Hometown Military News for May 22, 2015:
Specialized Illinois National Guard unit mobilizes for Afghanistan
SPRINGFIELD- Five Soldiers with Illinois Joint Forces Headquarters’ Bilateral Embedded Staff Team (BEST) A15 were recognized during a mobilization ceremony May 15 at the Illinois Military Academy on Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.
The Soldiers will train for a brief time at Fort Bliss, Texas, before deploying to Afghanistan. The unique mission allows Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers to train and deploy side-by-side with their Polish counterparts. The Soldiers are from various parts of Illinois and were selected for the mission based on their training and skills.
“Our 20-year partnership with Poland is the strongest National Guard State Partnership Program in the nation,” said Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei of Springfield, Illinois, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. “Illinois Soldiers and Airmen are instrumental in developing secure international relationships, while broadening their experiences and developing their military skills.”
Lt. Col. Michael Beierman of Monee, Illinois, Commander for BEST A15, said the families of those deploying should be proud of their Soldiers and thanked them for their support.
“Illinois has a strong historical partnership with Poland, now we, and you are all a part of that great history,” said Beierman. “Be proud that your Soldiers can claim a part of this history, be strong, and before you realize it, we’ll be coming home.”
The team is expected to return to Illinois in spring 2016.
Chicago-based Illinois National Guard Aviation Unit Mobilizes for Kuwait
CHICAGO – A deployment ceremony is scheduled for approximately 25 Soldiers who will deploy to Kuwait this summer. The ceremony for Detachment 2, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment in Chicago and Detachment 8, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment in Chicago will be May 28 at 11 a.m. at Chicago’s Army Aviation Support Facility #2, 5400 W. 63rd St. in Chicago.
The soldiers will train for a brief time at Fort Hood, Texas, before deploying to Kuwait. Detachment 2 will provide aeromedical evacuation and support operations in the Central Command region of Kuwait. Detachment 8 will provide maintenance support to the aircraft. The team is expected to be in Kuwait for approximately six months, returning to Illinois in early 2016.
Illinois National Guard recognized for sexual assault prevention efforts
By Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Specialist
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) presented Maj. Gen. Daniel Krumrei, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard (ILNG), Lt. Col. Maurice Rochelle, Deputy of Manpower and Personnel for the ILNG, and Sergeant Maj. Diane Rogers, the Joint Force Headquarters Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the ILNG, the “Moxie” Award at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center on May 14 in Springfield.
The Moxie award is presented to individuals who have done extraordinary work for survivors of sexual assault. This year’s focus was on those who put “survivors first” to improve services, support and advocacy within our nation’s institutions.
“It is not only rape crisis centers that are doing the work,” said Polly Poskin, the executive director of the ICASA. “These are the first responders out there assisting victims and working to put a stop to sexual assault.”
Poskin said the work of first responders, along with other sexual assault prevention advocates, sometimes goes unnoticed. The event today recognizes them for their efforts. Krumrei said that when he became commander of the Illinois National Guard, he placed priority on identifying and reporting offenders.
“I told every readiness NCO, every senior leader, along with the senior enlisted advisor for the Army and Air National Guard that they are responsible for any perpetrator using and hiding behind the uniform,” said Krumrei. “I made it very clear that those who choose to ignore an incident of sexual assault are just as responsible as the one committing the act and they will be disciplined as well.”
Krumrei said the response to these statements has been very quick and positive throughout the ILNG.
“Though an environment of sexual assault may be ‘just how it is out in the world’, it will not be that way in this organization,” said Krumrei. “We now have battalion commanders and platoon leaders stepping up and saying, ‘this will not be the way it is in my battalion or my platoon.’ We are getting there. We have more to work on, but we are better.”
Krumrei said the Guard is very intentional about refusing to allow criminals to hide behind the military uniform of the United States to commit their crimes.
Poskin said that she has seen the determination by leaders in the ILNG to face sexual assault head on.
“Lieutenant Colonel Rochelle attended our 40-hour training course on sexual assault prevention and it made a difference,” said Poskin. “His calm demeanor and dedication to speaking up on how we all have to take responsibility and stand up for those who need help shift the training by showing that there are a lot of allies out there.”
Poskin said we need to continue to build on the mindset Rochelle showed in the course.
“We will continue to work hard in the Illinois National Guard to build upon on our relationship with ICASA and build upon our efforts to eliminate sexual assault from our ranks,” said Rochelle.
There are 29 rape crisis centers throughout Illinois and these centers work closely with local organizations like the Illinois National Guard to improve upon efforts to prevent sexual assault.
“Having the National Guard take a stand against sexual assault is inspiring to others,” said Poskin. “I have no doubt that their stance will continue to positively affect the efforts of others against sexual assault in this nation.”
Illinois National Guard soldier supporting Jordanian armed forces exercise
By Staff Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs
SPRINGFIELD – Approximately 25 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers are in Jordan participating in exercise Eager Lion 15 until May 20 at the Jordanian Armed Forces Joint Training Center in Amman, Jordan. Hosted by the Jordanian Armed Forces for the last five years, Eager Lion is a multinational training event supported by nearly 20 countries. The exercise has wide participation of servicemembers and civilians with military branches, ministries, security agencies, governmental and nongovernmental organizations from the collective nations all working together.
The Illinois National Guard Soldiers are subject matter experts handpicked to assist in the training of a combined joint task force. The Guardsmen operate as part of a simulated higher command for the task force.
