Illinois Army National Guard truck drivers keep supplies, personnel moving | WPN World People News

With approximately 3,400 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers training at Camp Ripley Minn. this month, keeping supplies and equipment moving is not only part of the training, but it is a critical element to sustaining that training.

Spc. Anthony Buran, a member of the Illinois Army National Guard's 1544th Transportation Company, conducts a vehicle maintenance check July 15, 2012 before leaving for a mission during eXportable Combat Training Capability at Camp Ripley, Minn. XCTC is an Army exercise that provides realistic training for deploying units during their Ready phase of the Army Force Generation cycle. This training incorporates the most current tactics, techniques, and procedures used in theater.

During the first two weeks of the exercise here, the Illinois Army Guard’s 1544th Transportation Company conducted nearly 50 missions, covering almost 3,000 miles and moving more than 2,500 Illinois National Guard members.

"For each hour of the mission, it required more than four hours of preparation work," said Army Capt. Jeremy Tackett, the commander of the 1544th Trans. Co. "The prep work happens late at night or early in the morning and a lot of that goes unseen."

The 1544th is a subordinate unit of the 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago, which is supporting the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Urbana as it conducts eXportable Combat Training Capability, a three-week combat exercise at Camp Ripley, Minn.

"We get the 33rd [IBCT] Soldiers out there so they can conduct their training," said Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Eversole with the 1544th Trans. Co.

Eversole was previously deployed with the 1544th and said he applied that experience to this training. "I look for hazards on the road and stay vigilant, focusing on the mission and keeping everything else out of my mind," he said.

Tackett said the unit received praise from all the units it has supported.

"They've done an outstanding job. They're up long hours, driving many miles and they're out there keeping Soldiers … and themselves safe," Tackett said.

Source: U.S. National Guard