DECATUR, IL (06/12/2013)(readMedia)-- Capt. Aaron Tvrdy of Chicago recently received the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award for the state of Illinois, an award bestowed upon the top leaders in the country.

The award recognizes company grade officers who demonstrate the ideals for which MacArthur stood for- duty, honor, and country.

"I am proud to be selected by state leadership to represent the many terrific company grade officers within the state of Illinois," said Tvrdy, the assistant engineer officer from the Illinois Army National Guard's 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Chicago. "The Douglas MacArthur award is more than just military achievements; it incorporates community involvement and military values. I am very pleased that the effort I put into these areas of my life is appreciated by those around me."

His award justification states: "Capt. Tvrdy has separated himself as the top company commander in the 766th Engineer Battalion (Eng. Bn.) in Decatur and the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade through his leadership proficiency and various remarkable accomplishments. Tvrdy is a creative, out-of-the-box thinker who introduced several unique operations into the Battalion's training schedule. The combination of excellent leadership, drive and success, along with a genuine care for others are all contributing factors which lead to Tvrdy being recommended for this prestigious award."

Those who served with and commanded Tvrdy could not agree more.

"As long as I have known Captain Tvrdy, he has striven to improve himself and those around him by hard work and determination," said Lt. Col. Craig Holan, Battalion Commander of the 766th Eng. Bn., in Decatur, Ill., a Flora, Ill., native and Tvrdy's former commander. "He has a full plate between his military and civilian careers and family, yet has always tried to be a leader in all aspects of his life. He is a natural born leader, a doer who is never satisfied with the status quo."

The MacArthur Award aims to promote and sustain effective junior officer leadership in the

Army, by recognizing those who go above and beyond. Tvrdy, served as the company commander for the Field Support Company (FSC) of the 766th, led his Soldiers to win the title of the National Guard's Top Small Modification Table of Organization and Equipment Maintenance Company. The FSC also swept the state, regional and national boards of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence, earning the right to compete at the Department of the Army level against the Active and Reserve component winners.

Tvrdy has proven himself to be well beyond effective, according to Maj. Tim Newman, the Operations Officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company with the 766th and a resident of Mahomet, Ill. At one time, Tvrdy served as Newman's executive officer.

"He has the ability to instill responsibility and a sense of unit pride amongst his subordinates that helps focus everyone on mission accomplishment," said Newman. "This was seen with his company winning the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence. Additionally, he gave the FSC an identitiy which the company quickly embraced. This allowed every Soldier to identify their roles and and responsibilities, thus turning the company into a well-oiled machine."

Tvrdy works as an architect and recently began establishing his own company building sustainable furntiture. He attributes much of his military success to his work on the civlian side and vice versa.

"I feel that military training greatly prepares you for being an entrepreneur; much like wanting to create the best Field Support Company, I also want to create the best sustainable furniture company," he said. "I believe my civilian skillset has greatly contributed to the success I have had in the military. In architechture, you often create something out of nothing, you are required to be creative yet organized and efficient. You need to clearly communicate a design to the team before anything is ever built."

Tvrdy does not take all the credit for the things he has accomplished. There have been many people helping him along the way, he said.

"I am very grateful to have a supportive battalion and brigade commander who trusted me enough to employ my vision of command," he said. "I believe a big part of the success I had as a company commander is that I wasn't afraid to take on challenges and I wasn't afraid to fail because I knew I had great support around me. I feel very fortunate to have commanded the best Soldiers in the state of Illinois."

Tvrdy said his family was supportive as well.

"My civilian life revolves around my family and my beautiful wife," he said. "I greatly appreciate their patience with my military commitments and they truly share in the stress of the job."

All of these accomplishments might be a highlight in the young offier's career, but he is far from finished doing great things.

"Capt. Tvrdy is well deserving of this award and honor," said Holan. "I fully expect his career to be long and can see him in any position of authority the Illinois Guard has to offer. He is a true asset to the Illinois National Guard, the 404th and the engineer corps."

Tvrdy himself doesn't know where life will take him from here, but he is excited and ready to face the challenge, he said.

"I hope to gain experience with brigade and battalion operations and would eventually love another shot at a command position," he said. "New doors seem to open at the least likely opportunities and I am excited to see where the next one takes me."

Award winning documentary examines problem of sexual assault in the military

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today met with Kirby Dick, the Director of the Academy Award-nominated film "The Invisible War" to discuss the issue of sexual assault in the military.  The Invisible War is a documentary that explores the epidemic of sexual assault in the military through interviews with victims from each military branch.  The two discussed the documentary and solutions to address this problem.  Loebsack is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the bipartisan Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus.  He has worked to address the problem of sexual assault in the military.  A photo can be found here.

"I am disgusted by these crimes and the issue of sexual assault in the military has been pushed to the side for too long.  As a military parent and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I refuse to let this issue continue to take a back seat.  There should be no higher priority for the Pentagon than to combat this problem.

"I was pleased to be able to meet with Kirby and talk about his film.  His documentary puts a face to the victims of sexual assault in the military who often times find themselves in the shadows with no one to turn to. The Invisible War is an important movie that will leave an impact on all who see it."

