Army National Guard Director visits Illinois training areas, Illinois Guardsmen

Story and photos by Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

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Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram, Director of the Army National Guard looks at historical displays at the General Jones Armory in Chicago July 22.

CHICAGO (07/28/2013)(readMedia)-- Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram, Director of the Army National Guard, visited various training areas in Illinois July 21 to 23 to connect with Illinois Army National Guard leaders and Soldiers.

The visit started with a tour of the General Richard L. Jones Armory in Chicago. Ingram toured the historic facility built in 1928 and home to more than 300 troops of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment and Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment. After the full tour of the facility Ingram met with Brig. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr. of Buffalo Grove, Deputy Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard and other Illinois National Guard officers.

Later, Ingram toured the North Riverside Armory, which houses eight units with more than 700 troops drilling at the armory. While at North Riverside, Ingram discussed budget and mission concerns with the field maintenance shop chiefs.

"We took General Ingram to the General Jones and the other locations so he could get a sense of the history with the Illinois Army National Guard, but also to show the challenges we face at our facilities," said Hayes.

The next day Ingram flew to Marseilles, Ill., where he toured the 2,551-acre Marseilles Training Center. Ingram had face-to-face talks with many Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who were on annual training and observed improvised explosive device defeat training.

"You really can't talk about something until you have eyes on it," said Ingram. "I am trying to get out to as many National Guard training sites as I can, and I really appreciate the visit here in Illinois."

After Marseilles Training Center Ingram headed to Chicago where he met with Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, Commanding General of the United States Army Forces Command and six Adjutants General from Midwest states to discuss the overall readiness of the National Guard.

Rounding out Ingram's trip to Illinois, he visited Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Ill., where he met with the 129th Regional Training Institute Soldiers and toured the Illinois State Military Museum.

"I really appreciate being able to see not only the historic General Jones Armory, but also to get to meet with leadership and Soldiers," said Ingram. "It is always gratifying to see Soldiers because that's who we are and what we do and looking someone in the eye really makes a difference."

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram, Director of the Army National Guard looks at historical displays at the General Jones Armory in Chicago July 22. The visit was part of a three-day trip where he visited various Illinois Army National Guard locations throughout Illinois.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram, Director of the Army National Guard speaks to Illinois National Guard Soldiers at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill., July 22. Ingram visited various training locations to discuss the effects of sequestration July 21 to 23.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs / Richard Seville with the Counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Integration Cell explains the different training aids used for IED defeat training to Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram, Director of the Army National Guard at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill., July 23.