UofI facilities director leads military training exercise

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - Lt. Co. Tim Newman of Fisher, Illinois serves as the facilities director for UofI during the week, but on the weekend he is a battalion commander for the Illinois Army National Guard. 

Now, he is helping to lead a month-long military training exercise.

About 4,5000 soldiers will be participating in the training at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

It includes the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team with units from all over Illinois and two dozen units from around the country.

Newman is Commander of the ILARNG's 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion, based out of the Decatur.

The soldiers of the 33rd IBCT will train in realistic combat exercises.