News - Tag Illinois National Guard

Tag: Illinois National Guard

Springfield-based 232nd CSSB Mobilizes for Deployment to Europe
June 9, 2025 — Approximately 70 Soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), based in Springfield, were honored during a mobilization ceremony June 7 at West Side Christian Church as they prepare to deploy in support of Operation Global Competition. ...

Illinois National Guard Honors Master Sgt. Francis Sarnecki’s 31 Years of Service
June 9, 2025 — Surrounded by his wife, loved ones, and fellow Soldiers, Master Sgt. Francis Sarnecki retired from the Illinois Army National Guard during a ceremony held June 6 at the Illinois State Military Museum. ...

New Berlin Soldier Takes Oath as Commissioned Officer in Illinois Army National Guard
May 28, 2025 — The Illinois Army National Guard welcomed its newest second lieutenant in a commissioning ceremony May 17 at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, Springfield. Thomas Luca II of New Berlin, Illinois, who graduated from the Illinois Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School in August, was commissioned as an Adjutant General officer. ...

Future Illinois Army National Guard Officers Walk the Battlefield at Fort Donelson
May 21, 2025 — On the historic grounds of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, where Union and Confederate forces once clashed during the Civil War, a new generation of Illinois Army National Guard leaders walked in the footsteps of history. Officer Candidate School Class 70-25 from the Illinois Army National Guard traveled to the battlefield May 16–18 to study leadership, reflect on history, and strengthen their skills as they prepare to become commissioned officers. ...

Native of Chicago's Little Village selected as Illinois National Guard's Next Director of the Joint Staff
May 16, 2025 — Illinois Army National Guard Col. Jorge M. Fonseca, the Chief of Staff at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Middle East and Africa Regional Center, an Illinois State Police sergeant, and an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, has been selected as the next Illinois National Guard Director of the Joint Staff and will be promoted to brigadier general...

Newest Commissioned Officer Took Path from West Africa to Illinois National Guard Leadership
May 7, 2025 — Bafia is near the center of Cameroon in the tropics of West Africa, some 6,450 miles from Chicagoland. In 2017, Juliana Nkafu took that journey away from the Snoutfish of the Mbam and Sanaga Rivers to the Bluegill and Largemouth Bass of the Chicago River; away from the African Oil Palm, Moringa and Mangos to the Elms, Oaks, Maples and miles and miles of corn and soybeans of Illinois. Nkafu took a journey to the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” On April 26, after the playing of our National Anthem, she stood in front of several of her family and friends and dozens of her fellow Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers and took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” She commissioned as the newest officer in the Illinois Army National Guard and the U.S. Army. Nkafu graduated from the Accelerated Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a U.S. Army second lieutenant at the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) headquarters on Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. She enrolled in OCS in the fall of 2024. ...

Bloomington Soldier Retires after 38 Years of Service
May 6, 2025 — Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brian Berry of Bloomington, Company D, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion, based in Bloomington, was honored for his 38 years of military service in the U.S. Army and Illinois Army National Guard during a retirement ceremony May 2 at the Illinois Military Academy on Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois...

St. Louis Police Officer, Combat Veteran, Retires after 23 Years in the Illinois Army National Guard
May 2, 2025 — When Sean Fortune was a private in the Illinois Army National Guard’s “Mighty” 1344th Transportation Company, he introduced himself to his brand-new platoon leader as his “driver.” “He said, ‘Stick with me and you’ll make captain before you know it. I can’t guarantee major, but you’ll make captain,’” said the platoon leader, now colonel, Shawn Nokes – the commander of the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute). That private didn’t do so badly either...

Moline Police Lieutenant and Combat Veteran Retires from the Illinois Army National Guard with Top Enlisted Rank, Over 30 Years of Service
May 1, 2025 — Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Genisio of Orion started his career in the Illinois Army National Guard as an “impressively bad” light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, but 30 years later he retired as a top-ranked noncommissioned officer (NCO), Commandant of the 129th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), and with the Legion of Merit and a Master Infantry Combat Badge affixed to his uniform...

Founding Member of Elite Illinois Armory National Guard Unit at Rock Island Arsenal Retires After 23 Years of Service
April 29, 2025 — Illinois Army National Guard Master Sgt. Jennifer Dorsey of Moline, one of the founding members of the Rock Island Arsenal-based 6th Battalion, 54th Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB), is retiring after 23 years of service...

'Discipline, Sacrifice, Teamwork': 126th ARW Earns Metcalf Trophy

Grit, Courage and Resilience Define Illinois Army National Guard Combatives Champions

BROTHERHOOD BORN IN BATTLE – Veterans Reflect on Role in 2013 Defense of Forward Operating Base Ghazni

Team of Illinois Army National Guard Medics Respond to Real-Life Emergency During Northern Strike Exercise in Michigan

Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Graduates 22 Leaders

Quinn Honored for Nearly 3 Decades of Service and ‘Creating a Family’ of Soldiers

Two Illinois Army National Guard Teams Built Partner Capacity in Strategic Regions

Already a Coach, Artist, and ‘Brady Bunch’ Dad – Army Officer is Now a Major

U.S. and Malaysian soldiers conduct joint walking blood bank training

‘The Godfather’ Flies into Retirement after 42 Years of Service

Illinois Army Aviation MEDEVAC Writes Final Chapter of Unit’s History with Casing of Colors

Col. Jeffrey P. Hicks Appointed as United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Illinois

