Chicago Soldier Plays Critical Role in State Partnership Program

By Sgt. James D. Sims, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

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Capt. Simon J. Wlodarski, works with his counterparts during a joint training exercise with the Polish Land Forces.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/05/2012)(readMedia)-- In July 1993, Illinois and Poland became one of the first three relationships initiated by the State Partnership Program (SPP), which matched the National Guard with former Soviet Eastern Bloc countries. Playing an integral role in the Illinois National Guard's SPP with Poland is Capt. Simon J. Wlodarski of Chicago, an instructor at the 129th Regional Training Institute, Illinois Army National Guard, at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

"Simon is a critical member of our SPP team and is responsible for senior liaison activities for the Illinois National Guard and the Republic of Poland," said Col. Christopher Lawson of Springfield, Chief of the Joint Staff for the Illinois National Guard.

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, the U.S. government explored options to minimize instability and encourage democracy in the former Soviet bloc nations. The SPP was established to help the newly independent states of Central and Eastern Europe promote submission to civilian leadership, respect for human rights and a defensively-oriented military.

"Capt. Wlodarski is a new and great asset to the Illinois National Guard, and we benefit not only from his prior service as a Marine officer but also that of his Polish heritage and his Polish language skills," said Capt. Douglas R. Coop of Jacksonville, the director of the Illinois National Guard's State Partnership Program.

Wlodarski has been a liaison, supporting visits from the Polish president, ministers of defense, the Polish Land Forces commanding general, ambassadors, as well as Illinois' Governor and Adjutant General.

He has also traveled to Poland to participate in tactical language training, where the Polish Land Forces are completing pre-deployment work-ups.

"Wlodarski was the officer in charge of a four-Soldier traveling contact team to Poland in

January," said Coop. "During this time he led a team of linguists from the 341st Military Intelligence Company, as they shared best practices, lessons learned, and tactics, techniques and procedures on common operating language and terminology of NATO, with a Polish unit that was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan."

Recently, Wlodarski was selected to serve on a Bilateral Embedded Staff Team (BEST), which is set to deploy to Poland and then Afghanistan early next year. The Illinois National Guard is deployed with its Polish counterparts 365 days a year. Both nations have co-deployed regularly since the start of overseas operation more than 10 years.

During the recent NATO Summit in Chicago, Wlodarski served as a liaison officer to Polish President Bronislaw Komorowsk, as a representative of the Illinois Army National Guard and Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn.

Wlodarski was raised on the northwest side of Chicago and joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1995 as an anti-tank assault man. He went on to become a scout sniper before being selected for a commission in 2003. Wlodarski deployed to Mahmudiyah, Iraq with 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines out of Chicago, as an infantry platoon commander from 2004 to 2005.

After serving with the Marines, Wlodarski entered the Individual Ready Reserves in 2009, then joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 2011, where he is an instructor for the Officer Candidate School at the 129th RTI.

In addition to serving in the military, Wlodarski also serves his fellow service members as the Chief of Staff of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, where he works with and directs the human resources and fiscal departments, information technology and administration staff.

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is a 1200-person agency with four skilled-care facilities for nursing care, administration of educational benefits and direct field services through veteran service officers, said Wlodarski.

"Being affiliated with the National Guard allows me direct access to the constituents I serve in the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs," he said. "I'm able to assist Soldiers with their benefits, through access to our service officers."

Photo 1) Submitted photo/ Capt. Simon J. Wlodarski, an instructor at the Illinois Army National Guard's Regional Training Institute at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, works with his counterparts during a joint training exercise with the Polish Land Forces. Wlodarski, in addition to his military service, also serves his fellow service members as the Chief of Staff of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Photo 2) Submitted photo/ Capt. Simon J. Wlodarski (third from left), an instructor at the Illinois Army National Guard's Regional Training Institute at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, works with his counterparts during a joint training exercise with the Polish Land Forces. Wlodarski, in addition to his military service, also serves his fellow service members as the Chief of Staff of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Photo 3) Submitted photo/ U.S. and Polish Forces gather at an event honoring Lt. Gen. Zbigniew Glowienka (second from left), Land Forces Commander, Poland, at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Chicago. Capt. Simon J. Wlodarski (third from right), an instructor at the Illinois Army National Guard's Regional Training Institute at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Ill., was recently selected to serve on a Bilateral Embedded Staff Team, which is set to deploy to Poland and then Afghanistan early next year.

Photo 4) Submitted photo/ Capt. Simon J. Wlodarski (far left), an instructor at the Illinois Army National Guard Regional Training Institute at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, visits the Koscioszko Monument in Chicago with Lt. Gen. Zbigniew Glowienka (second from right), Land Forces Commander, Poland. Wlodarski was recently selected to serve on a Bilateral Embedded Staff Team, which is set to deploy to Poland and then Afghanistan early next year.