Petersburg Colonel Retires after 33 Years of Service

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/22/2016)(readMedia)-- Story by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

Some military lifelong friendships start in basic training, but for Col. Troy Phillips, Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia and Staff Sgt. (ret.) Jeff Barton it started in second grade. The three have been friends for 45 years. All three enlisted into the Missouri National Guard on April 14, 1983. After enlisting, they attended basic training and advanced individual training together at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

After 33 years of service, Phillips retired on August 8 from the Illinois Army National Guard and will continue his career in the state police.

"We have been with Troy from the beginning and have seen him go up through the ranks and become a great leader," said Zerbonia. "We all have funny stories about each other from when we were privates."

Zerbonia of Springfield, Illinois with Joint Force Headquarters, commander of the ILARNG and Assistant Adjutant General-Army for the ILNG said a story he laughs about still today is when the drill sergeant threw Phillips laundry out the window and yelled "Phillips! Phillips! Get your drawers and your funky underwear!"

Barton said he liked that one as well but his favorite was the time Phillips got really sunburnt on a float trip in Advanced Individual Training and was forced to wear flip flops until he healed.

"He had to wear flip flops on road marches and everywhere he went," said Barton. "His new nickname became slipper man."

Phillips' father was drafted into the Army in the 1960s and his grandfather served in World War I.

"My father encouraged me to get into the service for the discipline it provides, the public service side of it and because it would give me the skillsets to start my life."

Phillips said when he got in it was the time of the "be all you can be" military. He thought he would do his initial six-year enlistment and get out.

After basic and AIT, Phillips' military career started as a military police officer with the 2175th Military Police Company in the Missouri National Guard.

"When I got in I wanted to get the military police certification because I knew I wanted to be a policeman," said Phillips. "After that, I was hungry for more and wanted to be more involved."

After getting his certification, Phillips joined the North East Missouri State University Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Upon completion of the ROTC program Phillips commissioned and returned to the unit he enlisted into. He would later command that same unit as a captain from 1993 to 1995.

During his career in the military, Phillips served in many jobs, units and countries. After 33 years of service, 21 of which he served in the ILARNG, he retired from his position as the Personnel Officer for the Illinois Army National Guard. He had previously served as the commander of the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

Phillips said he is proud of what he has accomplished in his career in the National Guard.

"I have been able to work with people from over 25 nations in a multi-national setting as a leader, I have deployed twice and developed lifelong friendships with people from other countries," said Phillips. "I am proud that I could serve my nation and my state honorably through many situations."

Zerbonia said he has always been impressed with relationships between Phillips and his Soldiers.

"His best attribute in the military was his willingness and ability to interact with Soldiers," said Zerbonia. "This is a vital leadership quality to have because knowing your Soldiers and them knowing you makes them fight to accomplish the mission that much more when you need them to."

Barton said Phillips always cared about the Soldiers and they knew that.

"He was a great leader," said Barton. "He always listened to his NCOs and combined that with what he knew to make his final decision."

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Depenbrok of Springfield, Illinois, who served with Phillips on various missions and most recently the Eager Lion exercise said Phillips was a very encouraging leader.

"He always was quick to give his staff credit for their work," said Depenbrok. "He understood the importance of everyone's role down to the lowest level and didn't try to take all the credit."

Depenbrok said he always kept the Soldiers below him informed.

"He was willing to mentor anyone and he was always open to talking to lower enlisted Soldiers," said Depenbrok. "If you ever had a question about the mission, he was willing to explain it so everyone understood it."

Zerbonia said the Army value "Selfless Service" is the best way to describe Phillips.

"He truly does care about the Soldier," said Zerbonia. "He knows it's not about him, it's about making decisions that will make his Soldiers and unit better."

Zerbonia who retired from the Illinois State Police, as the Colonel of Operations, said the military has greatly affected Phillips' leadership in the Illinois State Police.

"What he has learned throughout his military career has helped him be successful in the State Police," said Zerbonia.

Phillips said his jobs as a police officer and being a National Guardsman have always complemented each other well.

