Lake County mother and daughter experience military training
The 88th Readiness Division (Fort McCoy, Wisconsin and Fort Snelling, Minnesota) recently hosted a Community Leader Engagement to inform and educate selected civilians for this opportunity. The 88th Readiness Division Public Affairs Office and Strategic Outreach Planning Team invited 20 distinguished visitors including elected local representatives and senators, business and corporate leaders, community partners, etc. for this Community Leader Engagement.
The Community Leader Engagement started with a welcome by the 88th Readiness Division Commander, Major General Baker. The first event was the Medical Simulation Center, a state-of-the-art center where Soldiers train in real-world medical situations ultimately culminating in complex military medical and Soldiering events.
From there, participants had the opportunity to fire M4 rifles in the simulation weapon complex. Next, some participants flew in Blackhawk Helicopters while others visited the Fort McCoy Historical Museum and Barracks. The final event was going to a range in the field to actually observe soldiers from Rockford qualifying on their M4 weapons.
Avon Township Supervisor Michele Bauman was recommended by U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador – Illinois Col. (Ret.) Paul J. Hettich of Antioch to attend this event. Bauman is an Illinois elected official and also serves as a member of various organizations, including the Grayslake area Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America and National Exchange Club, and is co-founder of the Lake County Military Families United As One. Without previous experience in the military and having a daughter who sought to serve her country, Bauman founded the Lake County Military Families United As One as a venue to connect those affiliated with the military and experienced backgrounds with newcomers to the military life. Bauman diligently advocates for the U.S. military and has built a relationship with the Round Lake Recruiting Station due to her only daughter, Madeline, enlisting there.
A sobering moment, Bauman shared, was the medical simulation center tour. It was surreal for her to see the training simulations and learn that the training she saw was to prepare medics to be ready to go into a hostile environment to help save the lives of soldiers. Madeline’s daughter's job will be in medical logistics where she may be responsible for ensuring that medics have the equipment they need to help injured soldiers.
Michele Bauman was with Madeline throughout the entire Army enlistment process - a process, which was difficult, complex, and long, but ultimately rewarding. Madeline joined the U.S. Army Reserves and was recently accepted into the Northern Illinois University ROTC program. The 88th Readiness Division Community Leader Engagement was an educational, professional and humbling experience for the new military mom.