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IGR Shows Its Best
for Gary Air Show
2nd Brigade assisted the Gary Police Department by operating
more than a half-dozen checkpoints at the Gary Air Show. Guard Reservists operated for 28 hours in the field and logged more
than 300 man hours to this event. The Gary Police Department provided very good logistical support, including
food, water, and radios for each check point. GPD is hopeful that the IGR will be able to assist again in the future!
Summer Sizzles for IGR Soldiers
More than two dozen Guard Reservists
provided training at the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge at Camp Atterbury. IGR members braved the 90+ degree heat
to make sure the 275 cadets from across Indiana had a safe, fun experience. Click here to see the article in the Indianapolis Star. The IGR also supplied traffic control and support for the annual
National Guard Assocation of Indiana Car Show in Downtown Indianapolis. Thousands of people packed the American Legion
Mall to see the dozens of classic cars.
Ready...
Aim...
Dozens of IGR Soldiers from HHD and Support Command converged on the Stout Field FATS Weapons training
Center for training and qualification opportunities on M16 rifles and M9 pistols. This was the first of a number
of training opportunities at Stout Field, Atterbury, and other locations throughout the state for all Guard Reservists. More
dates and locations to be announced soon.
| Two big missions; one big week! |
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| IGR Soldiers assisted participants at a mock disaster and at the Indianapolis Air Show |
Guard Reservists deliver safety and security
Within days of each other, IGR Soldiers tackled two large-scale events.
At a national earthquake drill at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Guard Reservists secured
parking areas and escorted participants from the Army and Department of Homeland Security, along with Indiana first
responders and VIPs from as far away as Israel. More than 1,000 participants took part in the week-long exercise.
Each year, the Indanapolis Air Show counts on the IGR to provide traffic control and security
for the show's planes, their crews and the crowd. This year was no exception. Dozens of Guard Reservists
kept both crews and spectators safe by assuring that everyone was in the right place at the right time. The IGR was
also responsible for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, who assisted in the mission.
"Welcome Home"
show features Indiana Guard Reserve
WFDM,
Freedom 95.9 in Franklin highlighted the work of the IGR on its program on 12 February. Listen to the segement
using the link below. Click here for the "Welcome Home Show" from 12 February 2011
| Mini Mission Accomplished! |
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| A sea of runners and walkers passes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with help from the IGR |
500 Festival Mini-Marathon a Success
Thousands of runners and walkers filled the streets of Indianapolis as part of the Indianapolis
500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Hundreds of Guard Reservists were on the sidelines and side streets, making sure the runners
were safe from interference during the race. The IGR Soldiers were joined by dozens of members of the U.S. Naval Sea
Cadets and students from the Hoosier Youth ChalleNGe Academy.
IGR Protects Escorts for 9/11 Memorial
Dozens of Guard Reservists served in security
and traffic control roles on 9 April in Richmond. They protected thousands of motorcyclists who escorted two World
Trade Center beams as part of Project 9/11 Indianapolis. The beams will be part of a memorial to be dedicated on
the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The memorial will be built on the downtown canal.
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| Richmond Mayor Sally Hutton addresses IGR soldiers before Project 9/11 Indianapolis |
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| Lead Instructor, LT Millen & Incident Commander, CPL Kennedy at FUNSAR mock. |
IGR SAR Team Assists in Training
All
four members of the IGR Search and Rescue Training Team participated in running
an ICS-based wilderness SAR operation in March 2011. The 24-hour overnight
SAR exercise was the capstone activity for the National Association for Search and Rescue's (NASAR)
fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR) course. This exercise took place in the Hoosier National
Forest in south-central Indiana near Lake Monroe.
Busy schedule helps Indiana Guard Reserve train for worst-case
scenarios Guard Reservists have had a busy late winter practicing SAR and CERT skills. Firefighting techniques
took center stage at Community Emergency Response Team training at the Bloomington National Guard Armory (left).
Dozens of IGR soldiers learned new Search and Rescue skills at Camp Atterbury (right). This critical
training will help the Indiana Guard Reserve protect Hoosiers in case of an actual emergency.
| CERT Training |
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| IGR trainers lead CERT students through a simulated burning building. Click on photo for story. |
| Annual Training 2010 |
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| Guard Reservists practice search and rescue skills at Muscatatuck. Click photo for story. |
Guard Reservists Train to React to Bioterrorism Threat
Members of the 1st Brigade took part in a bioterrorism class in late January
at the Elkhart County Health Department. Training lasted for 16 hours and concluded with a tabletop exercise at the end. There
were over 30 people, including doctors and nurses who represented every health department in the Indiana Department of Homeland
Security District 2 area.