"The Guard has provided me a lot of leadership opportunities and a lot of training that I wouldn't have received as just a police officer," said Phillips. "One example of that was being able to get my master's degree at the Army War College, which taught me how to be a senior leader."

Phillips said his law enforcement taught him a lot of skills that benefited his Guard time as well.

"The ability to talk and interact with people is important in both the Guard and in police work," said Phillips.

Phillips said over the course of his military career he has tried to take a little from each leader that he has had even in his early years.

"The sergeants and first sergeants that molded me always talked about the importance of being able to relate to my Solders," said Phillips. "That's why I wanted some enlisted time before I went officer so I knew what it was like to be a Soldier before I went on to become an officer."

Phillips said that he believes that the officer to noncommissioned officer relationship is crucial.

"I was fortunate enough to have a good crew of NCOs during my molding years that took me by the hand and mentored me," said Phillips.

Phillips said he applied what he learned from the NCOs as he climbed through the ranks.

"There are a lot of Soldiers with lots of great ideas throughout the ranks of the Illinois National Guard," said Phillips. "I made it a point as an officer to talk to the lower enlisted as well to improve the organization."

Phillips said he always wanted Soldiers to see him as a human being and not just an officer issuing orders.

"There have been times as a commander where I have had to do some unpopular things, but I always had the integrity of the organization at the forefront of my mind," said Phillips.

Phillips said he tried to make the organization better during his service.

"I think I have been successful at doing that during my service and I have been fortunate to see the Guard change for the better from 1983 to 2016."

Phillips said through a long career filled with many military assignments his family and friends have always supported him.

"Always seemed like when I was gone for annual training or deployment that the car would break down or something," said Phillips. "We have always been able to work through it though. They were there when I left for basic training, all the things in between and at the end for my retirement ceremony."

Phillips will continue to work for the Illinois State Police as the interim commander of investigators in Central Illinois. Phillips said he and his wife of 22 years, Lori, like to travel and are hoping to do more of that now that he is retired from the guard. Phillips 21-year-old daughter Emily is playing her last season of soccer for Eureka College and he hopes to make it to all of her games as well.

Zerbonia said that even though Phillips will be out of the Guard the three friends will continue to get together like they always have. Barton said they will continue to meet up for the Raiders versus the Chiefs game once a year.

"We all still feel like we are 21, so it's hard to believe we are at retirement age," said Barton. "I am very proud of him, who would have known he would have gone on to be a Colonel."

Photo Cutline 1: Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Springfield, Illinois with Joint Force Headquarters who serves as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Illinois Army National Guard presents a certificate of appreciation to Lori Phillips, wife of Col. Troy Phillips of Petersburg, Illinois, for supporting Phillips during his 33 years of service while their daughter Emily looks on during Col. Phillips retirement ceremony Aug. 8 on Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo Cutline 2: Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Springfield, Illinois with Joint Force Headquarters who serves as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Illinois Army National Guard presents a certificate of appreciation from President Barrack Obama to Col. Troy Phillips of Petersburg, Illinois for his 33 years of service to the Armed Forces of the United States of America during Phillips retirement ceremony Aug. 8 on Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo Cutline 3: Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Springfield, Illinois with Joint Force Headquarters who serves as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Illinois Army National Guard presents a President Abraham Lincoln head statue to show appreciation from Joint Force Headquarers to Col. Troy Phillips of Petersburg, Illinois for his 33 years of service to the Armed Forces of the United States of America during Phillips retirement ceremony Aug. 8 on Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo Cutline 4: Col. Troy Phillips of Petersburg, Illinois thanks his family members for their support through his 33 years of service during his retirement ceremony Aug. 8. Phillips will continue to work for the Illinois State Police as the interim commander of investigators in central Illinois. Now that he is retired from the Guard he plans to spend more time with his family. Phillips 21-year-old daughter Emily is playing her last season of soccer for Eureka College and he hopes to make it to all of her games as well. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo Cutline 5: Col. Troy Phillips of Petersburg, Illinois poses for a photo with his wife Lori and daughter Emily after his retirement ceremony Aug. 8. After 33 years of service, Phillips retired from the Illinois Army National Guard and will continue his career in the Illinois State Police. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)