Story by Barbara Wilson | Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs | 03.11.2025
Col. Randy Edwards, of Decatur, former Chief of Staff, Illinois Army National Guard, retired March 11 during a ceremony at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, Springfield....
Story by Barbara Wilson | Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs | 02.28.2025
Illinois Army National Guard Lt. Col. Michael Barton, of Greenview, was 12 years old when the Persian Gulf War, known as Operation Desert Storm, started in 1991. “I remember when the conflict broke out, I bought a copy of each edition of newspaper our gas station had,” said Barton, who delivered the keynote address during the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual Desert......
Story by Barbara Wilson | Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs | 02.26.2025
When Illinois Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Quentin Corrington was about three years old, his father died of an accidental overdose. As Corrington grew up in Decatur, Illinois, his uncles, Lt. Col. Isaac Rademacher, Master Sgt. Joe Rademacher, both of whom serve in the U.S. Army, and filmmaker Jake Rademacher, stepped up to fill the void....
Story by Barbara Wilson | Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs | 02.09.2025
Approximately 550 Illinois Army National Guard from the Blackhawk Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the Blackhawk Battalion, headquartered in Marion, were joined by family and friends at mobilization ceremonies in various locations Feb. 8-9 as they prepare to deploy for an overseas mission to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. “You are trained. You......
Story by Barbara Wilson | Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs | 01.31.2025
Sgt. Maj. Chad Bell, of Morton, described as a family-first, Soldier-first leader, the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade’s Operations Sergeant Major and Chief Operations Sergeant, retired after more than 26 years of service in the Illinois Army National Guard during a ceremony Jan. 31 at The Barn at Bull Run Park in Morton....
Story by Barbara Wilson | Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs | 01.24.2025
Nearly 20 years after enlisting in the Illinois Army National Guard, Kyle Bishop of Mahomet, the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s operations noncommissioned officer, was promoted to sergeant major in a ceremony Jan. 24 at the brigade’s headquarters in Urbana....
Story by Barbara Wilson | Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs | 01.22.2025
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Keith Hildebrandt, who enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard following his graduation from high school in 1998, was honored for his 27 years of military service during a retirement ceremony Jan. 22 at the Illinois State Military Museum....
Story by Barbara Wilson | Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs | 01.15.2025
Approximately 140 Illinois National Guard members will deploy on federal orders to Washington, D.C. to support security operations for the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20....
