.

SFC Mark Ballard

       Sergeant First Class (SFC) Mark Ballard, has just recently celebrated 18 years of military service to his county, of which the last 6 years have been on Active Duty with Illinois Army National Guard.

       On April 19th 1991 joined the United States Navy Reserve, serving as an Air Crew Member and Ordnance Technician with Patrol Squadron 60 at Glenview Illinois.  Upon decommissioning of his unit, SFC Ballard enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in March 1994.  SFC Ballard has served as a TOW missile gunner with 1st BN, 123rd Infantry, Stinger Missile Crew Member, and Battalion staff with 1st BN, 202nd Air Defense Artillery and as an Instructor with the 129th Regional Training Institute in Springfield Illinois.  In May 2003, SFC Ballard enlisted full time with the Illinois Army National Guard and the Readiness NCO and Training Administrator with the 129th Regiment.    

       Over the past 6 years, SFC Ballard has worked with members of the Illinois National Guard and Army Reserve to train solders in their Military specific Skills, Leadership and preparation for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

       SFC Ballard lives in Athens Illinois, with his wife Jina and two children, Cora and Charles.