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Specialist Jared Jess, of Jacksonville, Illinois, catches sandbags along the Heartwell Levee near Hillview, Illinois, on June 3, 2019. Jess worked alongside other Soldiers of Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123 Field Artillery Regiment, to improve flood defenses near Hillview to protect surrounding communities.

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Spc. Jared Jess, of Jacksonville, Illinois, grabs a sandbag from Pvt. 1st Class Killian Cawthon, of Watseka, Illinois, both Soldiers serve with Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment, based in Springfield, Illinois. Soldiers of Bravo Battery worked along the 12 miles of levee that make up the Heartwell Levee District in Greene County, Illinois.

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Spec. Jacqueline Herrera, of Cicero, Illinois, and Sgt. Andrew Gray, of Warren, Illinois. Herrera and Gray are among the 10 Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment working flood duty in the East Carondelet, Illinois area.

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Sgt. Joey White, of Chicago, Pfc. Andrew Gusich, of Mendota, and Spec. Eder Castillo, of Rochelle, discuss levee patrol operations

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2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment Soldiers construct sandbag structure along Winchester levee system

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Flooding in Valley City, Illinois

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Soldiers are placing sandbags along the Winchester levee system

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Brig. Gen. Richard R. Neely, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard escorts the Armed Forces wreath during the Chicago Memorial Day Wreathlaying Ceremony at Daley Plaza on May 25 with other military dignitaries.

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Brig. Gen. Richard Neely, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard claps with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth as Chicago Public School JRROTC programs march by the reviewing stand at the Chicago Memorial Day Parade on May 25.

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The Illinois National Guard's 108th Sustainment Brigade provided a ceremonial rifle squad for Chicago Memorial Day on May 25.Pictured from the left is Amanda Diaz of Montgomery, Illinois; Pfc. Korina Walach, also of Montgomery; Brig. Gen. Richard R. Neely, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard; Capt. Tim McDuffie, the Guard's Intergovernmental and Interagency Officer; the detail's officer-in-charge 2nd Lt. Andrew Madry of Lake Zurich, Illinois, and Pfc. Yohn Montalvo of Melrose Park, Illinois.

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Cadets from Lincoln's Challenge Academy march in the Chicago Memorial Day Parade. This class is scheduled to graduate from the 16-week in-resident phase on June 15. More than 70 percent of cadets are expected to earn their GED. Lincoln's ChalleNGe, administered by the Illinois National Guard, has graduated more than 15,000 formerly at-risk youth since it began in 1993.

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The Illinois Army National Guard's 108th Sustainment Brigade provided a ceremonial rifle squad for Chicago Memorial Day on May 25. The officer-in-charge of the squad was 2nd Lt. Andrew Madry of Lake Zurich, Illinois. In the squad was Spc. Amanda Diaz of Montgomery, Illinois; Pfc. Korina Walach, also of Montgomery; and Pfc. Yohn Montalvo of Melrose Park, Illinois.

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Pfc. Breanna Isakson of Belivedere, Illinois; Pfc. Byron Leon of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Kern of Chicago, Illinois; all of the 933rd Military Police Co., 404th MEB (Maneuver Enhancement Brigade), Illinois Army National Guard provided two static displays at Daley Plaza during Chicago Memorial Day events on May 25.

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A team of Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 178 Infantry Regiment, Illinois National Guard move through the squad movement drill as a part of the unit's pre-mobilization training at the Marseilles Training Center, Marseilles, Illinois, on May 21, 2019. The 178 Infantry is based in Chicago, Elgin, Woodstock, and Bartonville, Illinois, the unit deploys summer 2019.

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Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 178 Infantry Regiment, Illinois National Guard move through the squad movement lane of pre-mobilization training at the Marseilles Training Center, Marseilles, Illinois, on May 21, 2019. Approximately 400 Soldiers of the 178 Infantry deploy to Afghanistan summer 2019.

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Soldiers of the 1st Regiment, 178 Infantry Battalion, Illinois National Guard, participate in a squad movement lane as a part of pre-mobilization training at the Marseilles Training Center, Marseilles, Illinois, on May 21, 2019. Soldiers of the 178 gathered for training and administrative tasks in preparation for their summer 2019 deployment.

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker presents an Illinois flag to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jason Stiff of Pawnee, Illinois, Commander, Detachment 5, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment, during the mobilization ceremony May 22 at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. The unit will deploy to the Horn of Africa. Joining Pritzker and Stiff is Illinois Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Richard Neely. (U.S. Army photo by Barbara Wilson, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office.)

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Soldiers from Detachment 5, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment, stand to be recognized during the mobilization ceremony May 22 at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. The unit will deploy to the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Barbara Wilson, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office.)

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Command Sgt. Maj. Dena Ballowe of Litchfield, Illinois has been named to serve in the most senior enlisted position in the Illinois National Guard as the Senior Enlisted Leader effective July 1, the first woman to serve in the position. Illinois Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Richard Neely appointed Ballowe to the three year position. (Department of the Army photo)

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Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, Assistant Adjutant General – Army and Commander, Illinois Army National Guard, presents Sgt. Maj. Sharon Hultquist, of Delavan, Illinois, with the Legion of Merit and the Illinois Distinguished Service Medal during her retirement ceremony May 17 at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Hultquist retires May 31 after more than 30 years serving in the military. (U.S. Army photo by Barbara Wilson, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)

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