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NEWS | Oct. 17, 2022

Girard Soldier Retires from Illinois National Guard

Sgt. First Class Robert Gasen, of Girard, Illinois, was honored for his military service during a retirement ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, October 13. 

Gasen enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in November 1998 with the 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Springfield, Illinois, as an administrative specialist. He then quickly transferred to the 233rd Military Police (MP) Company to follow in his stepfather’s footsteps to become a MP. Gasen deployed to Iraq from 2003 to 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served with the 233rd MP Company for ten years, before becoming a full-time Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Soldier in November 2008 and transferring to Joint Force Headquarters.

Gasen spent the early part of his career updating records and assisting Soldiers with their own AGR and promotion packets, as well as running the ID machine, and updating documents for Soldiers who were mobilizing. In 2010, Gasen was moved to the discharge team to process NGB 22s and additional forms for Soldiers who were discharging or retiring. In 2012, he moved to automation NCO where he had a hand in updating records for every Soldier who deployed between November 2008 and June 2017.  Gasen transitioned to the 65th Troop Command to serve as the personnel non-commissioned officer (NCO). Gasen then transferred to the G3/5/7 Operations, Plans, and Training office to serve as the force integration readiness office NCO and equipment training NCO working to prepare units for new equipment they were receiving. Finally, Gasen’s last position was in the Recruiting and Retention Battalion where he served as a personnel NCO since 2019.

Some of Gasen’s awards include five Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, five Army Good Conduct Medals, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Illinois State Active Duty Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.