ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS RECOGNIZED AS REGION'S BEST RECRUITERS

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (02/14/2018) (readMedia)-- 1st Sgt. Chad McDannald, a Jacksonville, Illinois, native, and Sgt. 1st Class Beau Detrick, of Marion, Illinois, with the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion (ILARNG RRB) were recognized during a ceremony in Potomac, Maryland, Jan. 31, for being the best Army National Guard recruiters in a seven-state region.

McDannald, of Franklin, Illinois, was selected as the Army National Guard's Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Year in region four for fiscal year 2017. McDannald is the first sergeant of Company D, ILARNG RRB, based in Aurora, Illinois. Region four included Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan and Iowa.

The award goes to a first sergeant who achieves at least 100 percent of their yearly recruiting goal and maintains at least a 94 percent Initial Active Duty Training success rate. All 11 of the recruiting and retention noncommissioned officers who are members of McDannald's company met or exceeded their recruiting goal.

"First Sergeant McDannald is a team builder and a leader," said Lt. Col. Darren Horton, of Williamsville, Illinois, Commander of the ILARNG RRB. "He is adept in bringing out talent from his recruiters. He has trained, developed, and led them to become one of the top recruiting companies in the nation."

Horton said McDannald is dynamic and keeps his team motivated at all times.

"I was really proud to be able to represent the Illinois Army National Guard at the national level," said McDannald. "This will be my last year as the first sergeant of Company D and I will be training up the first sergeant who will take my place. I want that person to do better than me."

Detrick was selected as the Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer Recruiter of the Year in region four for the 2017 fiscal year. Detrick is a member of Company N, ILARNG RRB, based in Marion, Illinois.

The award was based not only on the number of enlistments achieved, but the "whole Soldier concept", including physical fitness, leadership and Initial Active Duty Training success rate.

"Detrick's recruiting accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2017 were remarkable," said Horton. "He enlisted 24 Soldiers and every one of his enlistments completed basic and advanced training."

Horton said Detrick not only gets consistent results, but always overproduces.

Detrick and McDannald also competed at the national level, both placing in the top ten.

Photo Cutline 1: Lieutenant General Timothy J. Kadavy, Director, Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C., presents the Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Year regional award to 1st Sgt. Chad McDannald, of Franklin, Illinois, during a ceremony in Potomac, Maryland, Jan. 31, 2018. (Photo taken by Bradley Logan)

Photo Cutline: Lieutenant General Timothy J. Kadavy, Director, Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau, Washington, District of Columbia, presents the Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer Recruiter of the Year regional award to Sgt. 1st Class Beau Detrick, of Marion, Illinois, during a ceremony in Potomac, Maryland, Jan. 31, 2018. (Photo taken by Bradley Logan)