TORUŃ, Poland — Sgt. 1st Class Hussein Mashal, an Illinois Army National Guard Soldier with nearly two decades of service, has checked a lot of Army boxes – service in all three components – active, Reserve, National Guard – Ranger school, airborne school, stateside missions, and deployments around the world.
“I started in 2005 on a four-year ROTC scholarship at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, but left the program a year later to enlist active duty as an infantryman,” he said. “I didn’t want to miss the surge, and I wanted more control over my career.”
That decision kicked off a winding path that included airborne school, a long-range surveillance deployment in Iraq, a deployment to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division, and assignments with both the Illinois and California Army National Guard.
His 15-month deployment to Iraq was a key moment from his time in the active component.
“Conducting LRS operations on deployment was one of my favorite memories,” he said. “It’s one of those jobs that gives you the feeling you’re making an actual impact.”
He later deployed to Afghanistan. Those two deployments and the overall time he spent in the active component gave him insight that he carried with him while serving in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard.
“My active time gave me a better understanding of how to structure and deliver training to increase the lethality of my Soldiers and my organization in the reserve component,” he said.
He’s also learned how to tap into the unique capabilities Army Guard Soldiers bring to the fight.
“On the Guard side, you get people who bring in all this civilian expertise,” he said. “It’s a different kind of asset, but when you use it right, it makes the unit better.”
Since returning to the Illinois Army Guard in 2022, he’s deployed to Jordan and participated in subject matter expert exchanges in Poland. The latter was part of the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which pairs Guard elements with partner nations worldwide for mutual training and subject matter expert exchanges. The Illinois Guard and Poland have been paired in the program for more than 30 years. Taking part in that has been a highlight, he said, that stands out in a long list of Guard memories.
“The ability to share knowledge, not only with a partner force but a counterpart element so similar to the National Guard, highlighted to me the larger impact that reserve component Soldiers can and will play in the LSCO [large-scale combat operations] environment,” he said. “It has forever changed my understanding of our influence on the battle field.”
While his path in the Army included attempts to pursue specialized training that didn’t pan out, he’s not one to dwell on what didn’t happen. Instead, he continues to seek out experiences that make him more well-rounded — both as a Soldier and a leader.
“I’ve had multiple experiences that shaped me into who I am,” he said. “Even if someone’s path looks different, I try to pass on what I’ve learned.”
He admits switching components so often came with trade-offs — slower promotions, constantly needing to reprove himself — but doesn’t regret it.
“My biggest advice is to do what’s best for you and your family,” he said. “Don’t let anyone guilt you into staying or switching. At the end of the day, we’re all on the same team.”
Mashal is still figuring out what’s next, including whether to retire.
“Deciding to retire and hang up the uniform is something we all think about,” he said. “But once it’s in front of you, it’s a hard thing to comprehend.”
For now, he’s staying focused on being the kind of leader he would’ve looked up to earlier in his career — and keeping the door open to whatever comes next.