Loebsack authored a provision in the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act which required a review of the services and treatment available for victims of sexual assault and abuse throughout the military, including the National Guard.   He also worked to include provisions signed into law as part of the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act which required the establishment of special victim units to provide victim support, investigatory capabilities, and prosecutorial expertise as well as an independent review of how sexual assaults are prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).  Loebsack is a cosponsor of the BE SAFE Act which significantly strengthens measures to hold perpetrators accountable and to provide victims with the care and services they need.  He is also a cosponsor of the Military Justice Improvement Act which would put the decision regarding whether to prosecute an assault case to prosecutors instead of commanders.  In addition, he is a cosponsor the Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention (STOP) Act, which creates an autonomous Sexual Assault Oversight and Response Office within the military to prosecute, report, and investigate sexual assault as well as to provide victim care and oversight.

Michael Zerbonia of Chatham to Be Promoted to Brigadier General

SPRINGFIELD, IL (06/04/2013)(readMedia)-- Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, has appointed Col. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham, Ill., as the Illinois National Guard's Land Forces Commander.

The appointment means Zerbonia will also be promoted to brigadier general and will command approximately 10,000 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers.

"Our Soldiers deserve the best possible leadership and Colonel Zerbonia is one of our best leaders," said Krumrei. "He is a strategic thinker and planner, and his value to this organization and to the people of Illinois grows each day."

Zerbonia has more than 30 years of military service. He enlisted as a military policeman in the Missouri National Guard in 1983 and commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1986. He recently commanded the Bilateral Embedded Staff Team A10 in Afghanistan and previously commanded the 108th Sustainment Brigade based in Chicago.

Zerbonia is the Colonel of Operations for the Illinois State Police.

"Michael has spent decades in uniform serving the Illinois State Police and the U.S. military dedicating his career to service and honor," said Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau. "His commitment to leadership and duty is further exemplified by this added badge of rank, and the men and women of this agency are proud of his accomplishment."

During the severe winter storm in Februrary 2011, Zerbonia saw his State Police Troopers and his Soldiers work side-by-side after National Guard Soldiers were activated to help the State Police mitigate the effects of the storm.

"My two careers coincided directly then. While both organizations have different roles to play, both go out and protect the citizens of Illinois," said Zerbonia. "It is a great honor to be a leader in both."

Zerbonia holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Northeast Missouri State University and a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. As a civilian, Zerbonia also serves as the president of the National Guard Association of Illinois.

He said every leadership position he's held in the National Guard has prepared him to be the Land Forces Commander and he looks forward to the challenge.

"One of the number one missions for the National Guard is homeland security and that dovetails perfectly with what I do with the Illinois State Police," said Zerbonia.

Award Recognizes Outstanding Support to Employees Serving in National Guard and Reserves

SPRINGFIELD, IL (05/31/2013)(readMedia)-- The Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, an agency of the Department of Defense, presented AT&T with the ESGR Above and Beyond Award May 30 in recognition of outstanding support to its employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

The Above and Beyond Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize employers providing extraordinary support and cooperation to their employees who have answered the call to serve. The award is given in limited numbers by ESGR state committees to employers who go well above the basic requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, or USERRA, in supporting their Guard and Reserve employees and have had at least one of their supervisors or managers recognized with a Patriot Award. It is the second highest ESGR award given at the state level.

"Supportive civilian employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation's National Guard and Reserve," said Lt. Col. Tim Franklin, Illinois ESGR Program Director. "A Guardsman or Reservist has to maintain a balance between their military obligations, family life and civilian career. The things AT&T is doing to support your citizen warriors helps make it easier for them to maintain that balance and continue to serve in uniform. This Above and Beyond Award recognizes that support."

Illinois ESGR Central West Area Chair, Stan Zielinski and volunteer, Allan Woodson, presented AT&T managers Steve Cacciatore and Cararrus Baltimore with the Above and Beyond Award at the company's south Springfield facility. Illinois ESGR selected AT&T to receive the award based on the Patriot Award presented to Baltimore in 2012. Baltimore was nominated for the Patriot Award by AT&T employee and Illinois Army National Guardsman, Chief Warrant Officer David Rogers, to show his appreciation for the support of his service in the Illinois National Guard.

"Mr. Baltimore is highly supportive of my military service and training schedule," said Rodgers in his Patriot Award nomination. "He went to great lengths to help with payroll issues while I was attending training with the Illinois National Guard in Minnesota. He is a great supporter of the military and is always there to assist myself or my family."

"On behalf of Illinois ESGR and our State Chair, Dr. Michael Ayers, I am honored to present you with this Above and Beyond Award," said Zielinski. "I would like to thank AT&T for the outstanding support you have shown Chief Rogers in his service with the military. This award recognizes that AT&T is among those employers across the country that go well 'above and beyond' the basic requirements of USERRA in supporting service in the National Guard and Reserve."

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in resolving issues arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 4,900 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nearly 140 Illinois ESGR volunteers across the state work to promote and enhance employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve.