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Col. Shawn Nokes, the outgoing commander of the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), speaks during the unit's Change of Command Ceremony.

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Col. Shawn Nokes, the outgoing commander of the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), presents Col. Paul Metzdorff with some 129th RTI swag during the unit's Change of Command Ceremony.

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Col. Shawn Nokes, the outgoing commander of the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), speaks during the unit's Change of Command Ceremony.

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Noncommissioned officer in the Illinois Army National Guard's 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) listen to Col. Shawn Nokes.

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Staff Sgt. Aaron Barnett of the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) smiles after receiving a kickball from Col. Shawn Nokes.

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Col. Shawn Nokes presents Sgt. 1st Class Kayla Alberstett, a senior instructor in the 92G (culinary specialist) program, with the Gordon Ramsey award.

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Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Carroll and Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams present outgoing 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) Commander Col. Shawn Nokes with a gift from the unit's Soldiers.

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Col. Paul Metzdorff receives the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) guidon from Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams.

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Col. Paul Metzdorff speaks during the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) Change of Command Ceremony.

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Col. Paul Metzdorff receives the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) guidon from Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams.

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Col. Shawn Nokes was presented with the Legion of Merit for for his stellar performance commanding the 129th Regiment for two years.

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Col. Shawn Nokes presents Sgt. 1st Class Kayla Alberstett, a senior instructor in the 92G (culinary specialist) program, with the Gordon Ramsey award.

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Illinois Army National Guard Spc. Adiodun Lucas recites the oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony Sept. 15 at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. Lucas, who immigrated to the United States in 2011, enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 2024.

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Illinois Army National Guard Spc. Adiodun Lucas with U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis during a naturalization ceremony Sept. 15 at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. Lucas, who immigrated to the United States in 2011, enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 2024, and pursued citizenship through the military expedited naturalization process.

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Egyptian and American colleagues pose for a group photo behind Egyptian Army Lt. Col. Mahmoud Eldeeb’s birthday cake.

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Lt. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, the Commander of U.S. Army Central and Third Army, talks with Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers Sgt. Gavin Hunt of Peoria, Ill., and Spc. Jane Huguelet of Tinley Park, Ill. on Sept. 8.

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Egyptian Army Lt. Col. Raouf Mohamed discusses the upcoming Command Post Exercise (CPX) with Illinois Army National Guard Capt. Jurl Vinegar on Sept. 3 during Bright Star 25 at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt.

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Illinois Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Jorge Fonseca, the Illinois National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, discusses Bright Star 25 with Egyptian Army Maj. Gen. Sherif Al-Araishi, the Director of the Military Training Authority on Sept. 3 prior to the Command Post Exercise (CPX) during Bright Star 25 at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt.

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Illinois Army National Guard Maj. David Wachtveitl discusses the upcoming Command Post Exercise (CPX) with Egyptian Army Lt. Col. Mahmoud Eldeeb on Sept. 3 during Bright Star 25 at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt.

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Pvt. 1st Class Brayden Mosoff Competes in Infantry Team Match at TAG Match 2025

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