18 Nov 2016

New Military Museum Director Aims for Growth

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

Retired Illinois Army Guard Colonel Selected to Direct State Military Museum

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/16/2016)(readMedia)-- The Illinois National Guard celebrates a rich history that spans more than 290 years and that history is housed and pres...

07 Nov 2016

Specialized Illinois National Guard unit to mobilize for Afghanistan

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/07/2016)(readMedia)-- A deployment ceremony is scheduled for 10 Soldiers who will deploy to Afghanistan as part of Bilateral Embedded Staff Team (BEST) A18. The ceremony wil...

21 Oct 2016

Adjutant General Looks to Keep the ILNG at the Cutting Edge of Technology

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

SPRINGFIELD, IL (10/21/2016)(readMedia)-- Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr., the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard and Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, the Assistant Adjutant General-Arm...

23 Sep 2016

766th Brigade Engineer Battalion Welcomes New Commander

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

DECATUR, IL (09/23/2016)(readMedia)-- The 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion held a change of command ceremony at the Decatur armory in Decatur, Illinois, Sept. 18. Maj. Timothy J. Newman took ov...

25 Jul 2016

Illinois Army National Guard institutes new Community Relations Policy

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/21/2016)(readMedia)-- The Illinois Army National Guard has instituted a new policy designed to focus support for community events from Illinois Army National Guard units to the local communities where those units are based.

...
04 Sep 2015

The 2015 Adjutant General's rifle and pistol match

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/04/2015)(readMedia)-- MARSEILLES, Ill. - Approximately 90 Soldiers from around the state met at the Illinois National Guard Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Illinois, to compete in the 2015 The Adjutant General's (TAG) Rifle and Pistol Match, Aug. 21 to 23.

The competition test Soldiers' marksmanship in a variety of events that reflect combat marksmanship tactics and skills. It also tests movement, weapons and target transition using an event similar to national level matches.

Shooters are rated as teams and individuals using the pistol and rifle, evaluated on a combined arms, 3-gun match in which the Soldiers fired the pistol, rifle and shotgun.

The top 20 individual shooters received the Governor's Twenty Tab, which they can wear on their uniforms. The top three teams and individuals of each event received a plaque to display their accomplishments.

Winners of the TAG Match may be selected to join the Illinois National Guard's Marksman Team. The teams must select two new shooters to compete in regional and national events annually.

Results of the 2015 ILARNG TAG Rifle and Pistol Match:

Overall Top Three Individuals:

1. Maj. Jeffery Hicks; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

2. Spc, Ryan Larsen; Company D, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment

3. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jim McKinley; Company A, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

Overall Individual Rifle

1. Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Miller of Custer Park, Illinois; Company D, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment

2. Sgt. Mark Rosenak Company B, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment

3. Spc. Byrce Lind; 1844th Transportation Company

Overall Individual Pistol

1. Maj. Jeffery Hicks; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

2. Matt Homeier of Fairfield, Illinois; 129th Regional Training Institute

3. Spc, Ryan Larsen, Illinois; Company D, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment

Overall Top Three Teams

1 Elements of the 405th Brigade Support Battalion; Maj. Jeffery Hicks; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jim McKinley; Michael Golbert, all with 405th Brigade Support Battalion and John Hunter with Company A, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

2. 1844th Transportation Company; Spc. Jeffery Salois, Staff Sgt. Nicolas Oplawski; Spc. Byrce Lind; Alfred Huston.

3. Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment; Sgt. 1st Class Brad Gregory; Spc. Nicolas Stewart; Spc. Noah Emerson, and Spc. Erasmo Alarcon

Top Pistol Team

1. 1844th Transportation Company; Jeffery Salois, Staff Sgt. Nicolas Oplawski; Byrce Lind; Alfred Huston.

2. Elements of the 405th Brigade Support Battalion; Maj. Jeffery Hicks; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jim McKinley; Michael Golbert, all with 405th Brigade Support Battalion and Staff Sgt. John Hunter with Company A, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

3. Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment; Sgt. 1st Class Brad Gregory; Spc. Nicolas Stewart; Noah Emerson, and Erasmo Alarcon

Top Rifle Team

1. Elements from the 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment; Sgt. Mark Rosenak Company B, 238th; Cody Milliman Company E, 106th; Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Miller of Custer Park, Illinois; Company D; Staff Sgt. Thomas Morgan; Company D, 106th.

2. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 108th Sustainment Brigade; Sgt. Timothy Morgan; Spc. Alexander Reynolds of Seneca, Illinois; Spc. Calen Lambert; Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Poynter.

