News

Illinois Army National Guard Unit Cooks Up Culinary Win in Army Food Service Award Competition
July 28, 2021 — Army Culinary Specialists with Company D, 634th Brigade Support Battalion, based in Galva, Illinois, have cooked up a win in the Department of the Army’s 53rd annual Philip A. Connelly Award for Excellence in Army Food Service in the National Guard Field Kitchen category... MORE

'Soldiers Leader' Retires After Nearly 4 Decades
July 27, 2021 — Sweat poured from Mark Twain High School Tiger running back Mike Zerbonia Jr. His thick eyeglasses were fogging up, a clunky knee brace was strapped around his leg and his full head of hair was drenched in sweat – but he kept on churning out yardage. “He would never give up and he would never quit,” said life-long friend Colonel (retired) Troy Phillips, who played football with Zerbonia at the Center, Missouri, high school and was later an Illinois State Police trooper and Illinois National Guard officer with Zerbonia. “It was never about Mike Zerbonia. It was always about the team and not wanting to let down his teammates. Much of his leadership was forged through sport.” ... MORE

ILNG Showcases Upgrades of Automated Record Fire Range at MTC
July 27, 2021 — The Illinois National Guard (ILNG) hosted federal, state and local leaders to officially dedicate the upgraded Automated Record Fire (ARF) Range at the Marseilles Training Center (MTC) in Marseilles, Illinois, July 23... MORE

From Afghan Interpreter to Land of Opportunities
July 9, 2021 — When Fahim Masoud was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1988, the country was at war with the Soviet Union. Fast forward 17 years, Masoud graduated from high school and faced one of three options for his future – study in India on a scholarship, go to a local university in Afghanistan, or apply for a risky job as an interpreter for the U.S. military... MORE

Lawson Retires After 33 Years; Applies Life Lessons to Unexpected Adversity
July 6, 2021 — When Brig. Gen. (retired) Chris Lawson retired in 2020 from the Illinois Army National Guard after 33 years, he had no idea what was in store the next 18 months. World-wide pandemic. Marriage. New wife with colon cancer. His own life-saving liver transplant. ... MORE

Pekin Area Soldier Retires From Illinois Army National Guard
May 5, 2021 — More than three decades after initially enlisting in the U.S. Army to give back to the country that has given so much to his family, Lt. Col. Michael Legler, of Pekin, Illinois, retired from the Illinois Army National Guard. “Both my parents were born and raised in Germany,” Legler said. “They both had to flee from East Germany some years after the war. I guess that’s what inspired me to enlist in the Army - among other things: I wanted to give something back to the United States.” ... MORE

Illinois National Guard Bids Farewell to Inspector General
April 16, 2021 — The Illinois National Guard bid farewell to its Inspector General in a small ceremony April 9 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Col. Thomas Ransom, of Highland Park, Illinois, served as the Illinois National Guard’s Inspector General (ILNG IG) from July 2017 to May 2021. Ransom, an active duty U.S. Army officer, was recently selected as the Deputy Chief of Exercises (G-37) at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. ... MORE

From Dixon to the World: Illinois National Guard Officer Selected for Key Post at Army Central Command
April 9, 2021 — Illinois Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Henry Dixon is about as Illinois as they come, but as part of the National Guard’s extended active duty program he is enhancing the nation’s defense worldwide... MORE

183rd Wing Commander Chosen as Director of Logistics for Air Guard
April 5, 2021 — The Commander of the 183rd Wing, Col. Donald "DK" Carpenter, who rose through the enlisted ranks and then through the officer ranks as a 'problem solver,' will now put his skills to work at the national level as the new Director of Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection for the Air National Guard... MORE

Illinois National Guard Officer Named to Key Post at 1st Army
April 5, 2021 — Illinois Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Mark Jackson of Frankfort, Illinois, has been selected as the Deputy Commanding General of Operations for First Army and will be promoted to Major General... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Unit Cooks Up Culinary Win in Army Food Service Award Competition

‘General Z,’ Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, took care of troops for 38 years

ILNG Showcases Upgrades of Automated Record Fire Range at MTC

Fahim Masoud Realizes Dream of Military Service in Illinois Army National Guard

Lawson Retires After 33 Years; Applies Life Lessons to Unexpected Adversity

Michael Legler will continue serving service members, families in Family Programs role

Illinois National Guard Bids Farewell to Inspector General

From Dixon to the World: Illinois National Guard Officer Selected for Key Post at Army Central Command

Colonel Donald "DK" Carpenter will be Promoted to Brigadier General

Mark Jackson of Frankfort, Illinois, will Receive Second Star

Greenview Soldier Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in Illinois Army National Guard

