Col. Lenny Williams, of Dyer, Indiana, bid farewell to the Illinois Army National Guard’s 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute, RTI), based in Springfield, Illinois, during a change of command ceremony Aug. 23 at the Illinois Military Academy on Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois.
Williams relinquished command to Col. Daniel Reichen, of Springfield, Illinois, who serves as the Illinois Army National Guard Director of Personnel (G1).
Williams thanked the Soldiers in attendance.
“I really believed and planned I would be here for a while,” Williams said. “Thank you for the confidence you placed in me as Chief of Staff. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the organization and the RTI in that role.”
“This is going to be an amazing ride,” Reichen said. “Colonel Williams has set the bar very high. You have great Soldiers and great commanders and I look forward to the challenge.”
Courses taught by the 129th RTI Soldiers include motor transport operator, signal support systems specialist, food service specialist and Officer Candidate School to name a few. Approximately 415 Soldiers attended courses through the RTI in 2019.
Williams, who assumed command of the 129th RTI on Nov. 12, was appointed the Chief of Staff, Illinois Army National Guard in June.