3. Elements of the 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion; Cadet Andrew Vasquez with Company C, 766th, Sgt. Tevin Weaver, Company B, 766th; Sgt. Nathan Riddle, Company C, Otto Drobik, Company B,

The Governor's Twenty

1. Maj. Jeffery Hicks; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

2. Spc, Ryan Larsen; Company D, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment

3. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jim McKinley; Company A, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

4. Matt Homeier,129th Regional Training Institute

5. Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Miller of Custer Park, Illinois; Company D, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment

6. Staff Sgt. Brandon Kroll, Company A, 634th Brigade Support Battalion

7. 1st Class Brad Gregory Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment

8. Staff Sgt.Fred Herzfeldt, 108th Multifunctional Medical Battalion

9. Byrce Lind; 1844th Transportation Company.

10. Staff Sgt. Michael Golbert, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

11. Sgt. Mark Rosenak Company B, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment

12 John Hunter with Company A, 405th Brigade Support Battalion

13. Sgt. 1st Class James Nayonis,129th Regional Training Institute

14. Capt. John McCaskey, Marseilles Training Center, Training Battalion

15. Alfred Huston ; 1844th Transportation Company.

16. Sgt. Timothy Morgan, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 108th Sustainment Brigade

17. Spc. Alexander Reynolds of Seneca, Illinois, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 108th Sustainment Brigade

18. Sgt. Alex Aitken, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment

19. Spc. Justin Parks, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

20. First Lt. Emery Taylor Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment

04 Sep 2015

PURSUING PANCHO VILLA

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/04/2015)(readMedia)-- LIVING HISTORIANS EXPLAIN ILLINOIS SERVICE DURING 1916 BORDER CAMPAIGN

WHO:

• Illinois State Military Museum Living History Detachment

• Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society

• Illinois State Military Museum

WHAT:

Military Museum Living Historians will display equipment, uniforms and weapons used by more than 10,000 Illinois National Guard Soldiers in the 1916 Border Campaign and discuss the military operation. Illinois troops were deployed to secure the border while Major General John Pershing conducted the year-long campaign into Mexico to pursue Pancho Villa. The Mexican revolutionary had raided Columbus, N.M., killing eight Soldiers and 10 civilians and wounding six Soldiers and two civilians. The 1916 expedition was the first time the Army used airplanes, motorcycles and trucks and served as a dress rehearsal for the mobilization of U.S. forces for World War I.

WHEN:

• 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sept. 12, 2015

WHERE:

• Illinois State Military Museum, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd, Springfield, Ill., 62702, two blocks north of the intersection of MacArthur Blvd. and North Grand Ave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Admission and parking are free.

For additional information, please contact the Illinois State Military Museum at 217-761-3910.

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02 Sep 2015

ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD, IEMA CONDUCT MAJOR EARTHQUAKE EXERCISE

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/28/2015)(readMedia)-- The Illinois National Guard conducted a week-long, multi-agency exercise dubbed Prairie Assurance Aug. 24 to 28. The exercise trained elements of a task force of personnel from the Illinois Army and Air National Guard to rapidly respond to a major earthquake in southern Illinois.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) along with representatives from other state agencies, National Guard Bureau, US Northern Command, and the Polish Armed Forces participated in the exercise, providing incident management and emergency management teams, agency technical experts, and military personnel to support the military's training scenario.

"We gained a tremendous amount of insight by having IEMA, other civilian agencies, National Guard Bureau, US NORTHCOM, and Poland participate in this event," said Col. Rick G. Yoder, commander of the joint task force. "It's critical to strengthen partnerships with local, state, and federal partners before a disaster happens."

The exercise simulated a 7.2 magnitude earthquake centered on the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The event took place at the 183rd Fighter Wing and the Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.

The National Guard has a standing mission to provide support to civil authorities during natural disasters. The joint task force provides command and control of military personnel and equipment in support of civil authorities during a complex catastrophe like an earthquake.

"We want to be able to respond rapidly and efficiently and training together supports that goal," said Yoder. "We train the force to anticipate need. It's ultimately about saving lives and property."

Approximately 220 Army and Air National Guard members and more than 100 civilian emergency management personnel participated in.

13 Aug 2015

Illinois National Guard welcomes new Adjutant General at Change of Command Ceremony

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

CHATHAM, IL (08/13/2015)(readMedia)-- The gymnasium at Glenwood High School in Chatham, Illinois was the backdrop for a ceremony filled with tradition as the Illinois National Guard bid farewell to the outgoing Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei of Springfield, Illinois and welcomed the new Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, Jr., of Chatham, Illinois August 9, 2015.

The change of command ceremony is a time-honored military tradition which signifies the passing of a unit's colors and the transfer of command authority from one commander to another. The ceremony also pays homage to the outgoing commander while, at the same time, demonstrates loyalty to the incoming commander.

