Illinois National Guard Soldier Reflects on 31 Years of Service

Story and Photos by U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan L. Twist, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

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Col. Gary T. Schmitt of Springfield, the director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Staff of the Illinois National Guard retired March 25 after 31 years of service.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (03/30/2011)(readMedia)-- Soldiers devote their careers in hopes of living up to the Army values. Col. Gary T. Schmitt of Springfield, an Illinois National Guardsmen who retired March 25 after 31 years, lived those same values and dedicated his life to lead by example and help other Soldiers along his path.

"I believe in taking care of Soldiers," said Schmitt, the director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Staff of the Illinois National Guard and a Dania Beach, Fla., native. "If you take care of the people around you, you show them you're willing to suffer ... live the same way they are living and if you're technically and tactically proficient, you'll be a leader."

Schmitt said he learned how to be a leader early and taught his sons those qualities as they grew up.

He entered the Illinois National Guard as an enlisted Soldier in 1979 and then commissioned as a combat engineer officer in 1982. He deployed to Macedonia in 2000 with the 44th Rear Area Operations Center as an assistant operations officer and in 2002 he deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Then in 2008 he deployed with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Afghanistan, the largest single deployment in Illinois since World War II.

"It's an honorable profession," said Schmitt. "You could work as a Soldier all your life and when you finally walk away from it you should feel like you have done something. After 31 years, I hope I made some impact somewhere and I am walking away feeling OK about it."

First Lt. Calvin N. Young of Naperville, a platoon leader with Company A, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Marseilles, said Schmitt is a great leader. He has always provided both professional and individual career development, he said. Young has worked with Schmitt for a year as the State Partnership Program officer.

"Col. Schmitt takes the time to develop his subordinates (who) work with him," said Young. "He's constantly giving a lot of advice on professional development and what we can do as leaders. It is an ongoing thing that he does with all his troops."

He said Schmitt takes the time to provide the skills that junior officers will need throughout their career.

"I am able to see some of the things I need to do in order to be where he is," said Young. "He has been all around the world doing some amazing things both on staff and on the battlefield. He carries this great wealth of knowledge that I can transition in all my jobs. It has just been a great experience working for him."

Sgt. Maj. James W. Wall of Virden, the brigade operations sergeant major for Headquarters and Headquarter Company, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Urbana, has known Schmitt throughout his military career, he deployed with Schmitt to Macedonia and Iraq and traveled to other countries with him for other military missions.

"I think Col. Schmitt is a fantastic leader and motivator," said Wall. "He has always stood up for what he believes is right."

Wall said Schmitt was a leader who treated everybody equally and if he had to correct you he would do it accordingly. He said he was always the first one with a shovel ready to dig.

"He never would ask anybody to do anything that he wouldn't do himself," said Wall. "Lead from the front. There are reasons there are clichés, because they are true. (I am) very proud to have served with him all these years."

Schmitt said the Illinois National Guard has changed over his career and has become a stellar fighting force. Schmitt said he enjoyed his military career and he would like to stay longer, but cannot due to the mandatory retirement age, he said.

Schmitt said he plans to make up of for lost time with his family and friends.

"There might be an adage out there that says if you find what you love to do, you never have to work a day in your life. And that is what it has been for me," said Schmitt. "I love our country, I love our state (and) the National Guard as a family. It's not work if it is something I enjoy."

Schmitt said the quality of the officers, noncommissioned officers and Soldiers in the Illinois Army is outstanding and they are true professionals.

"I have deployed four times over the last 10 years," said Schmitt. "The Guard reputation as a credible professional fighting force has grown in the eyes of our Active Duty counterparts and our nation."