatham for her act of patriotism when she honored the American flag one morning in early September. <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Kacy was a few minutes late to class as principal Joseph Viola began the morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance over the public address system. As Viola began to recite the pledge, Kacy abruptly stopped in the hallway and stood facing the only flag she could find. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">It was at this time Brittany Foster of Springfield, a special needs aide at Ball Elementary, saw Kacy frantically looking around right as Viola began the pledge. Foster watched as Kacy turned toward the only American flag in the hallway, which was in a display case. As Kacy stood facing the flag, surrounded by the busts of some of America’s most influential leaders, Foster took a photograph.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“I watched her just stand there and put her hand over her heart,” said Foster. “I was a mommy that day and thought that’d make a great photo and I could send it to her mommy.”<BR>The photo quickly found its way to the school district’s website where the photo received the attention of the page’s followers who expressed their appreciation for Kacy’s patriotism.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">While Kacy said she was only doing what she thought was right, others said they saw it as a sign of patriotism in the youngest of hearts, said Lt. Col. Rodney Thacker of Chatham, with the Illinois National Guard's deputy operations officer. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">"The American flag is important to every Soldier who serves and we wear it proudly every day we put on our uniform," said Thacker who presented Kacy the award and teddy bear. "When Kacy showed proper respect to the flag, she honored America and its veterans and we wanted to show our appreciation by presenting her with these patriotic gifts." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Faculty at her school were also proud of her actions when she stood alone in the hallway, said Viola. The school starts everyday with the pledge and a moment of reflection following the morning announcements.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“It’s really to start that day with patriotism, with saluting the flag and being proud to be an American,” said Viola. “It fits in well with what we do with being respectful, responsible and safe in the building.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Her parents, Ernie and Bridget Norris, said Kacy has several family members and family friends who have served in the U.S. military as well as firefighters and police officers in the Chatham and Springfield areas. Through this exposure, her parents said Kacy has learned how to show respect to the flag and to those who serve the nation and community.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“I’m really proud of her, especially since she stopped and did it without anybody telling her,” said Ernie Norris. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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Chatham Kindergarten Student Honored By Illinois National Guard
SPRINGFIELD – Kacy Norris, 5, of Springfield was presented a plaque of appreciation and a uniformed teddy bear by the Illinois National Guard Sept. 20 at Ball-Chatham Elementary School in Chatham for her act of patriotism when she honored the American flag one morning in early September.