TAG Holiday Message

To the Soldiers, Airmen, and Families of the Illinois National Guard,

Amid this holiday season, the senior leadership of the Illinois National Guard and I extend our warmest wishes to each of you. This is a time for reflection, gratitude, and a renewed appreciation for the blessings of family, community, and freedom. We are immensely proud of your selfless service and dedication. These have been the cornerstone of our success throughout the past year.

To our Soldiers and Airmen who have answered the nation's call, we extend our deepest gratitude. We are especially mindful of those who are deployed overseas and will be spending this holiday season far from home. This includes members of the 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, the 661st Engineer Construction Company, two 6th Battalion, 54th Security Forces Assistance Brigade teams, and a few members of the 182nd Airlift Wing - including a chaplain in Antarctica. We also have Soldiers on active duty in the United States including approximately 300 Soldiers of the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade here in Illinois and Airmen from all three wings in Arizona, Oklahoma, and Illinois. Your commitment to our nation's security does not go unnoticed, and we eagerly await your safe return.

We also celebrate the homecoming of our service members who returned from deployments this past year.

We welcomed home:
• Approximately 550 Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, who returned from the Middle East this month.
• About 160 Soldiers from the 725th Transportation Company, who supported Operation Atlantic Resolve in Europe until three months ago.
• Nearly 300 Soldiers from the 34th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade and the 433rd Signal Company from their 11-month deployment in the Middle East.
• Approximately 25 Soldiers of the 1863rd Financial Management Support Detachment from their 11-month deployment to Poland.
• Roughly 550 Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment and Company B, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion from their mission in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
• Approximately 155 Soldiers from Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, from their security mission in the Horn of Africa.
• The dozen Soldiers of the 634th Brigade Support Battalion Forward Logistics Element from their deployment to Africa and Europe.
• About 65 Soldiers of the 333rd Military Police Company from their critical mission in Alaska.
• We also welcomed home members of all three Illinois Air National Guard wings, who are often deployed around the world as individuals or small teams.

Your professionalism and dedication have left a lasting impact around the globe.

The Illinois National Guard has achieved remarkable success this year. We are proud of the 1244th Transportation Company for earning the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence and the 445th Chemical Company for winning the Major General William L. Siebert Award. Our "Honey Badger" recruiters of H Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, led the way as the top recruiting company in the state. We also expanded our global partnerships by establishing a new relationship with the Portuguese Armed Forces through the State Partnership Program.

Our Air National Guard wings have also had an exceptional year, demonstrating excellence across the board. The 182d Airlift Wing in Peoria earned an "Excellent" rating during its Air Mobility Command Operational Readiness Inspection and was honored with its third Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Their spirit of service was also on display as members volunteered at a local children's hospital during the holidays.

The 183d Wing in Springfield saw its 183d Maintenance Squadron receive the Air National Guard Maintenance Effectiveness Award. The wing also celebrated Captain James Horn, who was named the USO National Guardsman of the Year for his extraordinary dedication and community service.

Furthermore, the 183d Air Component Operations Squadron received the prestigious Verne Orr Award for its effective use of personnel. The wing also completed its 24,000-square-foot Base Civil Engineer Complex.

The 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base made history by conducting the first-ever refueling of a Polish F-35 fighter jet in U.S. airspace, a landmark moment for our State Partnership Program.

The wing's 108th Air Refueling Squadron earned a first-place award in the Mission Execution Excellence Program for their fuel optimization efforts, and the wing itself received its eighth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

While we celebrate our accomplishments, it is important to recognize our Families. They are the bedrock of our organization. Your unwavering support and sacrifice do not go unnoticed. You are the silent heroes who make it possible for our service members to answer the call to duty.

To our retirees, we thank you for your continuous support. We appreciate your contribution to this great organization, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership.
To the Families of our Fallen service members, we hold you in our hearts, especially during this season. We will never forget the profound sacrifice of your loved ones. Their legacy of service and bravery will forever be a part of the Illinois National Guard's story. This holiday season, we wish you peace and comfort.

As we look to 2026, we do so with confidence and a renewed sense of purpose. The challenges of the future are unknown, but we are certain that the Soldiers and Airmen of the Illinois National Guard will meet them with the same courage, professionalism, and dedication that has defined our organization for over 300 years.

From our families to yours, we wish you a joyous and peaceful holiday season and a happy New Year.

Always Ready, Always There.