Soldiers and Airmen, friends, family, and distinguished guests joined to participate in the event. Among the distinguished guests was Illinois' Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti who presided over the event.

Sanguinetti bid a fond farewell to Krumrei.

"General Krumrei has devoted his life, his energy, his faith, and his force of courage and distinguished leadership to our military, our state, and our country," said Sanguinetti. "As lieutenant governor of the state of Illinois, I say thank you, gracias. Illinois is forever grateful to you and your family for your service and sacrifice."

Sanguinetti went on to welcome Hayes into his new position as Adjutant General.

"From a personal standpoint, I noticed right from the get-go his incredible humility and, at the same time, his immense leadership skills," she said. "Due to his strategic vision, his vast strategic knowledge, and proven judgement, Governor Rauner and I are confident General Hayes is the right person in command at a time of change and challenge in the state."

Following the lieutenant governor, Krumrei thanked everyone who he said gave him opportunities to succeed in his career.

"I thank all off the general officers, the staff, the commanders, the NCOs, the Soldiers, and the Airmen for all of your support over these many years," said Krumrei.

Krumrei also thanked Hayes' mother for raising the "the right man" for the job.

"He's a good boy," said Krumrei. "You done good; and as my first act as a retired adjutant general, on behalf of the Illinois National Guard, I would like to give you my coin. Thank you."

Following his speech, Krumrei, Hayes, Sanguinetti, Illinois' Land Component Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Bowman of Plainfield, Illinois and Illinois' Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sergeant, Chief Master Sgt. John Jordan conducted the passing of the colors.

After receiving the colors, Hayes addressed the attendees.

"Humbled and honored beyond all belief I guess that's how I would categorize this," said Hayes. "I couldn't be here without all of you here, and all of the Soldiers, Airmen, NCOs, and officers that have supported me."

Hayes said his vision for the Illinois National Guard to be a relevant, integrated, community-based joint force; always ready and always there to protect our state, defend our homeland, and fight our nation's wars when called upon.

Hayes also took a unique opportunity to present his challenge coin to Krumrei as a symbol of gratitude.

"This rarely happens in the military, where you actually get to coin your boss," said Hayes. "I haven't ever been able to coin a two-star, so I'm going to take advantage of it today. Thank you for your service to the state and to the Guard, general Krumrei."

11 Aug 2015

National Guard's top official visits with Illinois Soldiers and Airmen

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/10/2015)(readMedia)-- General Frank J. Grass, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited the Illinois National Guard August 9 to speak to commanders, give insight to the troops, and address new challenges with Illinois' Adjutant General.

Grass first conducted an office call with Brig. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, Jr. of Chatham, Illinois, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. The two senior officers discussed some of the challenges facing senior leadership in the states and how best to address those challenges at all levels.

Following the office call, brigade commanders and staff directors were given an opportunity to speak with Grass at a working lunch. Grass spoke about the direction the National Guard is heading, his experience as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and some of the major topics that are discussed at the highest levels.

Grass said one of the main topics discussed is how best to use the National Guard to alleviate some of the demand on the active component.

"Today, 40 percent of the National Guard has not deployed," said Grass. "We want to give the Guard a normalized and predictable deployment cycle. If we can get something predictable for the Guard, we can meet any mission that the Department of Defense has for us."

Grass also said that a normalized training and deployment cycle for the Guard is also a fiscally responsible choice.

"The National Guard has about a $25 billion piece of the $500 billion defense budget," said Grass. "With that, the National Guard trains a force of around 455,000 to be ready at a moment's notice to answer the call of duty. That's the best bang for the buck the DoD has."

Following lunch, Grass conducted a town hall with Illinois Soldiers and Airmen. He gave a broad overview of his vision for the National Guard, addressed budget concerns, and offered Soldiers and Airmen the opportunity to ask questions and provide input that Grass could take back to the pentagon. Grass also recognized the Illinois National Guard's success.

Grass explained the Guard isn't just about the federal and state mission, it is about partnerships, both in the community and abroad.

"Illinois is a premier example of that kind of partnership in your State Partnership Program," said Grass. "Your state was one of the first SPPs 23 years ago. You started a partnership with Poland that had the first co-deployment with a partner nation; now the Guard has had 79 co-deployments with partner nations. You can be very proud of that."

Hayes was honored by Grass' visit to Illinois and was grateful for the opportunity to speak with him on important issues.

"I think that it's a huge honor that he came here to meet with the Illinois National Guard and spend the day with us, I think it's phenomenal," said Hayes. "It's a testament that he was willing to come here on such an important weekend to spend time with some of our Soldiers and Airmen to talk about some of the current issues from his stand-point and give us an opportunity to provide input back to him."

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