Illinois National Guard

09/29/2026

On September 25, Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve(ESGR) volunteer Michael Peck presented Kurt Glazier of Sterling Township Highway Department with the ESGR Patriot Award.
Glazier was nominated for recognition by Specialist 4 Braydon Porter, who serves in the Illinois National Guard. Porter praised Glazier for his willingness to work with him when conflicts arose between his work schedule and his military obligation.🇺🇸

09/28/2026

Congratulations to the 183d Wing on a successful inspection!

09/28/2026

09/28/2026

Happy National Family Day! 🇺🇸

Behind every Illinois National Guard member is a family whose love, strength and support make our service possible. Today, we recognize and thank our Guard families for standing with us through every drill, deployment and mission.

09/28/2026

Sept. 28, 1951: The Illinois Army National Guard’s 44th Infantry Division is ordered to Camp Cooke, California, for service during the Korean War. The following July a group of 341 44th Division Soldiers deployed to Korea. In August, an additional 2,240 were sent. By December, more than 8,000 enlisted and 550 officers were shipped to Korea.

09/27/2026

09/27/2026

Today, we honor Gold Star Mothers and Families who carry the burden of military sacrifice.

The Gold Star represents the loss of a loved one in service. This tradition began in WWI when families replaced blue stars with gold ones on service flags.

The Army supports these families through Survivor Outreach Services, providing counseling, financial assistance, and continued connection to the military community.

09/26/2026

Illinois National Guard leaders welcomed Congressman Eric Sorensen to our Peoria aviation facility Sept. 25.

Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, assistant adjutant general for the Illinois Army National Guard, and Col. Paul Metzdorff, Illinois Army National Guard chief of staff, briefed Sorensen on plans for a new readiness center and how modern facilities will support Soldiers and their equipment.

The visit included a tour of the 65th Troop Command facilities and Army Aviation Support Facility No. 3 (U.S. Army photos by 2nd Lt. Trenton Fouche, Joint Force Headquarters – Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

09/25/2026

Sailing Away? Distinguished Illinois National Guard General Officer Retires

A 39-year military career ended where it began for Maj. Gen. Henry S. Dixon Sept. 18 during a retirement ceremony at the University of Illinois Armory in Champaign, Illinois.

In August 1985 Dixon began his military career in the same building as a University of Illinois ROTC cadet. Two years later he enlisted in the Illinois National Guard under the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), which allows contracted ROTC cadets to simultaneously serve in the National Guard.

Dixon said the opportunities that came with the SMP made it an easy decision.

“Leadership opportunities; the Guard allowed both the shadowing unit leaders and direct leadership positions,” said Dixon, “As an SMP, I received pay and Guard benefits that furthered my goal of graduating with no college debt.”

He said he originally planned to commission into the active Army, but the Army was downsizing after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. He changed directions and was commissioned as an Infantry officer in the Illinois National Guard.

Dixon earned a Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School where he met his wife of 28-years, MaryPat, practiced law in the Chicagoland area, and piloted a 27-foot sailboat on Lake Michigan on weekends when he didn’t have National Guard duty.

He said he found his early assignments to be rewarding, especially the roles of company and battalion executive officer (XO).

“Regardless of what echelon, or level of command, the XO is one of the most complex and critical assignments in the Army,” said Dixon. “The XO makes sure the train runs on time, that a unit has all required resources, and is positioned at the place and time to achieve its mission.”

Dixon deployed to Iraq in 2005 as the executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment. He deployed again to Afghanistan in 2008 and served as Chief of Staff of Afghanistan Regional Security Integration Command – West.

Unfortunately, the deployments made it a challenge to sustain his law practice, so he closed it and took positions with the Cook County Inspector General’s office and, later, the U.S. Department of Labor. He sold his sailboat.

Meanwhile his military career continued to flourish with assignments to key staff and command positions including commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

“After company command and 9/11, I found that senior leaders were asking me to take more and more challenging assignments,” said Dixon. “It was a path charted by leaders who asked ‘would you accept this assignment?’ As long as that continued, I was going to continue in the Guard.”

