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Ralph and Linda Grieco, of Bartlett, Illinois, ride in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after the Fallen Heroes remembrance ceremony at the Kankakee Army Aviation Support Facility, Kankakee, Illinois, Nov. 3. The Greico family is one of 34 Illinois National Guard Gold Star families that lost a family member in combat since Sept. 11, 2001. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Shaylin Quaid, 1844th Transportation Company)

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Brig. Gen. Richard Neely, the Adjutant General, Illinois National Guard, offers remarks during the Fallen Heroes Ceremony, at the Kankakee Army Aviation Support Facility, Kankakee, Illinois, Nov. 3. Neely spoke on behalf of the Illinois National Guard, thanking the families in attendance and stressing the ongoing relationship between the Illinois National Guard and the families of its fallen Soldiers and Airmen. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

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Lt. Col. Justin Wilkerson, of Peoria, Illinois, 404th Manuever Enhancement Brigade, presents the Illinois National Guard Military Medal of Merit to 2nd Lt. Patrick J. Pendergast, of Plainfield, Illinois. Pendergast, who serves as a platoon leader in the 233rd Military Police Company based in Springfield, Illinois, was awarded the Military Medal of Merit for his contributions to the success of flood response operations during State Active Duty.

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Chief Warrant Officer-3 Juan Morales of Joliet, Illinois, stands at the position of attention during his promotion ceremony at the Urbana Readiness Center in Urbana Oct. 18.

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Staff Sgt. Gregory Baumgartner of Elmwood, Illinois, salutes his commanding officer after a promotion ceremony at the Urbana Readiness Center in Urbana Oct. 18.

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233rd Military Police Company 1st Sgt. Jeramie Mayes passes the company guidon during a change of responsibility during his retirement ceremony at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Mayes is retiring from the Illinois Army National Guard after a 31 year career.

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Col. Melissa Beauman, Illinois National Guard’s United States Property and Fiscal Office, with the Fiscal Stewardship Award presented to the Illinois National Guard by the National Guard Bureau’s Directorate of Programs and Resources, during the annual USPFO workshop. This is the second consecutive year the Illinois National Guard has earned the Fiscal Stewardship Award, an award noting USPFO’s work to be excellent stewards of taxpayer dollars. (U.S. Army photo by Barbara Wilson, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)

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Joseph Schweickert, Director of Human Relations, Illinois National Guard, pins the Meritorious Service Medal to Master Sgt. Philip Squires during his retirement ceremony at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois, Oct. 30. Squires retired from the Illinois National Guard with 25 years of service. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

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Joseph Schweickert, Director of Human Relations, Illinois National Guard, pins the Meritorious Service Medal to Master Sgt. Philip Squires during his retirement ceremony at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois, Oct. 30. Squires retired from the Illinois National Guard with 25 years of service. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

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Newly promoted Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christopher Arnold’s wife, Crystal, places his new rank on his uniform while son, James, pins new rank on his cap, during Arnold’s promotion ceremony, Sept. 25, at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Arnold, of Auburn, Illinois, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1989 and has served more than 30 years in the military.

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Troops from the Illinois National Guard prepare to depart on a live fire exercise during Rising Thunder 19.

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Soldiers from the Illinois National Guard stack to prepare to breach a structure during the live fire exercise for Rising Thunder 19.

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Capt. Jordan Legris, commander, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, briefs members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force prior to the kick-off of the live fire exercise during Rising Thunder 19.

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Pfc. Kyle Brennan poses with a member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense during Rising Thunder 19.

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Spc. James Tyler Short, a combat medic with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, surveys the digital multipurpose range complex during Rising Thunder 19 at Yakima Training Center, Yakima, Washington

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Maintenance Soldiers from the 1844th Transportation Company, 108th Sustainment Brigade work on attaching the recovery vehicle's towbar to a downed truck.

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Sgt. First Class Brian Jackson from the 1844th Transportation Company uses a "halt" hand signal as his recovery vehicle's towbar lines up with the humvee during a training lane in Rising Thunder 2019.

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Sgt. Brett Montgomery from the 1844th Transportation Company, 108th Sustainment Brigade, pulls security while the maintenance crew hooks up a downed humvee to their recovery vehicle.

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Aircraft with the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade provide support to the Illinois Army National Guard during Rising Thunder 19 in Yakima, Wash., Sept. 7, 2019.

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Soldiers from the 1844th Transportation Company, 108th Sustainment Brigade, and medics from the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, both part of the Illinois Army National Guard, face a chemical attack and small arms fire engagement during their morning base defense.

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