Springfield Soldier Retires After 32 Years in Uniform

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (12/09/2011)(readMedia)-- Sgt. Maj. Tamy J. Kuzel of Springfield will be hanging up her uniform for the final time on Feb. 1 after a 32-year career in the Illinois Army National Guard. She entered the military while still in high school and said she is leaving after a fulfilled career of helping people at home and abroad.

"I grew up in the Illinois Army National Guard and met some great Americans I now call friends and family," Kuzel said. "I learned valuable life lessons while wearing a uniform and have been to places I never would have been on my own if it wasn't for the military. I never would have gone to the jungles of Guatemala or the mountains of Bolivia or the Bulgarian tundra ever in my life. I wouldn't have even known that some of the places I have gone existed if it wasn't for the Illinois Army National Guard."

Sometimes the roadmap for life doesn't always align with the way things actually unfold. Kuzel said she never intended to make the Illinois Army National Guard her career, but once she joined, she said she realized she enjoyed the challenges and the opportunities the military presented.

"I can't imagine what my life would be like without the Guard," said Kuzel. "I joined for the educational benefits. I was drawn to service in some capacity and planning on going into the medical field. So I enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard, assigned to a medical company and discovered that I could do both; serve the medical community and my country. So here I am here today."

Of course, a lot of her success would not have been possible without the support of her family. Her parents supported her initial decision to join and throughout the years she gained the support of her husband and children as they became part of her life.

"My family has always been in total support of my military career," said Kuzel. "My husband has a military background himself so he understands commitment and sacrifice. He made it very easy for me."

Kuzel's most memorable moment was during her first overseas medical exercise in Bolivia and observed children walking around without parents, barefoot, wearing tattered t-shirts and ragged jeans while she was bundled up in full military gear battling frigid conditions.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," Kuzel said. "I became very emotional and I had to ask myself, 'Why me?', 'Why am I so blessed?' "I was almost ashamed knowing what I had back home and what these people didn't. I cried myself to sleep many nights during that mission, appalled of the miserable conditions these people lived in and the squalid life they led. It was a definitely a wakeup call for me.

That experience altered Kuzel's outlook and left an impression that she has not been able to let go of. She often shares what she learned in Bolivia with other Soldiers.

"I think that I have always tried to impress on the Soldiers that life is what you make of it and no matter how bad you think you might have it, somebody always has it worse than you. There is always help available regardless of the situation, but one has to communicate that need, go out and seek that help," said Kuzel.

Kuzel has left an impression on many people throughout her career. One of those is Col. Christopher F. Lawson of Springfield, Chief of the Joint Staff, Illinois Army National Guard.

"I first met her when I was a lieutenant and she was a sergeant," said Lawson. "I wasn't full-time and she wasn't either. We were two kids in a small town and I ended up being the directorate of the G3 (Operations) and she became the sergeant major of the G3. That's uncommon."

Lawson said Kuzel's crowning achievement was taking the military occupational skill (MOS) qualification level from 69 percent of Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers qualified and 28th in the country to 89 percent qualified and second nationally. This shows the Illinois Army National Guard is highly trained in their job skills and ready to complete its mission when called upon.

"We had many people before her attempt and not even get close," said Lawson.

Col. Thomas J. Weiss of Sherman, Director of Operations for the Illinois Army National Guard was another Soldier impacted by Kuzel's efforts. They first met in 1982 when Weiss was a private and he expressed how exceptional Kuzel has been over the years.

"I feel sorry for anyone who is going to have to follow in her footsteps because she has an enormous rucksack of skills," said Weiss. "She does so much work that goes unnoticed; simply making things happen and getting things done. She's the epitome of a great NCO (non-commissioned officer)."Those high regards were echoed by Col. Wesley R. Anderson of Minooka, Chief of Staff, Illinois Army National Guard.

"Sgt. Maj. Kuzel will be missed, not forgotten," said Anderson. "Her mark has been etched into the Illinois Army National Guard and will live on in the fiber of our organization for eternity."

Kuzel is ready for the next phase in life. She is voluntarily retiring and is focusing her full attention on areas of her life that have had to be flexible and make some sacrifices in the past.

"I am very proud of my career. I think I did my part for my country and for the Illinois Army National Guard and now it's time to move on to other things," said Kuzel "I have grandchildren that are getting older, parents that are getting older and it's time for family."

Kuzel advised Soldiers to do what they love, love what they do, always give 110 percent and to remember what it means to wear the uniform.

Kuzel reflected on the impact she is leaving on Soldiers she's led and hoped she impacted them.

"I would hope my legacy would be that I cared, made a difference and that they can make a difference too," said Kuzel.

After more than three decades, Kuzel will likely leave an imprint on the Illinois Army National Guard and have an impact on future Soldiers.

"Her legacy will be the people that she coached, mentored, and trained," said Lawson. "They will continue in the organization through her values and her work ethic will live long past her time through the people she invested in."

Photo 1: Sgt. Maj. Tamy Kuzel of Springfield

Photo 2: Photo courtesy of Sgt. Maj. Tamy Kuzel/ As a young sergeant with the Illinois Army National Guard's Company C, 634th Brigade Support Battalion in Springfield, Sgt. Maj. Tamy Kuzel participated in a medical readiness exercise in Bolivia in 1988. Kuzel said Bolivians didn't know how to take temperatures, so that was one thing they assisted with during the mission. She said the biggest obstacle was overcoming the language barrier.

For high resolution photos, please contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil

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