CRESTWOOD, Ill. – The Illinois Army National Guard’s 123rd Engineer Battalion worked on ‘Do It Ourselves’ projects in late May and June, such as building a running track and renovating an armory, giving the Soldiers valuable training and saving taxpayers between $470,000 and $770,000.
Soldiers from the Sparta-based 631st Engineer Support Co. and 2118th Asphalt Detachment built a running track at the Illinois Army National Guard’s Crestwood Armory during their two weeks of annual training. Their work saved taxpayers between $250,000 and $350,000.
The Macomb-based 616th Engineer Utilities Detachment and 661st Engineer Construction Co. performed renovation work at the Illinois Army National Guard’s Forest Park Armory, preparing the facility to host new high-technology Illinois Army National Guard units around October. The work included re-piping the heating system, installing LED lighting and replacing ceiling tiles. It could have cost the Illinois Army National Guard from $225,000 to $418,000 had it been contracted out.
“Our Engineers did an outstanding job at both sites and their fellow Soldiers will reap the benefits through better facilities,” said Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the assistant adjutant general – Army of the Illinois National Guard and commander of the Illinois Army National Guard. “The work they did both trained them for their war-time mission and will have a lasting impact on the organization through improved facilities.”
The Soldiers enjoyed the work.
“We had a really good time,” said Sgt. Seth Michaels, a carpentry and masonry specialist (12W) who worked at the Forest Park Armory.
He replaced doorways and installed drop ceilings and stairway railings, among other construction tasks.
“This was something new. It was more (military job)-based than other training we’ve done,” Michaels said.
The Forest Park Armory needed the work, Michaels said.
“We really flipped it,” he said.
The Illinois Army National Guard acquired the long-vacant facility from the Army Reserve last year. After the renovation, the Illinois Army National Guard is slated to move new units into the building this fall, including a cutting-edge high-technology electronics warfare battalion.
The Crestwood Armory, which houses multiple units, gets a physical training track on what had been a vacant lot. Capt. Cory Manns, who led the Crestwood track construction, said the project was more “public facing” than previous work the unit has done.
“People can see it from the street,” Manns said.
The engineers have a history of improving Illinois Army National Guard infrastructure. For example, they have done extensive work at the Marseilles Training Area, where they built and improved roads and range berms, among other projects.
At Crestwood, the engineers oriented the Illinois Army National Guard’s F Company of the Recruiting Retention Battalion’s Recruit Sustainment Program to some of their military jobs. The Recruit Sustainment Program is for those who enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard but have not yet completed Army Basic Training and their job training. The program helps them prepare for Basic Training and life in the Army National Guard.
“This is actual real-world training where every bit of work is being invested back into the Illinois National Guard,” Manns said.
The track project allowed the Soldiers to perform real work in their military occupations, and the officers and senior noncommissioned officers to develop planning and management skills.
“This gave us a chance to work our project management muscles,” Manns said. “The project came together with precision, and the Soldier’s work was integrated with success.”
The Soldiers showed extraordinary work ethic, Manns said.
“They dove into the work both feet first. The best retention tool is getting them out there doing their jobs,” Manns said.
Capt. Shannon Coppula led the Soldiers doing work at the Forest Park Armory. She said the Soldiers worked with experienced Illinois Department of Military Affairs tradesmen who have been working on the facility since the Illinois National Guard acquired it. The opportunity to learn from highly skilled craftsmen with many years of experience was a valuable one for the young Soldiers – and they soaked it all in.
“They got a lot of work done over two weeks,” Coppula said. “I’m just very proud of my Joes.”