Creal Springs Soldier earns Distinguished Rifleman Badge

FORT BENNING, GA. (02/03/2014)(readMedia)-- Story by Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

Six Illinois National Guard Soldiers competed at the 2014 U.S. Army Small Arms Championships at Fort Benning, Ga., Jan. 26 to Feb. 1. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ryan Landon of Creal Springs, Ill., with the 3637th Maintenance Company in Springfield, Ill., earned a Distinguished Rifleman Badge, making him only one of approximately 3,300 to receive the badge since it's inception in 1959.

"It's exciting to receive the badge because only so many have gotten it," said Landon. "It was a goal I set and achieved."

Landon accumulated the last six of 30 leg points needed to reach distinguished status. Leg points are awarded based on an individual's placement among the top 10 percent of competitors in an authorized match. Leg points accumulate throughout a competitor's lifetime until distinguished status is attained; however, Landon reached his points in just three years.

Illinois Soldiers tested their skills shooting the M16A2 rifle and M9 pistol in an advanced combat live-fire competition.

"This is the ultimate train the trainer event," said Lt. Col. Don A. King Jr., the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit commander at Fort Benning. "Our primary focus is to reach out and show capabilities to take back and share with your Soldiers."

The competition consisted of various matches to test the Soldier's shooting proficiency. A multi-gun match tested the Soldiers' ability to transition between a rifle and pistol while engaging various targets at different distances. More challenging matches required a mile and a half run in full combat gear before engaging targets.

In addition to Landon, the team consisted of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brandon Gibbs of Palmyra, Ill., with Company B, 634th Brigade Support Battalion in Champaign, Ill.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle Gleason of Lincoln, Ill., with the 3625th Maintenance Company in North Riverside, Ill.; Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Mix of Marseilles, Ill., with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Chicago; Sgt. Jeffrey Buggar of Springfield, Ill., with the 1844th Transportation Company in Quincy, Ill.; and Spc. Joseph Miller of Petersburg, Ill., with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 232nd Combat Support and Sustainment Battalion in Springfield, Ill.

"Our main focus was to gain experience and bring back new trends and techniques that can be passed on to Illinois Soldiers," said Gibbs. "We hope to enhance the state-level competition and improve weapons qualifications down to the company level."

10,000 Chicago-Style Pizzas to be Shipped to Overseas Servicemembers

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today partnered with leaders from DHL Express and Pizzas 4 Patriots to send 10,000 Chicago-style deep dish pizzas to servicemembers just in time for Super Bowl Sunday. Pizzas will be delivered to troops in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Oman.

Super Bowl Sunday is traditionally America's biggest day of the year for eating pizza. Since our troops serving overseas are unable to enjoy the game at home, the not-for-profit organization Pizzas 4 Patriots works to make sure a slice of home comes to them. The idea was originally conceived by former Master Sgt. Mark Evans of Elk Grove Village as a way to show appreciation and bring reminders of home to servicemembers overseas. This is the second year that Governor Quinn has participated in the special send-off event.

"Many of our nation's sons and daughters have sacrificed the comforts of home to join the front lines," Governor Quinn said. "It's up to us to make sure they are not forgotten on Super Bowl Sunday or any day of the year. I'm proud to partner with DHL and Pizzas 4 Patriots to help honor servicemembers by giving them a small reminder of home - the best pizza the country has to offer, from right here in Illinois."

The DHL Express team will be packing and loading all 10,000 ready-to-bake, Chicago-style pizzas from Illinois-based Great Kitchens into DHL cargo jets and shipping them. Once in the Middle East, the pizza delivery will be distributed to Camp Bastion, Baghram Airbase and Kandahar Airfield and then on to various Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Oman. DHL Express will provide door-to-door, final delivery for the distribution, working closely with the U.S. military to ensure the pizzas are delivered fresh and ready to eat. The pizzas are enough to feed every soldier stationed in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Oman.

"Eating a hot slice of pizza while watching the Super Bowl is an American tradition, so it's very special to us that we help make this delivery happen and bring troops a slice of home," CEO of DHL Express U.S. Ian Clough said. "We're delighted to leverage our international expertise and global network to transport this wonderful care package overseas."

Since 2008, Pizzas 4 Patriots has worked with DHL Express to send more than 132,000 pizzas in support of U.S. military personnel overseas, and in 2013 Pizzas 4 Patriots made a Guinness World Record for the world's largest pizza party, with over 30,000 pizzas. For more information about Pizzas 4 Patriots, please visit Pizzas4Patriots.com.