In the photo from left to right: SSG Dathan Reed, CPL Teresa Reed,
Kosciusko County LEPC Chairman Gary McDaniel, CSM Scott Hawks
IGR Gets Mention in Major Indiana Newspapers
An op-ed piece about the IGR's mission was published in about a dozen Indiana newspapers around
Christmas and New Years. Take a look at one of them.
| Taste of "Home Sweet Home" |
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| Indiana Guard Reservists led the effort to collect cookies for Soldiers at Camp Atterbury |
Sweet Mission for the Troops - Operation Cookie Donation
Indiana Guard Reservists led the effort to bring a taste of home to the 86th
BDE troops returning from Afghanistan. This was a group of about 3,500 Soldiers,
predominantly from the northeast United States. The goal was to have 40 dozen cookies each day between 1 November
and 4 January. This amounted to almost 30,000 cookies. We ended up with a total donation of approximately
4,500 dozen or 54,000 cookies. The were both store bought cookies and homemade cookies.
The cookies were in all five SRC buildings, the chapel, both initial briefing
areas and the USO at Camp Atterbury and Indianapolis International Airport.
The program was chaired by CH (CPT) Bob Fiers with help from CH
(1LT) Dave Owens and CH (1LT) Jerry Curry along with a local pastor Mark Powell.
Guard
Reservists Help Peru Salvation Army
MAJ Terry Harris,
CPL James White, CPL Stanley Higgins III, and PFC Corey Townsend volunteered to ring bells to help the Salvation Army raise
funds this December. The Guard Reservists worked at several different businesses over a two-day period.
12/21/10 Wanted:
Utility Trailer for Power Generator
Rural Metro
Ambulance has donated a large diesel power generator and we are looking for a utility trailer to build a mobile platform.
A small 4'x6' or 4'x4' trailer would be ideal and it needs to be able to carry 500lbs. We are also seeking volunteers
who can assist with construction and/or painting of this platform. If you can assist please contact WO Howard Bennis
at e-mail address hjbnremtp@att.net or at 317.904.5610.
When
Earth Rocks, Indiana Guard Reserve Rolls
Indiana
Guard Reservists have a new weapon in their arsenal, real-world search and rescue experience.
As part of October’s annual training, dozens of IGR soldiers put their NIMS and CERT training to the test during
a mock earthquake. They combed through collapsed buildings, secured the structures,
searched for victims, and rescued them. The exercise took place at Muscatatuck
Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind.
When
the training began, 15 Patriot Academy students scattered throughout three collapsed buildings across Muscatatuck. They were
the victims. IGR members, who already had hours of classroom training, scanned
the structures, located the injured, provided first aid, and helped bring them to safety. Maj.
James Needler was an evaluator for the training exercise. “I saw the benefit, firsthand of our training that we did in the
months leading up to AT,” Needler said. “We know we have a mission that is of value to the state of Indiana.”
Many Guard Reservists are already paramedics,
law-enforcement officers or firefighters in their daily lives. Now they, along
with other IGR members, have additional life-saving skills they can use during a crisis.
The
IGR worked in a unified command setting, teaming up with White River Township Fire and Rescue, Johnson County EMA, Seals Ambulance,
and Salvation Army Disaster Services. These partners in this mission helped stabilize
the crumbling structures, transport victims to the hospital, and feed the victims and troops.
Col. Jackie Stump,
commander of the 1st Brigade, evaluated the exercise. He said the
Guard Reservists validated their skills as CERT members for the State of Indiana. “Observing their seamless operations
with mutual aid partners was extremely gratifying for a military man who has participated in numerous exercises over the past
46 years,” Stump said.
Maj.
Robert Dawalt said he was impressed. “I am very pleased and proud,” Dawalt said. “We showed again that we
can be an effective resource for the state of Indiana in times of trouble.”
| IGR Soldier Supports Army Recruiting |
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| CPT Paul Fagen and son Brandon |
CPT Paul Fagen owns Fagen Motorsports and uses motorsports to help the U.S. Army recruit soldiers. Paul's son,
Brandon drives the car in local races. CPT Fagen works with a team of local Army recruiters at events, such as the Indianapolis
Air Show, as a way of attracting potential recruits. The Army gets a lot of exposure for a small amount of money,
according to CPT Fagen. His car and recruiting efforts were responsible for more than 50 recruits in 2009. This compares
very favorably to the national motorsports sponsorships. CPT Fagen is another example of the doverse ways IGR soldiers
work with the IGR and outside the IGR to support the Army and National Guard.
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| CPT Jim Needler securing the Flightline |
Storms Tax IGR Soldiers Air Show Weekend
IGR soldiers had their work cut out for them during Air Show weekend this year. Rain caused large
parking areas to be closed, which also closed some entrances to the Mt. Comfort Airport. The Air Show was cancelled on Saturday
due to heavy rains. However, IGR soldiers remained on their post guarding the flight line and airport perimeter.
On Sunday, the reduced entrances caused big traffic backups into and exiting the Air Show. IGR
personnel provided the backbone of security at the entrances. Some soldiers worked their post more than 8 hours with only
short periods of relief. The temperatures reached the upper 80s on Sunday. But soldiers did their job, without complaint.
Howah!!!!
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| PVT Christopher Marcum provides directions at the Air Show |
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