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

Soldiers from the 6th Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade have returned to the United States following historic, high-impact deployments across two distinct combatant commands. From June 2025 through early 2026, the 6th Battalion’s Medical Advisor Team 6630 deployed to the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, while the Logistics Company Advisor Team 6640 deployed to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. Both teams built partner capacity as highly specialized experts. They advised, supported, liaised and assisted foreign partner forces to deter regional threats and foster enduring international alliances. By placing mature, highly experienced National Guard advisors alongside partner-nation leaders, the team’s built tactical proficiency and drove systemic, long-term institutional reform that advances U.S. and allied security objectives. Both teams celebrated their accomplishments from the deployments with family and friends at an August 9 welcome home ceremony at Heritage Hall near the battalion’s headquarters on Rock Island Arsenal. Modernizing Healthcare Systems in Northern Iraq Deployed from June 2025 to February 2026 in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Medical Advisor Team 6630 was attached to the active Army’s 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade in northern Iraq. Led by Maj. Tom Kadela and Sgt. 1st Class Jason Pizza, the team was tasked with advising the Kurdish Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs to support the enduring defeat of Islamic State forces. The medical advisor team executed its mission with far-reaching strategic results:

• Strategic Policy Reform: Kadela personally mentored leadership at the Directorate General of Medical Affairs, securing official governmental approval for modernization policies that fundamentally overhauls the Peshmerga Medical Corps.
• National-Level Reporting: The team’s objective, hands-on assessments of Peshmerga capabilities directly informed statutory quarterly reports to the U.S. Congress, helping to shape future defense investments in the region.
• Tactical Certification: Advisors trained and mentored three separate division medical staff teams, validating them as "fully operationally capable" after a rigorous 60-hour validation exercise.
• Coalition Integration: The team pioneered and led the first-ever Medical Operations Synchronization Team in the combined joint operations area, coordinating training efforts across 15 coalition nations to establish a unified medical continuum of care.

Strengthening Logistics and Crisis Response in Djibouti Operating in East Africa from June 2025 to March 2026, Logistics Company Advisor Team 6640 was assigned to the Southern European Task Force-Africa Civil Affairs Battalion in support of AFRICOM Theater Security Cooperation. Led by Maj. Micah Bennett and Sgt. 1st Class David Holzrichter, the team of nine specialized logisticians completed more than 120 engagements to scale the logistics, sustainment and crisis response capabilities of the Djiboutian Army’s elite rapid reaction unit, the Rapid Intervention Battalion, known as the BIR. The logistics team’s key milestones included:

• Critical Infrastructure Development: The team served as an instrumental bridge between the U.S. Embassy, U.S. and Djiboutian military engineers, and the Djiboutian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to design, approve and execute a vital 21-kilometer route improvement project to the BIR's primary installation.
• Pioneering Training Initiatives: The team planned and executed the BIR's first-ever scout assessment and selection process, expanding the battalion staff’s organic intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities.
• Justified Accord 2026: The team spearheaded the Djibouti-spoke of Exercise Justified Accord 2026. This weeklong, round-the-clock validation exercise tested the BIR’s logistics forecasting, tactical decision-making and multi-domain operations against active opposing forces.
• State Partnership Program Integration: The advisors successfully integrated Kentucky National Guard State Partnership Program assets and Civil Affairs units with the Djiboutian Armed Forces, laying the groundwork for years of future cooperation.