Indiana Guard Reserve helps National Guard Soldiers navigate Camp Atterbury

Courtesy Photo | Pvt. Barry Ulerick glances at the day's schedule for the mobilizing National Guard...... read more read more

Courtesy Photo | Pvt. Barry Ulerick glances at the day's schedule for the mobilizing National Guard troops. Ulerick and dozens of other Indiana Guard Reserve members are acting as escorts at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center for thousands of National Guard soldiers preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Terry Heifetz)  see less | View Image Page

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES

12.13.2009

Courtesy Story

Camp Atterbury Indiana

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By 1st Lt. Terry Heifetz
Public Affairs Officer, Indiana Guard Reserve

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. — "Who are those soldiers with the black patrol caps?"

That question was asked by more than a few of the thousands of out-of-state National Guard troops currently coming through Camp Atterbury on their way to overseas deployments. The volunteers in the black caps are members of the Indiana Guard Reserve, Indiana's state defense force, which is a subordinate command of the Indiana National Guard. The helpful, black-capped Soldiers have been acting as the troops' escorts at Camp Atterbury, making sure that the mobilizing troops get to the right place at the right time as they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan.

The Indiana Guard Reserve, or IGR, focuses on serving Hoosiers by assisting the National Guard and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security in their domestic missions as well as providing instruction to emergency management teams regarding the National Incident Management System by designing and evaluating training exercises and executing community support missions. IGR members also provide security and logistical assistance at natural disasters and planned events, such as the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-marathon and Indianapolis Air Show.

Dozens of the IGR members have volunteered to assist at Camp Atterbury during the current National Guard deployments overseas. The IGR mission is to guide the visiting soldiers through the medical, finance, personnel, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and other stations at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center. The mobilizing troops come from more than a dozen states, coast to coast.

First Lt. Dale Andrews, the officer-in-charge for a portion of the IGR mission, said that each day between four and 10 Guard Reservists do whatever they can to help the troops feel at home.

"We stay with the troops until they get through the day," Andrews said. During November, December and January, the IGR will assist nearly 4,000 troops as they pass through Camp Atterbury.

IGR soldiers seek no pay for their work with mobilizing soldiers. When not volunteering, they are students and professors, attorneys, police officers and everything in-between. They say their motivation is to serve those who serve America.

"Look at what they do for us. I want to do everything I can in return," said Pvt. Barry Ulerick, who joined the IGR earlier this year.

Staff Sgt. Paul Sabol has a similar motivation.

"We owe them everything we can to support them because they're laying their lives on the line for us," Sabol said.

Maj. Gen. F. Barry Green, the IGR commanding general, said the need to serve is common for IGR members. They want to help however they can.

"We've brought our soldiers down here in the heat, in the rain, in the sunshine, in the snow and ice, and they've responded every time we have a need," Green said. "Our IGR soldiers take time away from work, they take days off without pay, vacation time, leave time. They just want to support and help our soldiers."

The mobilizing soldiers and Camp Atterbury leadership are thankful for the assistance.

"We are so pleased to have the support of the Indiana Guard Reserve here at Camp Atterbury," said Lt. Col. Ron Morris, Camp Atterbury's deputy commander. "As always, they are an invaluable asset to the team here on post," he said. "Without hesitation, leaders and members of the IGR stepped up and answered the call to bring in volunteers during one of the busiest times in our recent history on post by helping in different sections where a little extra effort makes a huge contribution. We so appreciate what they do here," he said.

IGR Officer Candidate Steve Wessling said he appreciates the recognition.

"The troops say they've really appreciated the help we've been able to give them," Wessling said. "It's been a really good experience. I like to do anything I can to make the process easier for these guys."

When the mobilizing National Guard members leave Camp Atterbury, they have a better understanding of the "guys in the black caps," and their mission, according to Green.

"Once they see us do our job, once they get an idea of who these people are, they're quite pleased and thankful."