Hometown Military News for April 15, 2016:
Illinois National Guard hosts sexual trauma workshop
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois National Guard’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) office hosted a military sexual trauma and behavioral health workshop at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, April 8.
The workshop is one of several events the SAPR office planned in observation of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month.
“Events like today’s workshop add energy to our ongoing, year-round efforts to raise awareness and reduce incidents of sexual assault within our formations,” said Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr., the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard.
Rush University Medical Center Psychiatrist Dr. Niranjan Karnik was the workshop’s keynote speaker. His message focused on putting the survivor first.
“One of the most critical things we do is ensure a sexual assault victim receives all the care they need to recover emotionally and physically,” said Sgt. Maj. Diane Rogers the Illinois National Guard’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.
Rogers said statistics she maintains show an increase in reported incidents over the past several years, but not because there are more sexual assaults.
“More incidents being reported is a sign of increasing trust in the Illinois National Guard’s efforts to care for victims and punish those who would commit sexual assault,” said Rogers.
Illinois soldiers compete for title of Best Warrior
SPRINGFIELD – Nine soldiers from units across the state came to Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Illinois, to prove they have what it takes to be called Illinois’ Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year April 7 to 10.
Staff Sgt. Anthony Henner of Milwaukee, a soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry based in Chicago, took top honors as the Illinois Army National Guard’s Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. Spc. Tycjan Sieradzki of Algonquin, a soldier with the 244th Digital Liaison Detachment based in Chicago, took top honors as the Soldier of the Year.
The competitors were the top representatives from their respective brigades. The Best Warrior Competition pits these Soldiers against each other in a multitude of events designed to test their physical fitness, mental toughness, and their competence at warrior skills. The winners of the competition become the state’s Soldier and NCO of the Year. They will go on to compete in the regional competition with hopes of reaching the national level to compete for the Army’s Soldier and NCO of the Year titles.
Sieradzki competed in the 2015 Best Warrior Competition and finished third. He said he was motivated to redeem himself this year.
“It feels great to win,” said Sieradzki. “I just hope that by coming back and winning this year after losing last time motivates some of the Soldiers in my unit to step up and do the same thing.”
The competition began April 9 with the Army Physical Fitness Test, a three-event test consisting of two minutes of pushups followed by two minutes of sit-ups and finished with a timed two-mile run.
Over the next three days, the Soldiers competed at weapons qualification, common skill tasks, land navigation, a confidence course obstacle race, and a question and answer board. The competition capped off with a timed 10-mile road march with a 40-pound rucksack.
The nine competitors were selected from a pool of nearly 10,000 Soldiers in the Illinois Army National Guard through platoon, company, and battalion-level boards to compete as Illinois’ Best Warriors.
Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham the Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Illinois National Guard, addressed the competitors to open the awards ceremony. Zerbonia said he was proud to see not only the competitive spirit, but the comradery on display throughout the competition.
“Everybody out there wants to be the best, to be number one,” Zerbonia said. “When it comes down to it, you really want the team to be the best, to be number one, and that’s what it’s about. At the end of the day we’re a team.”
Henner and Sieradzki will compete May 16 to 19 at the Best Warrior regional competition at Camp Perry Joint Training Center in Port Clinton, Ohio. If they prevail, they will compete at the National Guard’s national competition, then the Army-wide competition later this year.
Gibson City soldier receives army achievement medal
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Army National Guard Capt. Scott Powell of Gibson City received the Army Achievement Medal on April 10 from Brig. Gen. Mike Glisson, the ILNG Director of the Joint Staff.
Powell received the medal for outstanding service as the 65th Troop Command Brigade’s Safety Officer and Brigade Maintenance Officer. While with the 65th, Powell greatly improved operational and equipment readiness of the brigade.
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