Hometown Military News: July 2, 2015

Posted on July 2, 2015

Graduates of the 129th Regional Training Institute’s Motor Transport Operator (88M) qualification course stand as the National Anthem plays during a graduation ceremony June 26 at the Illinois Military Academy on Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Of the ten graduates, six are members of the Illinois Army National Guard. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Hometown Military News: July 3, 2015

Six Illinois soldiers graduate from Motor Transport Operator Course

SPRINGFIELD – Six Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers graduated June 26 from the 129th Regional Training Institute’s Motor Transport Operator reclassification course at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

Staff Sgt. Larry Groy of Kewanee, Spc. Nicholas Diberardino of Lincoln, Spc. Emlyn Hockin of Chicago, Pfc. Timothy Umezinwa of Sterling, Pfc. Amanda Wallace of Carbondale and Pfc. William Zauss of McHenry are now fully qualified Motor Transport Operators for the Illinois Army National Guard.

Wallace was the course’s phase two Honor Graduate, receiving a coin and certificate of recognition.

To graduate from the course, soldiers must complete more than 220 hours of coursework as well as hands-on training over a two-phase, four-week period. During that time, they are trained and evaluated on the Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles to include driving on and off-road, driving with and without a trailer, convoy operations, maintenance, crew drills, and proper loading and hauling.

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