The Illinois National Guard has had a state partnership with Poland since 1993. As part of the partnership, Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen work and train with Polish servicemembers. .
Poland and Illinois has co-deployed together first to Iraq and then Afghanistan since 2003. The latest iteration of the Illinois National Guard’s Bilateral Embedded Staff (BEST) Team is serving in Afghanistan with Poland’s Task Force White Eagle, a Polish Land Forces unit.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho,
108th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs/ Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti of Springfield,
the Acting Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, awards Polish A