Illinois National Guard Public Web Site

<P class=Default 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'">Furstenfeldbruck, Germany</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> – <SPAN style="mso-no-proof: yes">For one intense week in September, more than 40 junior officers from seven countries participated in the </SPAN>International Junior Officer Leadership Development Course (IJOLD) 2012 at the German Air Force Officer School<SPAN style="mso-no-proof: yes"> </SPAN>to enhance and refine their leadership skills, cultural understanding and military officership.<SPAN style="mso-no-proof: yes"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">Capt. Stacey Rieger of San Jose, Ill., with the Illinois Air National Guard’s 183rd Air Mobility Operations Squadron in Springfield was among four Air National Guard members selected by National Guard Bureau to participant in IJOLD 2012. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">“There are not many leadership development programs available for junior officers,” said Rieger. “This was an incredible opportunity to broaden my management and leadership skills with other company grade officers in a multi-national setting.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN class=maintextlarge><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The Air Force Reserve Command sponsored IJOLDS program began in 1994 at the NATO school in Oberammergau, Germany with 18 participants from five countries. Since then, the annual event has expanded to include more than 60 students with briefings on international leadership, team building, cultural diversity, international relations and cross-cultural mobilization issues. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This is the first year the National Guard Bureau has sponsored lieutenants and captains for the course. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">“IJOLD is a great forum for junior officers from many countries to build relationships early in their careers,” said Maj. Gen. Donald Ralph, mobilization assistance to the commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe and chairman for the Committee on Leadership Development. “Joint leadership training is essential in today’s global arena, where working with multinational forces and partner nations is the standard.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">Working together and understanding differences was a key aspect of the training. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">Capt. Sam Stephens, of Tulsa, Okla., an F-16 pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard in Tulsa said, “Foreign militaries may have different customs, courtesies, and cultures, but people, as individuals, desire the exact same guidance and motivation to both follow and lead.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">“</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Leadership is important to junior officers because of the responsibility of their rank, making them leaders from the start,” said </SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">Col. Jim Kerr, Air Force Reserve Command Professional Development Center Chief.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>“IJOLD, and other programs like it, provide opportunities to bring young officers together to develop leadership skills.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">IJOLD events ranged from lectures on German military structure and history to tours of the Bavarian state capital and German Air Force base. During the field exercise at the German Airborne Training School, participants worked together, overcoming leadership differences and communication challenges to accomplish various tasks. Communication was essential to accomplishing tasks, including a land navigation that required completing unique tasks at each waypoint.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">Second Lt. Doug Carlson of Lincoln, Neb., from the 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, said listening was the one leadership skill he enhanced during IJOLD.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Overcoming the language barrier creates the perfect opportunity to learn to listen rather than talk,” said Carlson<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">Throughout activities, IJOLD participants shared their experiences with each other.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">“One of my favorite aspects of IJOLD was having the time to talk to so many people from many different backgrounds. Since all the participants were reservists, everyone had at least two stories to tell – their military story and their civilian story,” said Rieger.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>“Not only did I learn about the structure and history of the German military, I heard the personal element. For example, it was great to hear what some of our German counterparts thought about the wall coming down, reunification between East and West Germany and the challenges they are still working through, even after more than 20 years.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">Those conversations enhanced the cultural understanding and supported international relations, which along with developing friendships and partnerships were main goals of IJOLD.<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">“It was sad to leave at the end of week,” said Rieger. “I learned a great deal about our NATO partners, but more importantly, I have a new network of colleagues and friends that I look forward to seeing again in the future.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default 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'">That sentiment is shared, not only by the participants, but by senior leaders who see the value in IJOLD and programs like it. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">“I was amazed at the friendships that were made by the end of the week.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>It was almost weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, as the expression goes, when it came time to go home,” said Kerr, who attended IJOLD in 2011.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">            </SPAN><SPAN class=maintextlarge>Each year IJOLDS is conducted in a different NATO country. Past seminars have been held in Switzerland, Canada, the United States and the Netherlands.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Next year England will host their international counterparts. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>

183rd Airman Selected For International Leadership Course
Furstenfeldbruck, Germany-For one intense week in September, more than 40 junior officers from seven countries participated in the International Junior Officer Leadership Development Course (IJOLD) 2012 at the German Air Force Officer Schoolto enhance and refine their leadership skills, cultural understanding and military officership.

<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><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="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=2>SPRINGFIELD</FONT></SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> –Douglas R. Coop of Jacksonville, the State Partnership Program officer for the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield, was promoted to the rank of major Oct. 11 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>

Jacksonville Soldier Promoted To The Rank Of Major
SPRINGFIELD–Douglas R. Coop of Jacksonville, the State Partnership Program officer for the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield, was promoted to the rank of major Oct. 11 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

<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.