ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS RECOGNIZED FOR RECRUITING EFFORTS

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/18/2016)(readMedia)-- The Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion (ILARNG RRB) recognized three recruiters during a ceremony at Camp Lincoln, in Springfield, Illinois, Nov. 15, for outstanding service in recruiting.

1st Sgt. Chad McDannald, of Franklin, Illinois, was selected as the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion First Sergeant of the Year for the 2016 fiscal year. McDannald is the first sergeant for Company D, ILARNG RRB, based in Aurora, Illinois.

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. Every recruiting and retention noncommissioned officer who is a member of McDannald's company met or exceeded their recruiting goal.

McDannald's company was also selected as the ILARNG RRB Company of the Year. The selection was based upon team performance, accomplishments, stability and its overall contributions to the battalion.

Staff Sgt. Sean Griffin, of Elgin, Illinois, was selected as the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention NCO of the Year for the 2016 fiscal year. Griffin is a member of Company D, ILARNG RRB, based in Aurora, 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. Griffin also placed second at the regional recruiting and retention NCO of the year competition. This is only his second year in recruiting.

Staff Sgt. Mark VanBibber, of Plainfield, Illinois, was selected as the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion Rookie of the Year and Top Producer for the 2016 fiscal year. VanBibber is a member of Company G, ILARNG RRB, based in Marseilles, Illinois.

Each year the RRB hires new recruiters and, during their first full year, they compete amongst each other to earn the title "Rookie of the Year" for the most enlistments achieved. This year, VanBibber won the title with 30 enlistments, which also secured his place as the Top Producer for Illinois.

Cutlines:

Recruiter 1: Lt. Col. Kevin Little (right), Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion (ILARNG RRB) commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Radloff (left), ILARNG RRB command sergeant major, present the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention First Sergeant of the Year award to 1st Sgt. Chad McDannald, of Franklin, Illinois, during a ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, Nov. 15, 2016. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Recruiting and Retention Battalion)

Recruiter 2: Lt. Col. Kevin Little (right), Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion (ILARNG RRB) commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Radloff (left), ILARNG RRB command sergeant major, present the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention NCO of the Year award to Staff Sgt. Sean Griffin, of Elgin, Illinois, during a ceremony at Camp Lincoln, in Springfield, Illinois, Nov. 15, 2016. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Recruiting and Retention Battalion)

Recruiter 3: Lt. Col. Kevin Little (right), Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion (ILARNG RRB) commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Radloff (left), ILARNG RRB command sergeant major, present the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion Rookie of the Year and the Top Producer awards to Staff Sgt. Mark VanBibber, of Plainfield, Illinois, during a ceremony at Camp Lincoln, in Springfield, Illinois, Nov. 15, 2016. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kassidy L. Snyder, Recruiting and Retention Battalion)