Illinois National Guard Public Web Site

<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 4.35pt auto auto; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt" class=MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpFirst align=left><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"> – The U.S. Department of Defense has approved an Innovative Readiness Training project that will allow the Airmen of the 183rd Civil Engineer Squadron, 183rd Fighter Wing to build affordable, safe and decent housing with Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County in local low-income neighborhoods. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 4.35pt auto auto; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt" class=MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle align=left><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">   183rd Fighter Wing Commander Col. Michael Meyer announced the partnership today with representatives from Habitat for Humanity and the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association at the site of the first project, a two-story townhouse that will be built at 1137 North 5th Street, Springfield. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 4.35pt auto auto; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt" class=MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle align=left><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">   “This is a win-win for both the Illinois Air National Guard, Habitat for Humanity, and – most importantly - local low-income families,” said Illinois National Guard Assistant Adjutant General – Air Brig. Gen. William Cobetto. “Our Airmen practice the skills they need to perform their military missions and, through Habitat for Humanity, local families get decent safe housing.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 4.35pt auto auto; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt" class=MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpLast align=left><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">   The project is scheduled for three years and the 183rd CES will help build as many as 12 homes in Sangamon County. Three of those homes are slated to be built in Springfield’s Enos Park Neighborhood. Habitat for Humanity will provide the building materials and supplies as well as meals for the Airmen working on the project and the Airmen will provide the labor and tradesman skills they acquired from their military training.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 4.35pt auto auto; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt" class=MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpLast align=left><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">   “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Illinois National Guard, I am so proud that Illinois was one of a handful of states to administer an Innovative Readiness Training Project approved by the Department of Defense,” Gov. Pat Quinn said. “This project will improve the training of our men and women in uniform and strengthen the communities where they live and work.”</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">   This isn’t the first DoD-approved Innovative Readiness Training project for the 183rd CES. Last year, approximately 35 members of the squadron helped construct a 3,200-square-foot adult programs building for the St. Michaels Association for Special Education in the heart of Navajo Nation in Arizona.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 4.35pt auto auto; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt" class=MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpMiddle align=left><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“My Airmen really enjoyed helping the Navaho Nation, but this project is even better,” Meyer said. “Now they are helping their own communities in their own state. This is very special to us.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 4.35pt auto auto; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 4.5pt" class=MsoBodyTextIndentCxSpLast align=left><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">   To acquire DoD assistance through the Innovative Readiness Training program, Habitat for Humanity had to submit an approval packet that underwent legal, fiscal and operational scrutiny. The local nonprofit had to prove the IRT would not put the military in competition with local contractors, would be a fiscally responsible use of military training funds and the work performed would accurately exercise the military skills the Airmen would need to perform their military mission. The 183rd CES’ wartime mission is to build structures in support of military operations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>

183rd Fighter Wing To Build Housing In Springfield With Habitat For Humanity
SPRINGFIELD – The U.S. Department of Defense has approved an Innovative Readiness Training project that will allow the Airmen of the 183rd Civil Engineer Squadron, 183rd Fighter Wing to build affordable, safe and decent housing with Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County in local low-income neighborhoods.

SPRINGFIELD – Capt. Mark Bermel of Springfield, the education service officer with the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield, was promoted to the rank of major Oct. 11 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. Bermel enlisted in to the Illinois Army National Guard in 1993, later commissioning as a second lieutenant in the 2002 as an infantry officer. Bermel served at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., from 2004 to 2005 helping units train for deployments. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008 to 2009.

Springfield Soldier Promoted To The Rank Of Major
SPRINGFIELD – Capt. Mark Bermel of Springfield, the education service officer with the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield, was promoted to the rank of major Oct. 11 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

<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">662nd Engineer Fire Fighting Team returns home Oct. 10</SPAN></I><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">SPARTA </SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">– The seven firefighters from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 662nd Engineer Fire fighting Detachment who served in Afghanistan for approximately six months will return home Oct. 10. The homecoming ceremony for the 662nd Engineer Fire Fighting Team in Sparta will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Sparta Armory Fire Station, 1803 N. Hillcrest Drive in Sparta. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=2>Mobilized in February, the team trained on Soldier tasks and firefighting skills for a brief time at Fort Bliss, Texas, before deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=2>The 662nd provided fire department emergency response services for Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wolverine and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The mission included fire prevention and protection, structural and aircraft firefighting, rescue and emergency medical and decontamination of hazardous areas.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=2>The 662nd responded to more than 30 calls during its deployment.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The team also conducted fire inspections and fire drills throughout the FOB, as well as teaching fire extinguisher training to workers of the aircraft refueling point. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=2>“<SPAN style="COLOR: black">We feel that our mission of fire protection on the FOB was successful and we served our country well in Operation Enduring Freedom 2012,” said Staff Sgt.C</SPAN>hristopher Heiken of Mount Vernon, team leader for the 662nd. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=2>Deployed Soldiers from the 662nd received the Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Service Medal.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=2>News media attending the event should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. For more information call the Public Affairs Office at 217-761-3569 or email at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>

Sparta-Based Fire Fighting Team Returns From Afghanistan
SPARTA-The seven firefighters from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 662nd Engineer Fire fighting Detachment who served in Afghanistan for approximately six months will return home Oct. 10. The homecoming ceremony for the 662nd Engineer Fire Fighting Team in Sparta will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Sparta Armory Fire Station, 1803 N. Hillcrest Drive in Sparta.

<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<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">URBANA</SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> – 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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“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
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.

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.