Illinois Army National Guard Soldier and Bourbonnais, Illinois resident Master Sgt. Joshuah Carlile retired from the Illinois Army National Guard after more than 20 years of service Sept. 12 at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois.
Carlile, who served as the Branch Chief for the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School (ILARNG OCS) under 2nd Battalion, 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1994. Following basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 131st Infantry Regiment as a machine gunner.
In 2001, Carlile was named the Brigade Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the Illinois Army National Guard’s 178th Infantry Regiment, based in Chicago. Before he could participate in the state level competition, Carlile was mobilized for state active duty at the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Following a six year break in service, Carlile reenlisted in the Illinois National Guard in 2009, volunteering for deployment to Afghanistan with the Bilateral Embedded Support Team in 2011.
In 2013, Carlile became an instructor in the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School, later becoming the branch chief.
“Master Sergeant Carlile’s dedication to the Officer Candidate Program has been paramount,” said Maj. Kyle Scifert, of Elgin, Illinois, Commander, ILARNG OCS. “He has helped to shape, mentor and instruct more than 1,000 officer candidates from 15 states during his time here.”
Carlile’s military service includes deployments to Kuwait, Germany and Afghanistan where he earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.