Chatham Soldier Retires After 28 Years of Service

SPRINGFIELD, IL (01/07/2016)(readMedia)-- Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Donaldson of Chatham, Illinois retires Jan. 8 from the Illinois Army National Guard after 28 years of service.

Donaldson enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1987 as an infantryman with the Effingham-based Company B, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment. In 1993, Donaldson started his career as a recruiter in Effingham. He rose through the ranks to eventually become the Recruiting and Retention Battalion Command Sergeant Major, the senior enlisted advisor to the recruiting and retention commander.

Donaldson said serving in recruiting for more than 10 years has given him a different perspective that not all Soldiers get to have.

"I've served alongside Soldiers I have recruited, which allowed me to watch their development in becoming the Soldiers they are today," Donaldson said. "One of those Soldiers I had the honor of serving with was killed while deployed in Afghanistan."

Donaldson said his years in recruiting have been some of the most rewarding to him because he was able to work directly with the Soldiers.

"These new Soldiers are not just a number, they're human beings," Donaldson said. "I really enjoyed being able to help prepare them and get them on the right track as they joined the Illinois Army National Guard family."

Donaldson's other assignments included Recruiting Team VI Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge in Springfield, Illinois; Operations Sergeants Major, Detachment IV State Area Command; and Operations Sergeants Major, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Illinois Army National Guard.

Donaldson also served as a senior advisor for National Guard Bureau Affairs in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009. He also served as Senior Enlisted Leader with Task Force White Eagle in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.

Donaldson earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College and is pursuing a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois.

Over the course of his career, Donaldson earned many awards and recognitions including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Order of the Combat Spur. Donaldson also earned the Expert Recruiting Badge, the Career Counselor Badge and won the National Guard Bureau Recruiting and Retention Area Command IV Master Seven Award where he was recognized as the top first sergeant in the seven state region.

Donaldson said he is anxious to start the next chapter in his life. He plans to spend more time with his wife, Kelly, and their three children, as well as start his new job as the Director of Human Resources for Marketing Alternative Solutions, based in Elgin, Illinois.

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