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Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, issues three challenges to the Soldiers of the Springfield-based 1886th Engineer Facilities Detachment during the unit’s mobilization ceremony April 15 at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln. The Soldiers will deploy in support of Operation Spartan Shield to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

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Approximately 15 Soldiers from the Springfield-based 1886th Engineer Facilities Detachment stand at attention during a mobilization ceremony April 15 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. The Soldiers will deploy in support of Operation Spartan Shield to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

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Soldiers with the Illinois Army National Guard’s 1-178th Infantry Regiment and Company B, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion stand in formation at the 182nd Airlift Wing prior to being reunited with friends and family April 12.

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Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, left, the Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Illinois National Guard, welcomes home Soldiers from 1-178th Infantry Regiment and Company B, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion from deployment to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.

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Soldiers with the Illinois Army National Guard’s 1-178th Infantry Regiment and Company B, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion return to Peoria from deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 12, 2025.

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Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, The Adjutant General and Commander of the Illinois National Guard welcomes home Soldiers from 1-178th Infantry Regiment and Company B, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion from deployment to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.

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Soldiers with the Illinois Army National Guard’s 1-178th Infantry Regiment and Company B, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion return to Rockford from deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 11. The units deployed in June 2024 in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

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Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment were welcomed home with a water cannon salute at the Chicago-Rockford International Airport in Rockford April 11 as they returned home from a deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

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Polish SCPL Michal Marciszewski, left, and Polish PVT Dawid Szuman cross the finish line at the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition

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The Soldiers and Noncommissioned Officers participating in the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 4-6 at the Sparta Training Area, Sparta.

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Pvt. 1st Class Daniel Dounoulis, left, of Moline, Illinois, and Sgt. Tobias James, of Deer Park, Illinois, both representing the 65th Troop Command Brigade, compete for the titles of Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year at the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition.

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Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Kelly, Illinois Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major, presents Spc. Nathan Johnson with the Soldier of the Year award at the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 4-6.

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Spc. Nathan Johnson, left, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Staff Sgt. Cameron Skaja, of Peoria, Illinois, both representing the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, followed closely by the Polish military participants, compete for the titles of Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

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PVT Dawid Szuman and SCPL Michal Marciszewski, both representing the Polish military, participate in the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition.

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Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Kelly, Illinois Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major, presents Sgt. Luke Birtch with the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award at the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition

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The Illinois National Guard's Easter Egg Hunt for Military Families at Mount Vernon Armory was a huge success despite the rain on March 29.

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Eight-year-old Rylan Roe, son of Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Roe of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, and 6-year Teagan Sneed, daughter of Staff Sgt. Ashley Sneed of the 123rd Engineer Battalion, lead the charge during the Easter Egg Hunt.

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The young son of Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Danielle Bauman of Mount Vernon sits with the Easter Bunny at the Illinois National Guard's Easter Egg Hunt for Military Families.

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Teagan Sneed, the 6-year-old daughter of 123rd Engineer Battalion Staff Sgt. Ashley Sneed, pets a cat in the mobile Pawsotively Scrumptious Cat Cafe during the Mount Vernon Easter Egg Hunt for Military Families.

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Two-year-old Ellie Upchurch of Mount Vernon gathers eggs with her great grandmother, Dr. Linda Upchurch, as the Easter Bunny observes.

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