Carterville Colonel Graduates U.S. Army War College

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/12/2016)(readMedia)-- Col. Rodney Thacker of Chatham, Illinois along with 4 other Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers graduated the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania July 22. Thacker, formerly of Carterville, Illinois, was a full-time Illinois Army National Guardsman at the Marion, Illinois armory from 1994 to 2007.

War College is a two year distance learning program that culminates with a master's degree accreditation in strategic studies and the graduates receiving the Joint Professional Military Education Level 1 certification.

The other four Illinois graduates were Col. Drew Dukett of Roodhouse, Illinois, with the Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), Lt. Col. Mark Alessia of Sherman, Illinois and Lt. Col. Melissa Beauman of Glenarm, Illinois with the JFHQ based in Springfield, Illinois.

Photo Cutline: Pictured with Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, Assistant Adjutant General of the Illinois Army National Guard, from left to right: Col. Drew Dukett of Roodhouse, Illinois, with the Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), Col. Rodney Thacker of Chatham, Illinois with 65th Troop Command based in Springfield, Illinois, Lt. Col. Mark Alessia of Sherman, Illinois and Lt. Col. Melissa Beauman of Glenarm, Illinois with the JFHQ based in Springfield, Illinois.