Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Tim Milligan, of Illiopolis, Illinois, was promoted to chief warrant officer four Aug. 3 in a ceremony at the Illinois State Military Museum, Springfield, Illinois.
During the ceremony, Milligan was also presented with the Meritorious Service Medal for “exceptional meritorious service as the personnel actions and officer personnel management branch chief” from 2018 to 2022.
“I’ve been fortunate to be in rooms with people who help me,” Milligan told family, friends and colleagues. “I wouldn’t be here without the support of each of you. You have helped me excel and exceed any type of standards put in front of me. This is truly about teamwork.”
Milligan enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1997 as a military police Soldier, serving in the 233rd Military Police Company in Springfield, Illinois. He entered the Active Guard and Reserve program in 2003 as a recruiter and served in a variety of different assignments as an enlisted Soldier.
In 2011, Milligan received his commission as a warrant officer and was selected to be the resource manager for RRB. He has served in a variety of assignments, including chief of the Field Support Branch, RRB, Human Resources officer for the 129th Regional Training Institute, and personnel actions branch chief.
Col. Ron Bonesz, the director of Military Personnel, Illinois Army National Guard, said he has been blessed with an amazing amount of warrant officers who are subject matter experts and professionals who have worked for him and Milligan is no exception.
“Due to Tim’s strategic thinking, the personnel actions branch was separated into two branches, one for enlisted Soldiers and one for officers,” Bonesz said. “This made things a lot smoother throughout the organization all the way up to the National Guard Bureau. This is just one example of what we’ve come to expect from Tim day in and day out.”
Bonesz said not only is Milligan one of his advisors, he’s also a very trusted advisor to the senior leaders throughout the Illinois Army National Guard.
“Your previous assignments have made you what you are today,” Bonesz. “You have done a phenomenal job as the chief of the officer personnel management branch. I know in your new position as the warrant officer strength manager with the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, you’ll do amazing stuff. You are the right guy for the job.”
Milligan offered advice to those serving in the Illinois National Guard.
“Make the most of the opportunities given to you. Don’t be selfish, be a team player regardless of where you’re at,” he said. “As long as you’re doing the right things for the organization and looking out for the bigger picture, things will fall into place.”
Milligan said he’s a product of that philosophy.
“I’m not here because I did a, b, and c,” he said. “It truly is a team effort.”
Milligan thanked those who he has served with over the years.
“To the G-1 team, it’s been an awesome run. I couldn’t ask for anything better,” he said. “This was the most challenging assignment I’ve had in my career, but it made me grow in ways I didn’t think possible.”
Milligan also thanked his family for their support.
“I appreciate you putting up with all the military stuff, missing things, going to different schools and not being around for the milestones in your lives,” he said. “Just like the military side, it takes teamwork. Without your support there is no way I would be able to do the things I do.”