Illinois State Military Museum Remembers, Re-Enacts Holidays in World War I Trenches

SPRINGFIELD, IL (12/05/2012)(readMedia)-- The Illinois State Military Museum's Living Historians will tell the story of World War I's 1914 Christmas truce and the Great War that changed illinois and the world. Dr. Chris McDonald, Lincoln Land Community College professor of political science will discuss the Christmas truce.

WHO:

• Illinois State Military Museum

• Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society

WHAT:

Add to your Holiday season by sharing the experience of the 1914 Christmas truce of World War I. Walk the recreated trench and talk with Soldiers (from the State Military Museum Living History Detachment) about the Great War that changed Illinois and the world. Enjoy Christmas carols, hot beverages and donate to Toys for Tots.

WHEN: Tuesday December 18, 2012 at 06:00PM Central Time (US & Canada)

WHERE:Illinois State Military Museum
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, Illinois 62702

NOTES:

• Free coffee, hot cider or cocoa.

• Christmas carols with Springfield's own Sound Celebration.

• Learn about the 1914 Christmas truce through a short presentation by Dr. Chris McDonald, Lincoln Land Community College professor of political science.

• The museum is a collection site for the Toys for Tots program and will be accepting donations of unwrapped toys for local distribution this Christmas.

• Admission and parking are free.

For additional information, please contact the Illinois State Military Museum at 217-761-3910.

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CHICAGO, IL (11/08/2012)(readMedia)-- More than 250 non-profit, public and private leaders will gather at the Union League Club of Chicago to launch Illinois Joining Forces (IJF), a new statewide public-private partnership that will improve support for service members, veterans and their families.

Illinois Joining Forces will increase the collaboration and communication among non-profits and public agencies at the local, state and federal level. Through IJF, participating organizations will work together to address gaps in services, to actively refer veterans and service members in need of assistance, and to offer better navigation of available resources and service to the public.

The new collaborative online platform www.IllinoisJoiningForces.org, will help IJF members to share information collaborate on project and facilitate referrals. With the active participation of IJF members, www.IllinoisJoiningForces.org will also provide a user-friendly way for service members, veterans, and their families to find programs resources and events across the state.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/05/2012)(readMedia)-- Illinois Air National Guardsman Col. Rich Neely of Springfield was named the Illinois National Guard's Chief of the Joint Staff today by Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti of Springfield, Acting Adjutant General at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

Although an Airman, Neely has led the Illinois Army National Guard's Directorate of Information Management for the last two years as the Chief Information Officer.

"As an Airman who led an Army directorate, Col. Neely is perfect for this position," Celletti said. "His work as the lead planner during the NATO Summit this spring, as well as his past experience in communications, logistics, finance and domestic operations, has prepared him to take the Joint Staff to new heights."

This position oversees the Illinois National Guard's domestic operations as well as various programs such as family programs, counterdrug, International State Partnership Program, civil support and chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) enhanced response force package (CERFP).

He will replace Illinois Army National Guardsman Col. Chris Lawson of Springfield who will deploy early next year to Afghanistan with Bilateral Embedded Staff Team 11 as the deputy task force commander for a Polish task force.

"Rich is a brilliant and talented senior officer who will excel as the Chief of the Joint Staff. He understands the environment and players in the joint community at the international, federal, state and local levels," Lawson said. "He knows how to cultivate unity of effort to achieve results for the Illinois Air and Army National Guard."

Neely started his military career as a U.S. Army Reservist in 1984. He transitioned to the Illinois Air National Guard in 1987, then commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1990. His most recent military assignment was commander of 183rd Air Component Operations Squadron (ACOS), 183rd Air Operations Group at the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield.

Other highlights of Neely's career include chief of logistics plans and programs, financial officer, wing executive officer, communications flight commander and Illinois Air National Guard Deputy United States Property and Fiscal officer. He has also deployed overseas twice in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

"Each one of my jobs has prepared me for this position," Neely said. "I am humbled to be selected for this position and look forward to continue to serve the citizens of Illinois in this new capacity. Col. Lawson is an incredible leader and strategic visionary who is regarded nationally as one of the best Chiefs of Staff within the National Guard. I am fortunate to follow such a great officer and Soldier."

SPRINGFIELD, IL (10/31/2012)(readMedia)-- Six Soldiers with the aviation units in the Illinois Army National Guard completed Lincoln Land Community College's (LLCC) Airframe and Power Plant Technician course Oct. 18 at the school's aviation facility in Springfield.

The four-week course prepares the mechanics for the certification to support and maintain the four new UH-72A Lakotas the Illinois Army National Guard will be receiving September 2013, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Norman Brooks of Clinton with Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment. This is the first course of its type with other classes to follow in 2013.

"The UH-72A is a civilian off-the-shelf aircraft," said Brooks. "As military helicopter mechanics, we are not qualified to perform maintenance on the UH-72A. The UH-72A must be maintained to civilian standards with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations."

At this time the Army does not have military training for Soldiers to obtain the FAA certification, said Brooks. In order to meet the requirements and receive training the Illinois National Guard reached out LLCC for a way to train mechanics.

Brooks said according to FAA regulations servicemembers with 30 months of documented full-time experience can test for the Airframe and Power plant certification. The six Soldiers will take the certification testing starting roughly the last week of October with the final Soldier completing the evaluations on Nov. 3.

Over the past year the Illinois National Guard's State Aviation Office has worked in conjunction with LLCC to create a civilian Airframe and Power plant certification course. After taking the course the Soldier will then take the test for their certification of Airframe and Power plant technician that is granted by the FAA.

The course is typically 18 months long but is condensed to a four-week course for the Soldiers, said LLCC aviation instructor Todd Cole of Jacksonville. The three-week course covers all 44 sections outlined by the FAA aviation maintenance training standards.

"It's not aircraft specific," said Cole. "With what they learn here, they can take this information and apply it to any aircraft in the future."

The Soldiers showed a high level of proficiency and experience in the classroom and while working hands-on. In the end these Soldiers will have a greater knowledge of how to repair and maintain a variety of aircrafts, said Cole.

"They should have a thorough working knowledge of how to perform not only the upkeep maintenance and routine maintenance, but also major repair and alterations," said Cole.

First Sgt. Michael Garver of Decatur, with Company D, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment has worked as a military helicopter mechanic for more than 25 years.

"It's an opportunity to learn more about another type of aircraft that's a commercial version rather than a military version."

Garver said the course has been an enjoyable challenge to learn maintenance on the various types of civilian and commercial aircrafts.

"In the military I learned how to work on two types of aircraft, the UH-58 (Kiowa) and the UH-60 (Black Hawk)," said Garver. "This course expands it and opens it up to everything. I've gained a lot more knowledge about types of engines, air frames, airplanes and different types of systems we in the military don't necessarily use."

The three-week course prepares the Soldiers for the certification testing which typically takes eight hours a day over a two-day period.

"They have to be prepared," said Jim Van Kleek aviation program director with LLCC. "In nationwide norms for this in FAA, nearly 20 to 30 percent fail this test the first time."

The information in the course and the testing ensure that those certified are trained and can provide the needed maintenance to ensure the readiness of the aircrafts, said Van Kleek.

"It's always about safety when it comes to aviation," said Van Kleek. "We try to teach them how to maintain these (aircraft) as safely as possible and that's our main goal. If you don't have the training, you don't know if these (aircraft) are operating properly."