144th Army Band Hosts 3 Concerts to Celebrate Independence Day

Illinois' Jason Benhart Recognized as One of the Top Inspector General Civilians

American Revolution in the Midwest: How Parts of the War Were Fought in Illinois

Retired Chief Master Sergeant Wants to Help Veterans Heal Through Social Work

First Sergeant With ‘Toughness of Infantry and Compassion of Chaplain’ Retires After Nearly Three Decades of Military Service

Springfield-Based 233rd Military Police Company Mobilizes About 70 Soldiers For Critical Mission in Alaska

‘Rockstar’ Chief Warrant Officer Retires After Successful 25 Years of Service in the Illinois Army National Guard

Maj. Gen. Dan McDonough of Peoria Retires after Nearly Four Decades of Military Leadership

Illinois Army National Guard Aviator Wins Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award

Illinois National Guard's Director of Joint Staff Selected For Key Army Intelligence Role

The Power of Transformational Leadership: CMSgt Retires After 27 Years of Service

Illinois National Guard Leaders Welcome 10 New Second Lieutenants During Spring ROTC Commissioning Ceremonies

Proud New American: Spc. Edna Carrena Shares Her Journey To U.S. Citizenship Through Military Service

Aviation Soldiers Mobilize for Southern Command Mission

Belvidere Officer Retires from the Illinois Army National Guard After Two and a Half Decades of Selfless Service

Springfield-Based Military Police Co. Prepares for Deployment to Alaska

Illinois National Guard Soldiers step onto the range and step up to lead

Soldier Credits Gold Star Scholarships for Path to Success

Bloomington Soldier Credits Success to Giant Life Lessons

The 34th Division Sustainment Brigade (DSB) Change of Command

Fellow Veterans, Family Gather to Remember Soldier who Died During Annual Training Accident in 1999

Chicago White Sox Knock It Out of the Park, Answer Call for Replacement Memento Honoring Fallen Service Member

Illinois Air National Guard Judge Advocate Adjourns Career

Illinois National Guard 33rd IBCT Commander and Cavalry Officer Highlights Polish-American Military Bonds on Pulaski Day

Guard Officer Retires After 32 years; Has No Plans to Give Spouse’s Liver Back

Bryant Promoted to Major in Illinois Army National Guard

Illinois Army National Guard Commander Honors Captain Walter Dyett Award Recipient

Springfield Community Gathers to Remember 35th Anniversary of Desert Storm Cease Fire

Illinois National Guard Soldier Promoted to Staff Sergeant in Milan-based Unit

Illinois Army National Guard Field Artillery Battalion Joins With Community to Give Blood

From Soldier Care to Leadership: Lt. Col. Lionel Gonzalez Retires After 23 Years

Illinois Army National Guard Combatives Instructor Retires After 23 Years of Service

Brave Band 2026 Strengthens Multinational Readiness as U.S. National Guard Marks 11 Years of Partnership

Woodstock-Based ‘Honeybadgers’ Named Illinois Army National Guard’s Top Recruiting Company for Third Straight Year

Staff Sgt. Francisco Orozco Named Illinois’ Top Army National Guard Recruiter for Second Year, Earns National Recognition

Small Store, Big Impact: Illinois National Guard Soldiers Help Exchange Boost Soldier Morale at Forward Operating Site Karliki, Poland

Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Ramos Named Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting Rookie of the Year

Illinois National Guard Honors Former Guardsman Abe Lincoln

Cold-Weather Capable: IL ANG PA Airmen Test Limits During NS 26-1

Lake in the Hills Veterans Service Officer Promoted in the Illinois Army National Guard

Illinois Air National Guard’s New Top Enlisted Leader: ‘Get All the Training You Can’

404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade conducts Change of Command during Brigade Ball

National Guard Officer Retires from Army after 21 Years, Continues Service with VFW

Illinois National Guard, Portugal Formalize New State Partnership Agreement

Gov. Pritzker Names Colonel Steven B. Rice as Assistant Adjutant General - Air of the Illinois National Guard

725th Transportation Company Kept European Command Fueled

Upcoming retirement of Major General Daniel McDonough, the Assistant Adjutant General – Air and Commander of the Illinois Air National Guard after more than 38 years in uniform.

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Approximately 250 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers Return from Overseas Deployment

1-178th Infantry Welcomes New Commander

Approximately 265 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers Return from Overseas Deployment

Illinois National Guard Unit From Pontiac Played Vial Role in U.S. Military Operations in Somalia

Freeport-Based Military Police Unit Returns From Critical Mission in the Tundra

Illinois National Guard Regional Training Institute Gets New Commander

Illinois National Guard Soldier Becomes Naturalized U.S. Citizen During Ceremony

Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers Support Bright Star 25 in Egypt

Illinois National Guardsmen Compete in the Annual TAG Match 2025 to Test and Enhance Marksmanship

Two childhood friends from the Illinois Army National Guard compete together in the ILNG TAG Match 2025

Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy Welcomes New Director

Elmhurst, Ill.. Officer Takes Command of Illinois Army National Guard Infantry Brigade

Veterans and Gold Star Families Day at the Illinois State Fair

Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd Joins 8th Infantry Association in Scholarship Presentations

Sullivan-based Logistics Unit Returns After Deployment to Africa and Europe

Public Affairs Unit Returns after Historic Deployment to Europe

Illinois National Guard to Partner with Portugal as Part of National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program

Brig. Gen. Jorge M. Fonseca Promoted and Appointed Director of the Joint Staff

Retiring Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy Director Led Academy With Vision and Passion

Illinois Army National Guard's Deputy Assistant Adjutant General Selected as Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Army South

Huntley Soldier Assumes Command of 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion 

Approximately 1,370 Illinois Guard Members Were Activated for Overseas Duty  