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NEWS | Aug. 24, 2022

Two Inducted into Illinois Army National Guard OCS Hall of Fame

Two lieutenant colonels who graduated from the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School were inducted as members of the Illinois National Guard’s OCS Hall of Fame Class of 2022, Aug. 21, at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Springfield, Illinois.

            Lt. Col. Andrew Adamczyk, of Springfield, and retired Lt. Col. Loren Easter, of Chatham, were recognized as inductees during the ILARNG’s Officer Candidate School graduation and commissioning ceremony. Each inductee was presented with a bust of Abraham Lincoln during the induction ceremony.

            “Lieutenant Colonel Adamczyk and retired Lieutenant Colonel Easter are deserving of the title Hall of Fame inductee,” said Brig. Gen. Rodney Boyd, of Naperville, Illinois, Assistant Adjutant General – Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard. “Their achievements are woven into the fabric of the Illinois National Guard history.”

            To be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame, each Soldier must be a graduate of the Illinois Army National Guard’s 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) OCS program, attain the rank of lieutenant colonel while serving on active duty and/or active National Guard or Reserve status, be recognized and recommended by the ILARNG OCS Hall of Fame Board, and confirmed by the Commander of the 129th RTI for outstanding service.

Adamczyk enlisted as a Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic in May 1995. His previous assignments have included Intelligence Officer for Multinational Division Central South, Iraq; 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) Officer Candidate School instructor and tactical officer; 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade intelligence officer; Strategy, Policy and Plans and International/Inter-governmental Affairs Officer; and branch chief operational planning, Joint Force Headquarters. He deployed to Iraq in 2004.

Adamczyk, who has served for 27 years, is the Battalion Commander for 2nd Battalion, 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) and the full-time deputy director of Strategy, Plans and Policy in the Military Intelligence Branch. He was commissioned in 2002.

Easter enlisted as a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Operations specialist in April 1995. He has previously served as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer in 3rd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment, commander of the 444th Chemical Company, the 44th Chemical Battalion’s administrative officer, executive officer, 404th MEB, the Illinois National Guard’s Engineer Plans Officer, and the ILARNG Employer Support Officer. He served in multiple campaigns including Operation Noble Eagle from 2003-2004; Operation Iraqi Freedom as Air Operations Officer in support of the (Polish) Multination Division; and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan to build Polish Task Force combat capabilities.

Easter, who served for 27 years and has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology with graduate study in Forestry and Geographic Information Systems, was commissioned in 1998.