Illinois Army National Guard Artillerymen Promoted, Re-Enlist

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Pvt. Adrian Gutierrez of Morris, Ill., was promoted to the rank of private first class on May 19 at Fort McCoy, Wis.

SYCAMORE, IL (05/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Surrounded by the thunderous boom of 105mm artillery rounds, Soldiers from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment re-enlisted and received promotions from their battery commander and first sergeant on May 19 at Fort McCoy, Wis.

During the three-day live fire exercise the Sycamore unit promoted a total of 14 Soldiers to ranks ranging from private to staff sergeant.

"Having been through numerous promotion ceremonies, I believe this is the first time I have had the honor of conducting one with live cannon fire," said 1st Sgt. David Binning of Pecatonica. "It accentuated the feeling of artillery pride that beats within each of these Soldiers' hearts."

At the ceremony three Soldiers from the battery re-enlisted with contracts of one to six years in length – two of the Soldiers were also promotion recipients.

"In my 16 years of service, I have never seen a ceremony done quite like this," said Sgt. 1st Class Clayton Riley of Sycamore. "It was unique, and something the guys will remember."

Sgt. Tracy Wright of Saint Charles was honored to be selected for promotion.

"I was a non-commissioned officer in the Marine Corps," said Wright. "It is a great feeling to be able to prove I have what it takes to be promoted to a non-commissioned officer in the National Guard."

The unit conducted its first live fire exercise of the year in preparation for the three-week eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) exercise in July at Camp Ripley, Minn.

"This weekend was a milestone for the unit," said Capt. Dustin Cammack of Chicago, battery commander. "Not only did we promote 14 well-deserved Soldiers and reaffirm the commitment of three others – we moved one step closer to the capstone training event of the year."

Photos also available are as follows: Spc. Sean Griffen of Kirkland, Ill., was promoted to the rank of sergeant on May 19 at Fort McCoy, Wis. Sgt. Griffen serves as an Ammunition Team Chief for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore, Ill. Sgt. Griffen enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2008.

Spc. Johannes Lesle of Chatham, Ill., was promoted to the rank of sergeant on May 19 at Fort McCoy, Wis. Sgt. Lesle serves as an Ammunition Team Chief for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore, Ill. Sgt. Lesle enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2007 Sgt. Lesle has served overseas in Egypt in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, from May 2010 to May 2011.

Spc. Tracy Wright of Saint Charles, Ill., was promoted to the rank of sergeant on May 19 at Fort McCoy, Wis. Sgt. Wright serves as an Ammunition Team Chief for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore, Ill. Sgt. Wright enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2007.

Sgt. William Sadlick of Bolingbrook, Ill., was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant on May 19 at Fort McCoy, Wis. Staff Sgt. Sadlick will serve as an Ammunition Team Section Chief for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore, Ill. Staff Sgt. Sadlick enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2005. Staff Sgt. Sadlick has served overseas in Egypt in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, from May 2010 to May 2011.

Sgt. Francisco Delacruzchacon of Chicago, Sgt. Daniel Belair of Geneva, and Sgt. Kenneth Vasser of Kankakee, re-enlisted into the Illinois Army National Guard on May 19 at Fort McCoy, Wis. The ceremony took place during the unit's three day live fire exercise at Fort McCoy, Wis. The Soldiers are assigned to Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore, Ill. Pictured from left to right: 1st Sgt. David Binning of Pecatonica, Capt. Dustin Cammack of Chicago, Sgt. Francisco Delacruzchacon, Sgt. Daniel Belair, and Sgt. Kenneth Vasser.

Illinois Army National Guard artillerymen from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore, Ill. conducted their first live fire exercise of the year at Fort McCoy, Wis., May 18 to 20. The battery trained in preparation for the three-week eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) exercise in July at Camp Ripley, Minn.

Promoted Soldiers not pictured: Pfc. Devian Ruiz of Lake Zurich, Ill., was promoted to the rank of specialist on May 20 at the Sycamore National Guard Armory Spc. Ruiz serves as a Cannoneer for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore. Spc. Ruiz enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2010.

Spc. Daniel Belair of Geneva, Ill., was promoted to the rank of sergeant on May 20 at the Sycamore National Guard Armory Sgt. Belair serves as a Fire Direction Control sergeant for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore. Sgt. Belair enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2007 Sgt. Belair has served overseas in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, from June 2008 to June 2009.

Spc. Francisco Delacruzchacon of Chicago, was promoted to the rank of sergeant on May 19 at Fort McCoy, Wis. Sgt. Delacruzchacon serves as an Ammunition Team Chief for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore, Ill. Sgt. Delacruzchacon enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2006 Sgt. Delacruzchacon has served overseas in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, from June 2008 to June 2009.

Pfc. John Hannah of Dekalb, Ill., was promoted to the rank of specialist on May 19 at the Sycamore National Guard Armory Spc. Hannah serves as a Cannoneer for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore. Spc. Hannah enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2010.

Pfc. Joshua Amy of Hinckley, Ill., was promoted to the rank of specialist on May 20at the Sycamore National Guard Armory. Spc. Amy serves as a Cannoneer for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment located in Sycamore. Spc. Amy enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 2010.