FORT MCCOY, WIS. (07/22/2013)(readMedia)-- Members of the Illinois Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment (1-106th) out of Decatur, Ill., travelled to Wisconsin with their UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to conduct training, and participate in the annual joint service and multi-national disaster response exercise dubbed 'Patriot', taking place July 13-27.

The Patriot exercise simulates the occurrence of natural disasters. The exercise is comprised of three separate tornadoes and several terrorists attack scenarios. This combination of conditions is designed to overwhelm the first responder teams prompting a National Guard emergency response.

"What is great for us is the designers allow us to custom design the specific training that we would like to focus on, and they then build the scenario and work in that type of training," said Maj. Dennis Huffman from Heyworth, Ill., the executive officer of the 106th.

Huffman said although the unit helped design some elements of the training, the unit will not know exactly what and when it will take place.

"One of our biggest training values comes from not knowing the mission, being able as a unit to plan the route and then fly over unknown terrain and into unknown landing zones," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Adam D. Kellerman of Pinckneyville, Ill., a pilot with Company A, 1-106th.

Kellerman said there is a lot the unit can do at Fort McCoy that they cannot do in Illinois.

"We can get in the corridors they have up here and fly the terrain, right on the tops of trees through the valleys, and that is something that the crews don't get to experience every day," said Kellerman.

While at Fort McCoy the unit will use its time training new pilots and crew as well as conducting missions to support other units outside of Patriot.

"We are here as an aviation support element, supporting the Air Force and the Wisconsin National Guard to facilitate these operations," said Huffman. "We are then also able to jump over and support other Illinois units training here."

Blackhawk aircraft and crews are a resource to Illinois and its neighboring states if an emergency should arise.

"In addition to being able to move a large amount of personnel and or equipment, aviation can provide critical reconnaissance and surveillance of sites, in case of fire, flooding or hazardous material conditions that may prevent ground access," said Capt. Chris Lempke of Bloomington, Ill., commander of Company A.

Sgt. Charles L. Venegoni a firefighter and former Marine from Arnold, Mo., is now a crew chief with Company A, and is using this training to get familiar with the Blackhawk.

Crew chiefs act as a peripheral sight for the pilots and are also responsible for what is in the back of the aircraft, be it passengers or equipment, said Venegoni.

"I was a crew chief with the Marines also, on the CH-53, but it's nice to have this kind of training so that I can get adapted to the Blackhawk," said Venegoni.

From the pilots and crew of the aircraft, to unit planning and support, this training allows the unit to accomplish multiple tasks during a single exercise.

"We are out here for a great training opportunity, an opportunity that will allow us to get to and maintain readiness level one, which means that we are fully mission capable," said Kellerman.

Two Soldiers recognized as honor graduates

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/16/2013)(readMedia)-- Story by Sgt. Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

Three Illinois Guardsmen graduated from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) June 21 at the 127th Aviation Support Battalion Hangar on East Fort Bliss, Texas.

Master Sgt. Mary Dixon of Chapin, Ill., with the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) in Springfield, Ill., Master Sgt. Anthony Mollusky Jr. of Kincaid, Ill., with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago and Master Sgt. Christopher Tipton of Springfield, Ill., with Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield, Ill., were among the 648 graduates.

Only 20 graduates were National Guardsmen, while most were active duty Army. Mollusky and Dixon were in the top 20 percent of the class and recognized as honor graduates.

"There was a great sense of accomplishment in exceeding the course standards," said Dixon. "Few National Guardsmen have an opportunity to attend the resident Sergeants Major Academy, and I am grateful for the chance to prove that National Guardsmen are an integral part of the fighting force."

The USASMA residence course is a 10-month-long class that provides tools to develop critical reasoning, creative thinking and decision-making skills. Soldiers are provided an education that teaches them to enhance their character, self-expression and strengthen teamwork abilities. The USASMA is also offered as a nonresident course which culminates with two weeks of resident instruction at the academy.

"I highly recommend the resident course," said Dixon. "It is a fantastic opportunity to develop long-term relationships with senior leaders from across the Army, as well as our sister services and international partners."

Mollusky also noted it was a great opportunity to concentrate on the curriculum on a full-time basis rather than spending nights and weekends doing homework.

The course prepares master sergeants and sergeants major to elevate from a tactical level of thinking to an operational and strategic perspective.

"It was very demanding with many writing assignments, tests and oral presentations," said Mollusky. "We heard presentations from every major combatant command and major agency in the Army."

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond Odierno was the guest speaker for graduating class 63 and reminded the graduates to "Never forget what our most important aspect of the Army is, our Soldiers."

