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Newly promoted Maj. Aaron Bryant thanks friends and family for their support throughout his military career during a promotion ceremony March 5 at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield.

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Col. Matthew Garrison, Chief of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, administers the oath of office to newly promoted Maj. Aaron Bryant during a promotion ceremony March 5 at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield.

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Sarah Crafton, the fiancé of newly promoted Maj. Aaron Bryant, tacks on new major rank during a promotion ceremony March 5 at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield.

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Members of the 8th Infantry Regiment Illinois National Guard Association and the National Guard Association of Illinois honor Aaron Benjamin, the 2026 recipient of the Captain Walter H. Dyett Award during a ceremony March 2 at the Walter H. Dyett High School for the Fine Arts in Chicago.

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Illinois Army National Guard Commander Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams poses for a photo with Walter H. Dyett High School for the Fine Arts student Aaron Benjamin, the 2026 recipient of the Captain Walter H. Dyett Award on March 2 at the high school.

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Brig. Gen. Steven B. Rice, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Illinois National Guard, shares a story of cousins who served in the Illinois Army National Guard and were two of the nearly 1,400 Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen deployed to Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm.

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Claudia Morales pins staff sergeant rank on her sister, Daniela Martinez.

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The family of Staff Sgt. Daniela Martinez pose for a photo after her promotion ceremony.

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Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Webb of Galesburg's C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment smiles as he prepares to let the blood flow for donation at the Illinois Army National Guard's armory in Milan.

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Lt. Col. Lionel Gonzalez and his family smile for a photo during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Feb. 22.

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Senior leaders stand alongside Lt. Col. Lionel Gonzalez during his retirement ceremony at Illinois National Guard headquarters in Springfield, Illinois, Feb. 22.

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Staff Sgt. Christopher P. Kelnhofer delivers remarks during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Feb. 22, 2026.

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Staff Sgt. Christopher P. Kelnhofer stands at the position of attention during his retirement ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Feb. 22.

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Allies and partners gather for a group photo after the Brave Band 2026 Exercise. The Lithuanian, Polish, Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG) conducted Exercise Brave Band 2026 from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6, an annual battle staff training event designed to enhance the brigade headquarters’ ability to plan, synchronize, and execute multinational operations in a complex operational environment.

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The Woodstock-based H Company “Honeybadgers” celebrate their “three-peat” as the Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion’s “Company of the Year” during the battalion’s annual awards banquet, Jan. 31, in Springfield.

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Maj. Gen. Lenny Williams, the Assistant Adjutant General – Army of the Illinois National Guard and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, presents Staff Sgt. Francisco Orozco with the Army National Guard Director’s 54 Award during the Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion’s Military Ball and Awards Ceremony on Jan. 31 in Springfield.

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Illinois Army National Guard Spc. Kevin Schreier with the Springfield, Ill.-based 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, conducts a transaction at the Army & Air Force Exchange Authorized Imprest Fund Activity (AIFA) PX in Karliki, Poland.

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Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers with the Springfield, Ill.-based 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, pose in front of the Army & Air Force Exchange Authorized Imprest Fund Activity (AIFA) PX they run in Karliki, Poland.

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Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the Assistant Adjutant General – Army of the Illinois National Guard and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, presents Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Ramos with the Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion “Rookie of the Year” Award at the battalion’s annual Military Ball and Awards Ceremony, Jan. 31, in Springfield.

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Illinois Army National Guard Spc. Wyatt Collier holds his son, 1-year-old Waylon Collier, after returning from deployment.

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