2021 is shaping up to be a busy year for the Illinois National Guard.
Adjutant General Major General Richard Neely says the importance of the Guard is more apparent than ever, with members assigned to a variety of missions. That includes 1500 helping with COVID-19 vaccination efforts around the state, following months of pandemic response work.
“I’m also happy to report that 2 weeks ago the Illinois National Guard returned 400 of their 500 members from the Capitol Hill Security Mission. We still have over 100 members remaining in D.C. that have volunteered to continue the mission until the middle of May.”
Neely says troops were also deployed to help out with civil unrest in the state.
“Additionally in this past year, Illinois National Guard has deployed 4 times on state active duty missions to assist local and state authorities due to civil unrest. It’s important to mention that the Illinois National Guard had not conducted this type of civil unrest mission since 1968.”
That’s on top of sending hundreds of Guard members to assist with security at the United States Capitol.