Dixon was asked to stay in command of the 33rd for a year longer than most assignments to prepare the brigade for a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Then, leadership came calling again asking Dixon to accept an overseas assignment.

Maj. Gen. (Ret) Richard Hayes, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard at the time, nominated Dixon to serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff NATO Multinational Division Northeast.

This assignment contributed to his promotion to general officer and put him in uniform fulltime until his retirement.

Hayes said he knew Dixon would perform in this role as successfully as he had in all other assignments.

“He listened. He studied. He asked questions, and then, somehow, he was able to see through complexity and identify what actually mattered,” said Hayes. “His strength was never pretending to know everything. His strength was asking the right questions, listening carefully, learning quickly, and adapting faster than everyone else.”

Dixon called that assignment a highlight of his career.

“For a little over a year, my wife and I had the opportunity to live in Poland, and with a team of talented officers and noncommissioned officers, contribute to bringing the second NATO Land Component Division Headquarters to full operational capability,” said Dixon.

Hayes said Dixon was a consistent leader throughout his career.

“He provided intent. He provided trust and, because he trusted people, people worked tirelessly to earn and keep that trust,” said Hayes. “He gave people room to operate, ownership of their work, and the freedom of maneuver inside clearly understood boundaries.”

To describe Dixon’s leadership philosophy, Hayes drew an analogy using the comedy films Fletch, Blazing Saddles, and The Princess Bride, which served as a running joke between them throughout their careers.

“Fletch was a movie built around curiosity, skepticism, and refusing to accept easy answers,” said Hayes. “Blazing Saddles is a story about bringing together people who don’t naturally work together, overcoming resistance, and finding opportunity where others see problems.”

Hayes said anyone who followed Dixon’s career saw that same talent.

“He has a remarkable ability to unite people around a common objective,” said Hayes.

From The Princess Bride, Dixon learned perseverance, loyalty, strategic thinking and the importance of keeping a sense of humor when the odds aren’t particularly favorable Hayes said.

“Many of us heard him quote one line whenever someone was heading into a difficult mission,” said Hayes. “With that trademark dry smile, he’d simply say ‘Have fun storming the castle.’”

Hayes said the line was part joke, part encouragement, and part command philosophy.

After his tour in Poland, Dixon went on to serve as the Deputy Director of Operations for U.S. Northern Command at Paterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and then Director of Operations for United States Army – Central at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumpter, South Carolina.

He finished his career at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas as the Commanding General of Joint Task Force North, which, among other missions, was tasked with counter narcotics and the Southwest border security missions.

For 39 years Dixon’s leaders have asked him to accept his next position, but as a retiree his next endeavor will be entirely up to him.

Dixon said he’s looking into programs where he can mentor senior military officers and is considering buying another sailboat.

09/24/2026

Gold Star 500 riders continued their journey across Illinois today, departing McLean, Illinois, and making their way north to the Illinois National Guard’s Bloomington Armory.

The 10th Annual Gold Star 500 is a five-day, more than 500-mile endurance bicycle ride honoring Illinois’ fallen military service members and the Gold Star Families who carry on their legacies. This year’s route follows much of historic Route 66 as riders travel from Chester to Streamwood, stopping in communities and Illinois National Guard facilities along the way.

However, the miles represent something much greater than an endurance challenge. The Gold Star Mission works to ensure the names, stories and sacrifices of Illinois’ fallen service members are never forgotten. Funds raised through the ride support educational scholarships awarded in honor of fallen Illinois service members and the Fallen Heroes History Project, which preserves their stories for future generations.

For many of these riders, every mile has a name, a story and a family behind it.

The Illinois National Guard is proud to welcome the Gold Star 500 riders to the Bloomington Armory and support their mission as they continue their journey across the state.

Always Remember. Never Forget.

U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Adams, ILNG PAO NCOIC, Illinois National Guard