“This is a great opportunity for the Illinois National Guard,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham, Illinois, the Land Forces Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard. “The Illinois National Guard has participated in several major training exercises across the United States and the world. Eager Lion is a unique opportunity as it brings so many countries and organizations together including all branches of the U.S. military to work as one operating force.”
During the exercise servicemembers and civilians work together exchanging military expertise to improve operations, communications and relationships among partner nations. This simulates joint deployed environments where different countries and organizations work together in support of overseas operations. In recent years the Illinois National Guard has conducted combined and joint training exercises in Poland, Japan, Korea, Germany, Latvia and Botswana as well as hosted exercises in Illinois.
Illinois National Guard director of logistics retires
By Capt. April Hawes, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs
SPRINGFIELD – From the beginning of Col. Michael Haerr’s military career, his wife Amy has been by his side. Now, as he transitions into retirement, they are looking forward to one four-letter word: time.
“We’re looking forward to being together. She’s been a steadfast supporter of my career,” said Haerr, of Eureka, who will retire from the Illinois Army National Guard May 31.
“I sometimes joke the reason we’re still together out of 33 years in the military is we’ve probably only been together for 23 years.” The two met through 4-H in 1981. She just graduated high school and was showing sheep; he just started his senior year of high school and was showing pigs. Soon after in 1982, Haerr decided to enlist in the Army.
“He sort of sprung it on me,” Amy said. “But it all turned out good in the end.”
The two married in 1985, which was the same year Haerr commissioned through Illinois State University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Since then he has served in all three components of the U.S. Army: Active Duty, Reserves and the National Guard. He has served with the Illinois Army National Guard since 1991, and became a full-time military technician in 1993.
Their first daughter, Emily, now 27, was born while he was on Active Duty at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Just hours after she was born, Haerr got a call to report at 5 a.m. for a six-week long exercise. Soon after the Haerr family moved back to Illinois, Haerr transitioned to the Illinois Army National Guard and they welcomed their second daughter Katherine, now 24.
“I had a great minister and battalion commander who I sought mentorship from,” Haerr said. “They said ‘if you don’t put your family first, it’s not going to be as good as it could be.’” Family was a common theme for Haerr in 2008 and 2009 when he was assigned as the rear deputy commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat team during its historic deployment to Afghanistan with nearly 3,000 Illinois Soldiers. He had just returned from his first Afghanistan deployment in 2007 and said he could personally relate to the 33rd’s mission since he just went through it.
“I felt a great passion to pass on the information to them,” he said. “It also allowed me to communicate with families. I could explain to them Afghanistan truly is a world away; I could relate to them and speak first-hand to the experience.” It was the largest single Illinois National Guard deployment since World War II. By the end, the 33rd suffered 18 casualties. “Having lost friends there and being in communication with folks waiting on their loved ones, I knew it was going to be a hard process,” he said. “You never know the value of a Soldier until you see them through their parent’s eyes. They’re a natural treasure.”
Haerr deployed again to Afghanistan in 2011. He said it was a unique experience seeing the progress of the Afghanistan National Army and the evolution of U.S. Army leaders. For example, Haerr saw some battalion commanders during his first Afghanistan deployment who were brigade commanders during his second Afghanistan deployment. Since Haerr first enlisted in 1982, he has served in various positions including two company commands with 1st Battalion, 123rd Infantry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment Battalion Commander and most recently the Illinois Army National Guard’s G4, Logistics Management Officer. In addition to his more than 30 years of military service, he has been a full-time military technician for 25 years.
Haerr has also attended a variety of military courses including Air Assault, Airborne and Ranger schools as well as the U.S. Army War College. In addition to his two deployments to Afghanistan, he also deployed to Germany from 2001 to 2002.
“In all the years I worked with Colonel Haerr, I could always count on him as a mentor, peer and friend,” said Col. Eric Little of Springfield, Illinois United States Property and Fiscal Officer for the Illinois National Guard. “He has a wealth of institutional knowledge, especially in the world of logistics. His loyalty and dedication to the Illinois National Guard sets the example for future leaders of this organization. I wish him the best of luck in his retirement.”
Looking back on his career, Haerr said he accomplished all the goals he set as a young second lieutenant. When he graduated from ROTC he said he wanted to go to Ranger school and earn the rank of colonel. He also said he thought it would be “pretty cool” to earn a Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). He successfully completed Ranger school in 1989, earned the rank of colonel in 2008 and has earned five MSMs.
“I’ve enjoyed how the military challenges you because it trains you at the same time,” he said. “It all makes you better than when you started. I joined the Army to serve my country, learn new skills and pay for college. In the process, I found in the Illinois Army National Guard the ability to do all of those things, serving my community, state, nation and world while balancing commitments to my wife and family.”
With retirement on the horizon, Haerr and Amy plan to spend time together while travelling to see their daughters, who both now live out of state. Haerr also admitted he plans to spend some more time in the kitchen. “I’ve been telling him for years, ‘When you retire, you get to do all the cooking because I’m tired of it,’” Amy said with a laugh.
Army Pvt. Austin D. Jacquin
Army Pvt. Austin D. Jacquin has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Ga.
During the nine-week training period, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship and bayonet training, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions, and core values.
Jacquin is the son of Robert and Tammy Jacquin of Heyworth, Ill. He is a 2014 graduate of Tremont High School, Tremont, Ill.
