Deputy Commander, Illinois State Area Headquarters
Brigadier General William H. Weir was assigned as Deputy Commander, State Headquarters, Illinois Army National Guard in February 2004. Under his direction, Illinois is fully engaged in the transformation to meet the demands brought about by the Global War on Terrorism. He guides the formulation, development, training and implementation of all programs and policies affecting the Illinois Army National Guard's 9635 citizen soldiers.
Brigadier General Weir enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, Platoon Leader Candidate Program and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant. The General's assignments include Platoon Commander, First Marine Division Vietnam, where he participated in the Vietnam Winter-Spring Offensive, DA Sanctuary Counter-Offensive, Vietnam Counter-Offensive Phase VII, Battalion Landing Team 1/6 Cuba, Company Commander 2/129th Infantry, Battalion Commander 108th Support Battalion, 33rd Separate Infantry Brigade, Commander 33rd Area Support Group, Director of Military Personnel, Assistant Division Commander 35th Infantry Division.
EDUCATION:
1969 Eastern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science, Business Management
1977 John Marshall Law School, Juris Doctor
1996 US Army War College
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Jul 69 - Apr 71, Platoon Commander, 1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps, Republic of Vietnam
2. Apr 71 - Mar 72, 2nd Marine Division, United States Marine Corps, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina
3. Mar 72 - Mar 73, United States Marine Corps, Reserve
4. Mar 73 - Dec 74, Motor Officer, 2nd Battalion, 129th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard
5. Dec 74 - Aug 77, Individual Ready Reserve, United States Army Reserve
6. Aug 77 - Dec 77, Platoon Leader, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 129th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard
7. Dec 77 - Jun 79, Executive Officer, later Commander, Headquarters, 33rd Separate Infantry Brigade, Illinois Army National Guard
8. Jun 79 - Aug 81, Commander, Company A, 2 Battalion, 129th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard
9. Sep 81 - Sep 87, S-1, later Communications-Electronics Officer, 2nd Battalion, 129th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard
10. Sep 87 - Jan 89, Finance Officer, Company A, 108th Support Battalion, Illinois Army National Guard
11. Jan 89 - Apr 89, Finance Officer, 33rd Infantry Brigade, Illinois Army National Guard
12. Apr 89 - Mar 93, Finance Officer, later Resource Management Officer, later Selective Service Officer, State Area Command, Illinois Army National Guard
13. Mar 93 - Mar 95, Battalion Commander, 108th Support Battalion, Illinois Army National Guard
14. Mar 95 - Mar 96, Administrative Officer, Adjutant General Branch, State Area Command, Illinois Army National Guard
15. Mar 96 - Sep 98, Commander, 33rd Area Support Group, Illinois Army National Guard
16. Sep 98 - Jun 00, Director, Military Personnel, Illinois Army National Guard
22. Jun 00 - Jan 04, Deputy Commander, 35th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Illinois Army National Guard
23. Feb 04 - Present, Deputy Commander, Illinois Army National Guard
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with Service Star)
Vietnam Service Medal (with Service Stars)
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (with Device)
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
2LT USMC 3Jul 69
1LT USMC 30 Aug 70
1LT ARNG 29 Mar 73
CPT ARNG 27 Jun 78
MAJ ARNG 02 Nov 87
LTC ARNG 27 Aug 92
COL ARNG 02 May 96
BG ARNG 22 Jun 00
(Current as of August 2004)