Features

Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Selected for All-Army Women's Softball Team
June 27, 2023 — Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Mary Joan “MJ” Patten’s love of softball began when she was five years old, playing T-ball for the Rockford, Illinois, Park District. Patten, now of Caledonia, Wisconsin, continued playing softball throughout middle school, high school, and college. On July 18, Patten will don another softball uniform – as the only National Guard member competing in the 2023 All-Army Women’s Softball training camp and the Armed Forces Women’s Softball Championship... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Mary Joan Patten, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion, based in Decatur, during training with the Illinois Army National Guard.

Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidates Travel Back in Time to Battle of Shiloh for Staff Ride
May 20, 2023 — Gen. Ulysses S. Grant called the Battle of Shiloh, fought April 6-7, 1862 at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, “the severest battle fought in the West during the War.” More than 110,000 men fought at the Battle of Shiloh near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. More than 23,000 men were wounded or killed during the battle, including 3,957 Illinois militiamen. The Illinois Army National Guard (ILARNG) Officer Candidate School’s (OCS) Class 68-23 visited Shiloh National Military Park during their annual Staff Ride May 20... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Class 68-23 and cadre pause in front of the Mother of Illinois monument dedicated to the Illinois Militia who fought during the Battle of Shiloh as part of the staff ride to the Shiloh National Military Park near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, May 20.

Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Helps Save Man’s Life After Car Accident
March 21, 2022 — SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – A 19-year old Illinois Army National Guard Soldier and two other volunteers are credited with helping to save the life of a man who was severely injured in a single-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon, March 13, on Interstate 55 near Exit 119 in Lincoln... MORE

Spc. Tyler Watters of Gillespie, IL, assigned to the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) poses next to his mother during a holiday function. Watters and two other volunteers are credited with helping to save the life of a man who was severely injured in a single-vehicle accident March 13 on Interstate 55 near Exit 119 in Lincoln. (photo courtesy of Spc. Tyler Watters)

Belvidere Siblings enlist in Illinois Army National Guard
January 8, 2019 — Pvt. Autumn Harnois and Pvt. Austin Harnois of Belvidere, Illinois, pose for a photo in Belvidere, Illinois, Feb. 8. Austin and Autumn both plan to attend the University of Chicago after completing their military training... MORE