Then Senior Airman (later captain) Jennifer Donaldson Weitekamp graduated from Counter Sniper School on April 14, 2001, becoming the first woman sniper in the Department of Defense. Weitekamp had served as a patroller with the Illinois Air National Guard prior to enrolling in the advanced security forces training. Donaldson spent six years with Security Forces deploying several times in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom before she commissioned as an officer. Weitekamp poses next to the Women in the Air Force exhibit honoring her accomplishment at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force March 5.

Then Senior Airman (later captain) Jennifer Donaldson Weitekamp graduated from Counter Sniper School on April 14, 2001, becoming the Air Force’s, and the US military’s, first female sniper. Weitekamp has served as a patroller with the Illinois Air National Guard prior to enrolling in the advanced security forces training. Donaldson spent six years with Security Forces deploying several times in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom before she was commissioned as an officer. Weitekamp poses for a photo next to the Women in the Air Force exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force March 5.

Illinois National Guard State Chaplain (Col.) Steve Foster, of Riverton, Illinois, presents newly commissioned Illinois Army National Guard Jewish Chaplain (Capt.) Aaron Melman, of Northbrook, Illinois, with the Chaplain’s Stole during a ceremony March 17 at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois.

Rabbi Aaron Melman, of Northbrook, Illinois, recites the oath of commissioning as a captain in the Illinois Army National Guard administered by Chaplain (Col.) Stephen Foster, of Riverton, Illinois, Illinois National Guard State Chaplain, during a ceremony March 17 at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Melman will serve as a Jewish chaplain in the Illinois Army National Guard.

Newly commissioned Illinois Army National Guard Chaplain (Capt.) Aaron Melman, of Northbrook, Illinois, offers thanks to family and friends attending virtually for their support during his commissioning ceremony at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois, March 17.

William Hills, of Freeport, Illinois, shows the U.S. flag and certificate presented to him by Illinois National Guard Lt. Col. Eric Smith, of Springfield, Illinois, Deputy G4, Illinois Army National Guard, to his family on a Facetime call on Hills’ 97th birthday Jan. 29. The flag was flown in Afghanistan by the 10th Mountain Division and presented to Hills, a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division who served in the Po Valley and North Apennines campaigns in Italy.