Illinois National Guard Soldier Thad Lael was promoted to Sergeant First Class in a ceremony July 30 in Springfield, Illinois.
Lael, who has served 19 years in the military, enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard as a wheel vehicle repairer in September 1993. He took a break in service, reenlisting in the Illinois Army National Guard in 2006 as a motor transport operator.
“Sergeant First Class Lael is a great Non-Commissioned Officer and is very deserving of this promotion,” said Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton, Commander, 1st Battalion, 129th Regiment Regional Training Institute.
Lael is a Motor Transport Operator instructor at the 129th Regional Training Institute at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois.
In the civilian sector, Lael has been employed by United Parcel Service for 26 years and was recently promoted to Feeder On Road Manager for the Addison, Illinois, UPS facility.
He and his wife of 25 years, Angel, live in Chatham, Illinois.