Governor Quinn has made commitment to veterans, servicemembers and their families a top priority throughout his career. He led the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program that helps veterans transition back to their daily lives and the Welcome Home Heroes program which helps support Illinois servicemembers seeking home ownership. As Lieutenant Governor, Quinn championed the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund Act, which established a fund to provide grants to families of Illinois National Guard members and Illinois residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve components who are called to active duty. These grants help servicemembers and their families with the costs of food, housing, utilities and other expenses when the wage-earner has left civilian employment for active military duty. The fund has distributed more than $15.1 million to 29,625 Illinois military families to assist with the financial burden at home.

For more information about these and other programs for our veterans, visit OperationHomefront.org or call the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs at (217) 782-6641 or (312) 814-2460.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (01/15/2014)(readMedia)-- The last of the approximately 35 Illinois National Guardsmen who assisted the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and other state agencies completed state active duty Jan. 14 following a snow storm that dropped up to 17 inches of snow in some parts of the state.

"Not only am I glad we can help out, but it's a great learning experience," said Sgt. Eric Thrasher of Clinton, Ill., a mechanic with Company B, 634th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) in Champaign, Ill. "We get to understand their operation and work on non-military equipment and vehicles."

Approximately 400 vehicles were stranded on three different Illinois roads. The Illinois National Guard recovered eight vehicles, allowing more than 200 stranded motorists to exit the roadway.

"Hundreds were rescued thanks to the dedicated Illinois National Guard Soldiers who worked day and night to help stranded motorists," said Ann L. Schneider, IDOT Secretary. "These individuals went above and beyond the call of duty to provide critical services and assistance in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable."

Soldiers from Company B, 634th BSB in Champaign; Company D, 634th BSB in Galva; Company E, 634th BSB in Joliet; Company G, 634th in Crestwood; 3625th Maintenance Company in North Riverside and 3637th Maintenance Company in Springfield; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 33rd BSTB in Machesney Park; 631st Engineer Company in Lawrenceville; and the 766th Engineer Battalion in Decatur were mobilized to assist in 14 separate locations throughout the state. The Soldiers performed wrecker and maintenance operations of IDOT equipment damaged and stranded during snow removal operations. Wrecker operations concluded on Jan. 8 and maintenance operations concluded Jan. 14.

In all, the Illinois National Guard recovered one IDOT vehicle and repaired 65 IDOT trucks and pieces of equipment. Additionally, 30 trucks were serviced by Illinois National Guard Soldiers.

"There is definitely a need for us here," said 1st Sgt. Corey Heath of Mahomet, Ill., a mechanic with Company B, 634th Brigade Support Battalion in Champaign, Ill. "We have kept busy with plenty of mechanical work and saved them many work hours."

This was Heath's second state active duty. His first was Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

This is the second time in less than two months Illinois National Guard service members have assisted their community. In November, several service members assisted following the deadly tornado in Washington, Ill.

"While defending our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan, some may not have recognized what our National Guardsmen continually do for their communities," said Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei of Springfield, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "From snow and freezing temperatures to flooding and tornados or any emergency, our citizen-Soldiers are here to help their neighbors and protect their community."

Soldiers will repair damaged trucks from winter storm

SPRINGFIELD, IL (01/08/2014)(readMedia)-- More than 30 Illinois Army National Guard mechanics were activated to support the winter storm efforts Jan. 8. Soldiers from across Illinois responded to Gov. Pat Quinn's request to supplement the supporting efforts of Illinois Central Management Services to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) with truck repair and maintenance of winter storm equipment degraded by the events over the last week.

"The best of our best mechanics in the Illinois National Guard are ready to assist and share their expertise during this unique mission," said Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei of Springfield, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "Whether turning wrenches or recovering vehicles on the snow-packed roads across Illinois, our men and women in the Illinois National Guard are proud to support the citizens of Illinois."

Soldiers from Company B, 634th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) in Champaign; Company D, 634th BSB in Galva; Company E, 634th BSB in Joliet; Company G, 634th in Crestwood; 3625th Maintenance Company in North Riverside and 3637th Maintenance Company in Springfield all deployed to various IDOT locations and will assist until Friday.

"We are very appreciative of the assistance and dedicated service from the Illinois National Guard," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider. "The extreme temperatures coupled with the weight and volume of snow have been really hard on our equipment and has caused breakdowns in some areas. The help from the Illinois National Guard will get those trucks back on the road more quickly and efficiently, to continue the work necessary to ensure the continuing safety of the motoring public."

Earlier this week on Jan. 6, Quinn activated two Soldiers to assist IDOT and Illinois State Police to pull three civilian vehicles and five semi tractor-trailers out of the snow and line of traffic. Another 13 Soldiers were on stand-by to assist before all 15 Soldiers were relieved of duty Jan. 6.