SPC Michael Bielat's Journal

SPC Michael Bielat is in the 933rd Military Police Company, Illinois National Guard.

Blizzards in Chicago

When blizzards hit Chicago in the first week of February, I realized how important my National Guard training really was. I remember waking up and looking outside during the night to see how bad the weather was getting. Once outside in the morning, I saw how severe the storm had been. I was communicating with other Soldiers who had been mobilized to help local first responders and stranded motorists, and hearing what they were doing made me proud to serve with them.

I stood outside talking to a few of my neighbors who were brave enough to venture out into the snow. The streets were pretty deserted, except for the city buses and snowplows. When a car tried to turn down my side street and got stuck, my National Guard experience kicked in. I helped by shoveling the snow around the tire tracks, getting the vehicle back to the main road.

I knew that I was capable of helping, so I got to work. I shoveled the snow around my building and around some local businesses that had tried to open during the storm. I also shoveled out paths near the crosswalks at intersections, knowing people would need a place to walk once the storm was over. There are a few disabled people who live in my building, and I made sure to pay special attention to clear accessible paths for them in case of an emergency.

When Chicago police officers tried to do a well-being check at a house on my block, their car got stuck. I helped free their vehicle and was able to perform the well-being check as they navigated the snow.

After several hours of shoveling, a few people from around the block came out and thanked me, and even joined in to help other neighbors. A few knew I am a MP in the National Guard and looked for me to direct our efforts effectively and safely just like I would on a normal mission. If it weren’t for my training in the National Guard, I wouldn’t have taken the initiative to help the way I did. I was always trained to do the right thing, and the right thing in this situation was to ensure the safety of others.

Enlisting in the National Guard

I enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard as a 31B, Military Police. My father was an MP in the Marine Corps, and he would tell me stories about the job. I was in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), and even though recruiters from other branches came to talk to us, I looked into the Army National Guard because of the benefits they offered. Compared to other branches, the National Guard offered so much more, and I got to stay in my home state after I finished training.

While attending One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, I knew I had made the correct choice. I would watch commercials about joining to be an MP, but while at OSUT, I realized there is so much more to it than what was shown on commercials. I learned both the role of a Combat MP and a Garrison MP, but more importantly, I learned how to be responsible and a leader.

My unit did a lot to help me transition back into civilian life once I returned home from OSUT and was processed into the unit. They informed me about upcoming job fairs just for military members and about our local Family Readiness Group (FRG). I was even shown how to fill out paperwork, which I would be seeing a lot of while in the Army National Guard.

My first Annual Training (AT) with the unit was in Italy, which surprised me. I remembered my recruiter telling me how much I would love the places I went while serving, but thought it was just a joke. I remember coming back from Italy and telling everyone all about it, and all I kept hearing was how lucky I was. Without the Army National Guard I would never have been able to travel there and get paid to do it!