SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/11/2017) (readMedia)-- Pvt. Cody Patterson, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was sworn into the Illinois Army National Guard July 12, at the St. Louis Military Entrance Processing Station.
Patterson enlisted as a 13F, Fire Support Specialist, and is assigned to Company M, Recruit Sustainment Program in Shiloh, Illinois.
Upon completion of his initial training Patterson will be assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, based in Marion, Illinois.
Patterson is a 2015 graduate of at Belleville East High School in Belleville, Illinois.
After successfully completing his training, Patterson will take advantage of the Illinois National Guard Grant, which pays 100 percent of college tuition while he works as a full-time student and a part-time Soldier. He will also be eligible for the Select Reserve G.I. Bill and federal tuition.
The Recruiting and Retention Battalion and Company M congratulated Patterson and welcomed him into the Illinois Army National Guard.