Staff Sgt. Phillip Sawyer, of Anna, Illinois, an instructor with 2nd Battalion, 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois, retired from the Illinois Army National Guard Feb. 12 with more than 22 years of military service.
Sawyer enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2000 as an aviation radio repairer, serving with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 28, based at Cherry Point, North Carolina. Sawyer later transferred into the Illinois Army National Guard as a signal support systems specialist.
Sawyer served in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Marion, Illinois, prior to being assigned to the RTI in 2017.
Sawyer deployed to Afghanistan from 2008-2009.