Illinois Air National Guard's Weitekamp Paved Way as DoD's First Woman Sniper

Northbrook Illinois Rabbi Sworn in as Chaplain in Illinois Army National Guard

Central Illinois Soldier Promoted to Colonel in Illinois Army National Guard

Springfield Resident Retires After More Than 30 years Serving the State of Illinois and the Illinois National Guard

World War II Veteran Celebrates 97th Birthday With Help From ILARNG

Mount Pulaski Soldier Promoted to Colonel in Illinois Army National Guard

Liaison Mission with Polish Military Started in Iraq and Shifted to Afghanistan

Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan Led Unit That Won Secretary of Defense Logistics Award

Athens Soldier Appointed First Sergeant of Springfield-based Illinois Army National Guard Unit

Army Combat Fitness Test Training Team Visits Illinois Army National Guard

Deployed Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers Receive Combat Service Patch

Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy Has More Cadets Test Positive for COVID-19

World War II Medals Recovered in Texas Returned to Illinois Family

Forreston Soldier Promoted to Sergeant in Illinois Army National Guard

Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy Has Several Cadets Test Positive for COVID-19

Champaign Soldier Assumes command of Chicago unit

Franklin Soldier Promoted to Colonel in Illinois Army National Guard

Pleasant Plains Soldier Promoted to Sergeant First Class

Petersburg Soldier Retires from Illinois Army National Guard

Bourbonnais Soldier Retires from Illinois Army National Guard

Illinois Army National Guard To Aid California Firefighting Operations

Illinois Army National Guard Hosts Region IV Best Warrior Competition

Six Soldiers Inducted into Illinois Army National Guard OCS Hall of Fame

Illinois Army National Guard Welcomes New Commissioned Officers

Springfield Colonel Assumes Command of 129th Regiment

Springfield Army National Guard Soldier Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

Deployed Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers Receive Combat Service Patch

Eastridge Promoted to Colonel in Illinois Army National Guard

Soldiers from Glen Carbon and Elburn take Top Honors at Illinois National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition

Freeport-based 333rd Military Police Company Returns from Deployment

Unprecedented Year for the Illinois National Guard

Specialized Illinois Army National Guard Unit Returns from Deployment

Illinois Army National Guard Helps to Recruit 10,000 in Three Days

Illinois Army National Guard Cavalry Troops Mobilize for Africa Mission

Specialized Illinois National Guard Unit Deploys for Overseas Mission

Chicago-based Soldiers Return from Duty in Middle East

Swansea, Illinois National Guardsman Appointed Director of Operations - Illinois Air National Guard

GOVERNOR ACTIVATES APPROXIMATELY 60 ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS FOR FLOOD RESPONSE

GOVERNOR ACTIVATES ABOUT 250 ADDITIONAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS FOR COVID-19 TESTING SITE OPERATIONS

POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST? YOU MAY STILL ENLIST IN THE ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD

Family, Co-workers Finding New Ways to Move Forward Following Coronavirus Deaths

Illinois National Guard Will End Missions at Developmental Centers Late Monday

Polish Military Medical Personnel Join Illinois' COVID-19 Response Efforts

Governor Activates about 190 Additional Illinois National Guard members for COVID-19 Response Operations

Chicago-based 1-178th Battalion Returns from Deployment

Governor Activates about 210 Additional Illinois National Guard Members for COVID-19 Response Operations

Illinois Air National Guard supports COVID-19 Alternate Housing Facilities

Governor Activates about 80 additional Illinois National Guard Members for COVID-19 Response Operations

Governor activates 90 additional Illinois National Guard Members for COVID-19 Support operations

Governor activates 30 Soldiers to assist with COVID-19 support at Stateville Correctional Facility

Governor Activates Springfield Army National Guard Unit to assist at COVID-19 testing site in Bloomington

Governor activates 115 additional National Guard members for COVID-19 operations throughout state

Governor activates Metro-east Air National Guard unit, operations ramp up in central Illinois

Illinois Army National Guard develops creative ways to meet recruiting goals

Illinois National Guard and Department of Military Affairs take precautions to limit spread of COVID-19

Aurora Selected State Command Chief of Illinois Air National Guard

Miller Pins on Colonel Eagles

Silvasy Promoted to Brigadier General

Glisson Retires After 32-Year Military Career

Boyd Selected for Promotion to Brigadier General, Appointed as Assistant Chief of Staff, Joint Logistics, US Forces Korea

Price Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in Illinois Army National Guard

Siblings Promoted in Illinois National Guard

Petersburg Soldier Receives Award for Meritorious Service

Adjutant General addresses Cyber Law Course

Illinois Army National Guard Offers $20,000 Bonus to Select Soldiers

Bloomington's Rivera Jr. Graduates Officers Course, Earns Leadership Award

PNC Bank Supervisors Recognized for Support of National Guard Soldiers

Illinois National Guard hosts Fallen Heroes Remembrance in Kankakee

Springfield Soldier retires after 25 years