Six Illinois Soldiers Graduate from Motor Transport Operator Course

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (06/26/2015)(readMedia)-- Six Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers graduated June 26 from the 129th Regional Training Institute's Motor Transport Operator (88M) reclassification course at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.

Staff Sgt. Larry Groy of Kewanee, Illinois; Spc. Nicholas Diberardino of Lincoln, Illinois; Spc. Emlyn Hockin of Chicago; Pfc. Timothy Umezinwa of Sterling, Illinois; Pfc. Amanda Wallace of Carbondale, Illinois; and Pfc. William Zauss of McHenry, Illinois 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 (FMTVs) to include driving on and off-road, driving with and without a trailer, convoy operations, maintenance, crew drills, and proper loading and hauling.

Cutline 1: 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)

(Cutline 2: Lt. Col. Gerald Newman of Oregon, Illinois, commander of the 1st Battalion, 129th Regional Training Institute (129th RTI), addresses graduates of the institute's Motor Transport Operator (88M) qualification course 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)

Cutlinte 3: Lt. Col. Gerald Newman of Oregon, Illinois, commander of the 1st Battalion, 129th Regional Training Institute (129th RTI), congratulates Pfc. Amanda Wallace of Carbondale, Illinois during the 129th RTI's Motor Transport Operator (88M) course graduation June 26 at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois. Wallace, with the 33rd Military Police Battalion in Bloomington, Illinois, was the course's phase two Honor Graduate, receiving a coin and a certificate for her achievement. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)