11 Jun 2014

Following in father's footsteps, Jacksonville Soldier retires as sergeant major

By Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

SPRINGFIELD, IL (06/11/2014)(readMedia)-- "Who I am and what I've become is due to the military," said Sgt. Maj. Eric L. Walls, a native of Jacksonville, Illinois, with Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield, Illinois, who will retire in June after 32 years of military service. "This has been my whole life. This is all I've ever done since I was 17 years old."

After heavy encouragement from his father, a retired sergeant major from the Illinois Army National Guard, Walls enlisted in June 1982 as a fire control computer specialist and a small wheel vehicle mechanic with the 3637th Maintenance Company in Springfield, Illinois.

In 1984, Walls became a temporary full-time technician that resulted in a permanent full-time position as a supply specialist at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.

"He has always been very focused and driven," said Master Sgt. David E. Purdy of Rochester, Illinois, with Joint Force Headquarters, who has worked at Camp Lincoln with Walls since 1988. "He wanted to learn everything we could teach him."

Walls held many positions during his military career, with his last position as the support services branch supervisor for the director of information management at Camp Lincoln.

The most rewarding position was his last, he said.

"I have a great team that knows what they have to do every day and they do a great job at it," said Walls. "They make my life easy."

Walls made his way up the ranks, serving as squad leader, platoon sergeant, and first sergeant of Joint Force Headquarters and as the task force sergeant major during his deployment to Afghanistan in 2010.

He and his team co-deployed with its Polish counterparts and worked together cohesively in Afghanistan, he said. Walls considered Poland one of the best countries visited during his military service.

"Poland stands out the most," said Walls. "We had a good mission, training with the Polish Army Brigade to go to Afghanistan and got to see a lot of the country."

Looking back, Walls said he was very grateful for his father setting him in this direction.

"I got three degrees, a lot of experience, great friends, and opportunities to do many things and learn a lot," said Walls. "It has been great."

He spent a lot of time educating himself and ended up following in his father's footsteps retiring as a sergeant major, said Purdy

After his military retirement, Walls intends to pursue other career options and see where the road leads. For future Soldiers he leaves advice to be as diverse as possible and get as much experience in different positions.

09 Apr 2014

Illinois National Guard Special Forces train with Puerto Rico National Guardsmen

By Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

CAMP SANTIAGO, PUERTO RICO (04/08/2014)(readMedia)-- Approximately 40 Illinois National Guard Special Forces (SF) Soldiers with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Chicago conducted foreign internal defense (FID) training with the Puerto Rico National Guard, April 2 to 6, 2014 at Camp Santiago in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

More than 300 Puerto Rico National Guardsmen were familiarized with marksmanship training, mechanical and ballistic breaching procedures, military operations on urban terrain and close-quarter battle techniques.

"We were able to teach basic fundamentals to establish a baseline of proficiency to build upon in future training," said a weapons sergeant with the Company A, 2-20th. "They were very receptive and we were able to challenge their abilities."

SF Soldiers shared techniques for more accurate and proficient shooting with the M16A2 rifle, M4 Carbine, M249 squad automatic weapon and M240B machine gun.

"The tactical weapons training was the best part," said Spc. Christopher Figueroa, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. "The opportunity to fire crew serve weapons was very beneficial and refreshing."

Each unit said they gained language proficiency, because both English and Spanish were spoken throughout the training.

"This was the first time I had to use English for training," said Spc. Eric Aponte, an infantryman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment in Utuado, Puerto Rico. "They have been great at explaining the training step by step and I learned a lot."

The training was an opportunity for SF Soldiers to maintain their primary skillsets in a foreign culture while advancing language capabilities. Puerto Rico Guardsmen improved their ability to operate as a cohesive unit with a culminating exercise that involved mission planning, movement as a 30-man element and operating in a complex urban environment.

In the past three years Company A, 2-20th has deployed four operational detachments to Central America for long-term FID missions, but this is the first time in more than 10 years Company A, 2-20th conducted training in Puerto Rico.

"There were long days with little sleep, but everyone enjoyed the training," said 1st Lt. Alexis Avellanet, the executive officer for Company C, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. "We will take this back to our units and raise the standard of training."

11 Dec 2013

Lincoln's Challenge Academy cadet receives four-year, $20,000 scholarship

By Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

RANTOUL, IL (12/11/2013)(readMedia)-- Yvette Ramirez was sliding fast.

Her grades were dropping, her focus was lost, and worse; she was finding trouble both in school and on the streets of Chicago's Southside. Despite obvious intelligence, Ramirez was in danger of becoming another statistic - just another embittered teen dropout, lost potential among America's promise of opportunity.

Then she decided to accept a challenge.

Ramirez, 16, learned from a friend about Lincoln's Challenge Academy (LCA). This Saturday she will graduate from the 16-week residential phase of the program with her GED and a scholarship worth $20,000 over four years. For the next year, she'll be paired with a mentor to help her stay on track to a university education.

While attending LCA, Ramirez was awarded the National Guard Youth Program Scholarship. This is the first time an LCA cadet has received the scholarship since LCA's establishment 20 years ago. She will receive $5,000 a year for four years to use at any Illinois state-funded college or university.

"I plan on becoming an anesthesiologist, which requires a lot of education and schooling," said Ramirez. "I will use it as an advantage to become someone better in life."

Before LCA, Ramirez said she thought about college, but would probably have gone to a community college. However, now with the help of the scholarship, she is looking at a few different Illinois universities.

