Illinois Military Intelligence Soldiers Nationally Recognized

Two Soldiers from C Company, 341st Military Intelligence (Linguist) Battalion receive national awards.

CHICAGO (05/18/2015)(readMedia)-- The Illinois Army National Guard's Company C., 341st Military Intelligence (Linguist) Battalion out of Chicago has reason to stand taller in formation: Sgt. Elizabeth Stegeman, formerly of Springfield, Illinois, now of Chicago, and Spc. Jeffery Lam of Chicago, received national level recognition for their work in the intelligence community.

"We're really proud," said Maj. Brian McGarry, of Springfield, Illinois, commander of Company C., 341st Military Intelligence (Linguist) Battalion. "It's nice for the Soldiers to get recognition for the things they do, espcially when a lot of it is under the radar."

Stegeman was selected as the Army's Language Professional of the Year for 2014, and is now in the running for the Department of Defense Language Professional of the Year award. Stegeman was selected from hundreds of Army applicants to emerge as this year's winner.

"I wasn't aware that I was even nominated," said Stegeman. "I was really surprised when I found out that I won."

Stegeman's selection was no accident; she is fluent in German, Russian, Polish, and Ukrainian. In her time with the unit she's created its Command Language Training Program, mostly during her spare time, said McGarry. She's been on a temporary active duty tour with Company C. since November 2014 to run the first phase of her program. During that time she also completed her master's degree in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from the University of Illinois, Champaign. McGarry said Stegeman is very modest about her achievement.

"It's a huge honor," she said. "I'm not quite sure I deserve it. I was just doing what I love to do."

Stegeman plans to stay with Company C. as a linguist, but will be moving to the Illinois National Guard's Counterdrug program as an attachment to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in Chicago for her next active duty tour.

Stegeman's not the only one gaining praise in the intelligence community. Lam was recognized this year as U.S. Cyber Command's Junior Enlisted of the Year.

In 2014 Lam was selected for a tour of duty with U.S. Cyber Command in Montery, California working as an all-source intelligence analyst. McGarry said Lam was aware his superiors nominated him, but remained humble when he learned of his selection.

"I feel the same as before," he said. "I really enjoy the job that I do, award or no award, but I am grateful that my chain of command nominated me. I did not expect to win at all truthfully."

The Chicago native says he is close to reenlistment and plans to sign up for another two years to continue his tour with U.S. Cyber Command before returning to Company C. as a linguist. Lam said his tour at Cyber Command has been very informative and will prepare him to further his career in the intelligence community.

Cutline 1: Sgt. Elizabeth Stegeman, formerly of Springfield, Illinois, now of Chicago holds the U.S. flag during a field church ceremony in Poland during the annual Czestechowa Pilgrimage from Warsaw to Czestechowa, Poland August 2014. Stegeman was selected as the Department of the Army's Language Professional of the Year for her many accomplishments as a linguist with the Illinois Army National Guard's Company C., 341st Military Intelligence (Linguist) Batallion. (Courtesy Photo)