Taste of Combat Training - Civilian VIPs Visit Camp Ripley

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Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Adams, 766th Engineer Battalion/Nathan Maddox, the senior legal advisor to the Illinois Secretary of State, looks down the barrel of a M4 Carbine Combat Rifle.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/27/2012)(readMedia)-- Story by U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Adams, 766th Engineer Battalion – Field Support Company

CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - The 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago opened its doors to civilian employers who saw first-hand exactly what their employees do when they attend military training. These VIPs were invited to the 108th Sustainment Brigade's eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) VIP day July 20 at Camp Ripley, Minn., because they offer consistently their support to the citizen-Soldiers of the 108th.

"The employers play an important role; their continued support of being flexible when it comes to Soldiers' training allows that Soldier to focus on the mission," said Lt. Col. Dukett of Roodhouse, 108th commander.

VIPs handled combat rifles, rode in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, attended planning meetings and mingled with the troops to discuss what it is like to be a Soldier.

"As a citizen-Soldier, it's the ability to answer the nation's call at any time that is critical and it's the employers' flexibility that makes that possible," said Dukett.

Dukett said he received several positive comments from the attendees who saw their employees training.

"This day opened my eyes as an employer to what Soldiers actually do at training events," said Stephen Robinson of R&S sales and services, Mahomet. "This showed me how much officers truly care for their Soldiers and that they don't just see them as a number."