"Being at home I would have still been at-risk to fall into negative temptations," she said. "But, LCA has taught me a lot about the basics of being an adult and staying focused."

Ramirez received her General Education Diploma with a score of 3,300 out of 4,000.

"She was one you didn't have to remind to do anything, studied hard and helped out anyone else who had a problem," said Lt. Sarida Schoonover of Thomasboro, Ill., Ramirez's assistant team leader. "She knew why she was here and never gave up."

To apply for the scholarship, Ramirez wrote an essay describing her future and how furthering her education would help her be successful. She said she spent days working on the essay. It paid off.

After LCA, Ramirez plans to join the Illinois Air National Guard in the medical field when she turns 17 in March. In addition to the scholarship, she will be eligible for military tuition assistance and the Illinois National Guard Grant.

"She is going to get that degree and not let anything else stop her," said Schoonover.

Ramirez will join approximately 300 fellow cadets for graduation at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Ill., Dec. 15.

10 Sep 2013

U of I memorial dedicated to fallen Illinois National Guard Soldier

By Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, IL (09/09/2013)(readMedia)-- A permanent memorial was dedicated in memory of Sgt. Shawna Morrison, a fallen Illinois National Guardsman, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sept. 8.

Morrison enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1996 at age 17 and was a member of the 1544th Transportation Company (TC) in Paris, Ill, and was a member of the University's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). While deployed with the 1544th to Iraq she was killed Sept. 5, 2004 by a mortar attack.

Hundreds of friends, family and fellow servicemembers gathered for the ceremony to include her company commander Maj. Brandon Tackett, the former 1544th TC commander. Tackett is with the Ohio Army National Guard and flew from Kuwait to be part of the ceremony. The entire 1544th along with the 144th Army Band and the University's ROTC program marched from the University of Illinois Armory to Lincoln Hall where the dedication was held.

"She had an infectious personality and energy to match her work ethic," said Tackett. "She was a special person, a person willing to leave the safe confines of the University and fight for other people's freedom in a far and distant dangerous land."

Morrison was the first female from the Illinois National Guard killed while serving in Iraq. She was also the first Illinois student actively enrolled in college to die in combat operations.

"She was a member of the Illinois family," said Phyllis M. Wise, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign chancellor. "Her service and commitment will touch all those who are at Illinois now and forever in the future. With this memorial marker, she will always have a place...in the heart of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign."

Morrison was enrolled at the University of Illinois as a psychology major and intended to commission as an Army officer after graduation to continue a career in the military.

"As students, teachers and parents walk past Shawna's memorial in this place of continuing pride, continuing purpose and continuing mission, someone will ask 'Who was Sergeant Shawna Morrison?' and someone will know and someone will remember," said Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei, the Illinois National Guard Adjutant General. "Someone will tell them she was a part of latest greatest generation. Shawna Morrison was a citizen. Shawna Morrison was a Soldier."

In addition to the memorial, Sept. 8, 2013 is now known as Sgt. Shawna Morrison Day in Illinois "in honor and observance of this heroic Soldier whose service and sacrifice is an inspiration to citizens of the land of Lincoln," stated the proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.

05 Aug 2013

Illinois National Guard Soldier retires after 40 years of service

By Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/05/2013)(readMedia)-- Col. Albert Cox of Newark, Ill., retired from the Illinois Army National Guard July 31. He was awarded the Legion of Merit during his retirement ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Aug. 4.

"Forty years of service. Not many people can say they served their country and served their state that long," said Col. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham, Illinois National Guard Land Forces Component Commander. "He's done everything that was ever asked of him and done it better than anyone else."

Cox enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard Nov. 20, 1973 as a radio repairman with the 129th Infantry Regiment in Joliet, Ill. He achieved the rank of staff sergeant before he commissioned through the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School at Camp Lincoln in 1984.

Cox held many positions throughout his career to include platoon leader, executive officer and company commander with the 1st Battalion, 129th Infantry Regiment. He later moved to the 2nd Battalion, 202nd Air Defense Artillery where he served as battalion commander.

"Colonel Cox taught me a lot of things that I use today in my arsenal as a battalion commander," said Lt. Col. Daniel Reichen of Springfield, who is the 405th Brigade Support Battalion commander in North Riverside and served with Cox in the 2nd Battalion, 202nd Air Defense Artillery. "He is humble. He is quiet and he is a professional. He always pushes you to do the right thing."

Cox deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 as the senior liaison officer for Multi-National Force - Iraq at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. In 2010 he commanded the International Security Assistance Force A6 team to Afghanistan in support of Task Force White Eagle of which he was the Task Force Deputy commander.

Cox culminated his career as the Director of the Illinois National Guard Training, Doctrine and Forces Development, where he prepared the National Guard to support the NATO Summit National Special Security Event (NSSE) by providing multiple pre-NSSE exercise opportunities for the consequence management forces and state leadership.

"The transformation of the Illinois Guard from 1973 to 2013 has been tremendous," said Cox. "I don't know how I could work with a better group of individuals and I appreciate the opportunity over the years."

In his civilian career, Cox is in management for Caterpillar Inc. in Aurora, Ill. After his military retirement, Cox will continue working for Caterpillar but said he will spend his extra time with family, fishing and working on an old car.

"What I respect most is his loyalty: to his family, to Caterpillar and to the Illinois Army National Guard," said Reichen. "His legacy will live on with not only Illinois Army Guard Soldiers, but the many Soldiers he influenced across the country."

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