Sherman Soldier Promoted to Colonel

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/07/2017) (readMedia)-- Mark Alessia, of Sherman, Illinois, assigned to Joint Force Headquarters based in Springfield, Illinois, was promoted to the rank of Colonel, July 7, during a ceremony at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois.

Alessia has served more than 25 years in the U.S. military. He enlisted as an infantry Soldier in 1996.

He works as the full time personnel officer for the Illinois National Guard. He has been selected as the incoming commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

In 1996 he commissioned as a second lieutenant from Reserve Officer Training Corps as an Infantry Officer from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. Alessia taught middle school math and history and served as a traditional guardsman until 2003 when he entered the Active Guard and Reserve Program.

Colonel Alessia earned a Master of Science degree in Adult and Continuing Education from Kansas State University in 2007 and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2016. Colonel Alessia is a qualified infantry officer, chemical officer, and Adjutant General Officer and has successfully completed assignments in each of these three branches.

Alessia's new rank was pinned on by his wife Jennifer and their three children Maxwell, Nathaniel and Jasper during the promotion ceremony.

Photo Cutline 1: Nathaniel Alessia removes the rank of lieutenant colonel from his father, Col. Mark Alessia's uniform during a promotion ceremony on Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois July 7. Alessia works as the full time personnel officer for the Illinois National Guard and will now will also serve as the 33rd Infantry Brigade commander.

Photo Cutline 2: Col. Mark Alessia says a few words to family, friends and colleagues at a promotion ceremony July 7 on Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Alessia works as the full time personnel officer for the Illinois National Guard and will now will also serve as the 33rd Infantry Brigade commander.