We are pleased to announce that Scott Emergency Communications Center (SECC) has been selected as the host sight for the Homeland Security Communications Unit Exercise for Iowa/Illinois. This is the first Multi-State Exercise ever undertaken by Homeland Security and is designed to simulate a catastrophic event which would exceed the capacity of any one agency and then deploy Communication Trailers from Iowa and Illinois to assist in the mitigation of the event.

This collaborative effort between SECC, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications, the Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program and the States of Iowa and Illinois hopes to not only identify opportunities to enhance interoperability between agencies but also provides a training/certification element for COML's and COMT's (communications dispatchers and technicians).

In a real event these specially trained COML's and COMT's would be deployable assets anywhere in the State and potentially in the Country to staff these highly sophisticated Communication Units (Trailers). This drill will simulate an actual event and we anticipate over 60 personnel will be assigned to, and work out of, one of three trailers over the course of two-days. They will be constantly evaluated during their operational period by seasoned Instructors with the aim of satisfying the requirements found in their respective Position Task Book and ultimately Credentialing 24 "COML's or COMT's.

Once these COML's and COMT's are credentialed by Homeland Security they became a deployable asset for any major event that might occur in our State. SECC has two members who have completed all the requisite training to put them in position to participate in this exercise and should receive their COML credentialing.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/28/2015)(readMedia)-- Rosalie Starenko, an Augustana senior from Rock Island majoring in geography and Spanish, has been featured in the 2015 "More Than I Imagined" web series, where exceptional seniors from a wide variety of majors reflect on what they've accomplished at Augustana and discuss plans for their futures.

Starenko's "More Than I Imagined" profile may be viewed at http://www.augustana.edu/x62339.xml.

To be included in "More than I Imagined," seniors must be nominated by an Augustana faculty member or coach as an outstanding student.

Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 155 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

Renowned martial artist Simon Morrell is spreading a message of hope to those who have or continue to suffer intimidation with his book "From Bullied to Black Belt."

"No matter how bad you may be suffering at the hands of bullies, there is hope and a positive way forward," he says. "You can take courage into your own hands and follow a path similar to mine, from bullied to black belt."

"From Bullied to Black Belt" is the true, sometimes harrowing and always emotional story of a man's arc, which ultimately became triumphant. Morrell was at the receiving end of endless bullying, which began when he was a small child and lasted as he matured into adulthood. As the attacks escalated - to the point where he was attacked with a knife - he became chronically withdrawn and felt destined to live the life of a scared, meek man, a man afraid to leave his house and not daring to expand past his small comfort zone.

However, something within him refused to accept defeat and, with the help of his wife, the mild-mannered man embarked upon a journey in Martial Arts. His original goal was to try to find confidence. It turned out that Morrell not only had the motivation, but also the talent to succeed in Martial Arts. He would become one of the U.K.'s leading Fight Masters - obtaining 6th Dan Black Belt and twice being entered into the Hall of Fame.

"From Bullied To Black Belt" - while written by a Martial Artist - is much more than a book about Martial Arts. It is a story of a man finding himself when all seemed lost. It's a love story that may break the reader's heart. It is a story that will leave you in tears, but it is a story that will eventually leave you inspired.

A film of the book is now in development with a film studio in the United Kingdom, renamed "From Bullied to Black Belt."

About Simon Morrell

Simon Morrell is one of the United Kingdom's leading Martial Artists and Inspirational Speakers, but his success was come by hard. As a young child he was badly bullied, and that evolved into violent assaults as he got older. An attempted stabbing took place by a vicious youth during a particularly frightening period, and further beatings followed. Morrell became agoraphobic and suffered from life-changing panic attacks before deciding he had endured enough. He entered the world of Martial Arts to gain confidence and quickly surprised himself and his loved ones by excelling in it. Today, he holds multiple Black Belts, including 6th Dan Karate and Dan Grade Krav Maga as well as being a two-time Hall of Fame winner. He speaks throughout the UK about his troubles and victories and his story is currently being made into the film "From Bullied to Black Belt" in the United Kingdom. He has spoken in the International Press and on the BBC about his experiences.

1st Lt. Benjamin Morin spent three and a half years as a Prisoner of War, later ordained as a priest

SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/27/2015)(readMedia)-- 1st Lt. Benjamin Morin, the first U.S. tank commander to engage enemy forces in World War II and the last surviving officer of the National Guard's famed 192nd Tank Battalion, has died at a retirement home for Catholic priests in Michigan.

Morin died Thursday, April 23, of natural causes at the Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 94 years old. After his service in the Philippines' and Japan during World War II, Morin returned home to Maywood, was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1946 and worked as a missionary in Peru for 38 years.

"Meeting him, I felt completely humbled," said Maj. David Pond of the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Pond and five other Soldiers traveled to Michigan in 2012 to present Morin with the Armor Association of the United States Army's Order of Saint George Medallion. "Here's a gentleman that endured unspeakable horrors at the hands of others, but he wouldn't speak a bad word about anyone. The most he would say about his Japanese captors was 'They were not the nicest people.'"

Morin enlisted into the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Tank Company in 1937. The company was based in his hometown of Maywood, Illinois. The 33rd Tank Company was called to federal service in the fall of 1940 and re-designated as Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion. The battalion was comprised of National Guard units from Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Kentucky. It trained in Kentucky and Louisiana before deployed to the Philippines' in 1941.

The battalion arrived in the Philippines' on Thanksgiving Day, 1941. On Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the battalion was attacked by enemy aircraft. Three days before Christmas, 1941, Morin's tank platoon attacked enemy forces who had landed in the Philippines', making it the first U.S. tank engagement of World War II. With his main gun inoperable, his tank disabled and on fire, the other tanks in his platoon withdrawing, and four enemy tanks bearing down on him and his crew; 2nd Lt. Morin was forced to surrender himself and his Soldiers.

What followed was three and a half years as a Prisoner of War under the most appalling conditions imaginable, Morin and his fellow prisoners endured constant beatings, disease, lice, and malnutrition. For more information on 2nd Lt. Morin's experience in World War II, please visit the Proviso East High School's history project on the 192nd Tank Battalion at http://www.proviso.k12.il.us/Bataan%20Web/Morin.htm.

Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Bowman, the Illinois National Guard's Land Component Command Sergeant Major, grew up near Maywood and remembers hearing about the valor of the 192nd Tank Battalion. "Last week, the Illinois Army National Guard lost a hero," he said. "I remember all the time I spent playing on the M3 Stuart Tank by the memorial. I was told the story of the unit's bravery."

"Lt. Morin was a leader. He was a first sergeant as the unit left San Francisco for the Philippines and promoted to second lieutenant after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He and his comrades were all proud tankers. Illinois Army National Guard tankers the first to make contact with the Japanese."

To those who knew him, Morin was always an optimist.

"The things I remember about Ben was his sense of humor. He had a great wit. There was always a sparkle in his eye. He (was) an extremely kind person," said Jim Opolony, the history teacher at Proviso East High School who led the 192nd Tank Battalion history project.

Maywood has held a ceremony in September honoring the 192nd Tank Battalion for more than 70 years. It was started during World War II by the mothers of the battalion's missing Soldiers. The lineage of the 33rd Tank Company lives today in the Illinois Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.