More than 120,000 Soldiers have graduated from USASMA since it was founded in July 1972.

"Commit yourself to the philosophy of lifelong learning," said Tipton. "If you've been thinking about that next military school, then get after it. The more you open yourself up to various avenues and environments of learning, the better it helps you become a critical thinker and problem solver."

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/02/2013)(readMedia)-- In addition to marking the independence of the United States, the Illinois National Guard is also marking the 150th anniversary of the Siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War and the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Hamel during World War I (WWI).

Three Illinois units participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, the 8th Illinois Cavalry, four companies of the 12th Illinois Cavalry, and the 82nd Illinois Infantry.

"At 7:30 a.m. on July 1, 1863 Lt. Marcellus Jones with the 8th Cavalry fired the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg and the first Union Soldier to die in the battle were from the 12th Illinois Cavalry," said Adriana Schroeder of Springfield, Ill., the Illinois National Guard command historian.

Two days later, the 82nd Illinois Infantry participated in the Union defense of the infamous Pickett's Charge.

Hundreds of miles and several states away, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant laid siege to Vicksburg, Miss., with nearly one-third of his entire force consisting of Illinois Soldiers.

"The turning point in the Civil War came July 4, 1863 when Confederate fighters surrendered at both Gettysburg and Vicksburg," said Schroeder. "Gettysburg marked the last push into Union territory for the Confederates. After Vicksburg, the Union Army controlled the Mississippi River and cut the Confederacy in two."

Fifty-five years later, in July 1918, Soldiers from the 131st and 132nd Illinois Infantry Regiments were attached to Australian brigades in France during WWI.

"These Illinois Soldiers were the first of the 33rd Division to fight in the war and possibly the first Americans to fight under the command of another country." said Schroeder. "On July 4, 1918, they successfully took out German trenches in the Hamel Woods, which had previously dominated Australian forces."

On Aug. 12, 1918, George V, the King of England, arrived at 33rd Division Headquarters and awarded 19 officers and enlisted men with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Military Cross and the Military Medal for acts of bravery.

Cpl. Thomas A. Pope, a Norwood Park, Ill., native, served with company E of the 131st Infantry Regiment and received the Medal of Honor at Hamel. His citation reads, "At Hamel, July 4, 1918...Corporal Pope's company was advancing behind the tanks when it was halted by hostile machine gun fire. Going forward alone, he rushed a machine gun nest, killed several of the crew with his bayonet, and, standing astride his gun, held off the others until re-enforcements arrived and captured them."

The Illinois State Military Museum has artifacts and displays that tell the story of the Illinois units and Soldiers who served in these key battles. The displays include battle flags, weapons, war trophies and a WWI trench scene depicting the battle of Hamel.

The Illinois State Military Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. It is located adjacent to Camp Lincoln at 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Springfield. Admission and parking are free.

WASHINGTON (June 26, 2013) - The American Legion has announced that it is offering an entrepreneurship program aimed specifically at women military veterans and military spouses. The two day, free of charge session, "For Her Entrepreneurship - Resources, Opportunities, Experiences & Support (For HEROES) will be conducted during the veterans' service organization's 95th annual convention in Houston, Aug. 26-27.

The program was created by the Legion in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University.  After completing this free course, participants will be equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan and launch an enterprise.

"SBA is truly committed to help veteran women entrepreneurs succeed," said SBA Associate Administrator Rhett Jeppson. "We know that more than 250,000 military service members transition out of active duty each year and that women are outpacing men with respect to starting new businesses."

He continued, "We provide these aspiring entrepreneurs support to launch their business and that's why we're joining with the Legion to provide this program."

The training curriculum includes an introduction to entrepreneurship and skills training, plus detailed information on resources and support programs designed specifically to aid veterans working with the federal government.  Business conceptualization, business plan formulation, financial planning, start-up funding, marketing and related topics will be explored as well.

"Entrepreneurship is the answer for many veterans who find the job market a particularly tough one these days," says Joe Sharpe, director of the Legion's National Economic Division. "According to the SBA, veterans are more likely than non-veterans to start their own small businesses. Heretofore, however, the entrepreneurial interests of women veterans have been neglected. That is why this groundbreaking session will be so valuable."

Participants who complete this course will also be provided access to an eight-week online Foundations of Entrepreneurship course offered by IVMF.  Completion of that online curriculum will require approximately 10-hours of study each week as it walks participants through the fundamentals of developing a business plan.

Women veterans interested in enrolling in the free entrepreneurship training program can register online at http://www.legion.org/convention/economic or by contacting Jasmine Davis at 202-263-5771 or jdavis@legion.org.

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