Hometown Military News: Nov. 20, 2015:
Maj. Gen. Scott L. Thoele retires after 35 years of service
By Staff Sgt. Robert R. Adams, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs
SPRINGFIELD – For many, retired Illinois National Guardsman Maj. Gen. Scott Thoele will be remembered as an empowering leader who put Soldiers first. Others will remember him for his leadership during the 2008 to 2009 historic deployment of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) to Afghanistan.
Thoele of Teutopolis retired on Sept., 30 after a 21-year career in the Illinois National Guard. Thoele also served 14 years in the active duty Army.
Thoele received his commission in the U.S. Army in December 1980 from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. In September 1994, Thoele joined the Illinois Army National Guard.
“Joining the Illinois National Guard was one of the best moves I ever made, the Illinois National Guard is a first-class organization,” said Thoele. “I had some great mentors over the course of my career in the Illinois National Guard.”
Thoele served in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility as an active-duty officer and traditional Guardsman, culminating as the Deputy Commanding General-Army National Guard for the United States Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina from August 2012 to August 2015.
Thoele said he was honored to serve as the Deputy Commanding General of the ARNG, but he views his time with 33rd IBCT as the highlight of his career.
Thoele deployed to Afghanistan as commander of the 33rd IBCT in 2008 as the Deputy Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VIII Commander, his Illinois Guard Soldiers directly trained the Afghan National Security Forces.
Thoele said this was not just his last assignment with the Illinois National Guard, but he considers commanding the 33rd to be his best assignment.
“A lot of people forget how hard that deployment was. It was really a team effort,” said Thoele.
During the deployment, 36 Americans from Combined Task Force Phoenix were killed during the 2008 to 2009 deployment, 18 of those were from Illinois.
“We knew it was going to be a tough year when we took three casualties and we hadn’t even deployed the brigade (main body) to theater yet,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Bowman, former
Command Sergeant Major for the 33rd IBCT and current Land Component Command Sergeant Major for the Illinois National Guard. “Losing those Soldiers made it harder on every Soldier during the mobilization.”
Bowman said despite the hardships the brigade endured, Thoele stayed focused and his guidance was always the right thing to do.
“He had a calm presence about him, but you always knew he was in charge,” said Bowman.
Col. Eric Little, United States Property and Fiscal Officer for the Illinois National Guard, who served as the Logistics Task Force Commander for the 634th Brigade Support Battalion, 33rd IBCT said
Thoele was a smart, influential and dynamic leader.
“His character and style brought empowerment to Soldiers and leaders and the overall Brigade together,” said Little. “Soldiers and leaders strived to do everything they could do to serve him and the organization he represented. He was truly a leader that served the soldier.”
During that deployment, Thoele met with U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Richard Formica, of Alexandria, Virginia, the Commanding General of the Combined Security Transition Assistance Command – Afghanistan every Saturday morning in Kabul.
“I am proud to say that I served with the 33rd IBCT,” said Formica now retired. “It has been six years, but what hasn’t changed and what I haven’t forgotten is the tremendous respect and admiration that I had for the courage, the tactical competence, the determination and the grit of the Soldiers of the 33rd IBCT.”
Formica said he was very proud of the Soldiers and leaders of the 33rd.
“My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the 33rd daily, and I will never forget their sacrifices,” said Formica.
Later on in Thoele’s career, he served as the Deputy Commanding General for United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and at many strategic-level positions for the Army National Guard Combined Arms Center. There he applied his Illinois National Guard experiences to implement national policies and programs.
“It is really amazing what Scott added to our military, the rest of this nation and to our Army through his influence in various positions throughout his career,” said Maj. Gen. Richard Hayes, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. “His work affected half a million people in the Guard and Reserves while serving in the positions he did.”
Thoele graduated from Quincy University in 1980 where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. In 1991, Thoele graduated the Graduate School of Banking from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.
He has attended numerous U.S. Army leadership courses including the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Army Strategic Leadership Develop Program basic, intermediate and advanced levels; CAPSTONE, National Defense University in Washington, D.C. and Advanced Joint Professional Military, Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk Virginia.
Thoele has participated in Operation Urgent Fury at Grenada, Desert Storm Southwest Asia Cease Fire Campaign, Iraq, Hurricane Mitch Relief Operations, Operation Noble Eagle for the USA,
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His most recent combat assignment was Commander, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan, from September 2008 to November 2009.
Thoele’s awards include Legion of Merits, Bronze Star Medals, Meritorious Service Medals, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NATO Afghanistan Service Medal, Bronze Medal of the Polish Army, French National Defense Medal, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badges, and Combat Action Badge.
“I know its bittersweet for Scott to take off the uniform, but I know he will continue to serve our National Guard in other capacities,” said Hayes.
Formica said he wishes the best for Thoele.
“Congratulations on a wonderful career and thanks to your family and to you for your service,” said Formica.
In the civilian sector, Major General Thoele retired as, Senior Vice President and Senior Loan Officer for United States Bank, Lewistown, Missouri and Vice President, Compliance Officer and Credit Analyst for First Bankers Trust Company in Quincy, Illinois. Thoele and his wife Paula have four children and three grandchildren. The general and Paula reside in Quincy, Illinois.
Illinois State Military Museum hosts history event
By Sgt. James D. Sims, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
SPRINGFIELD – On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Illinois State Military Museum at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois hosted the annual Great War Encampment 2015. The event featured uniformed reenactors, a recreated trench with WWI military equipment and battle reenactments.
The reenactors entertained questions from observers, explained how units trained and fought as well as the consequences of the war. The reenactors also demonstrated WWI combat techniques through the depiction of mock battles.
“We are made up of veterans and non-VETS, but what we have in common is our interest in military history particularly how it pertains to Illinois military history,” said Dennis Nichols a veteran from Belleville, Illinois portraying a captain from the 33rd Division of the Illinois National Guard during WWI.
This weekend the focus was on WWI as it was 100 years ago when the world was embroiled in what has been coined The Great War. Visitors to the museum saw first-hand what life may have been like for Soldiers from several different countries including France, Russia, Germany and the United States.
“Events like this give the living historians the opportunity to live like Soldiers did during a different time and makes it easier to relate those experiences to the visitors who may have read about it, but now it comes to life for them,” said Nichols.
The Illinois State Military Museum offers military history from the French Colonial period through present day conflicts. Along with the static displays and battle reenactments, the museum hosted, Dr. Chris McDonald from Lincoln Land Community College who spoke on topics such as Sangamon County during the Great War.
“The reason we do this is that the museum tells the story of the Illinois citizen Soldier and particularly the Illinois National Guard’s 33rd Division which sent troops to Europe in 1917,” said Richard Schachtsiek, a volunteer at the Illinois State Military Museum.
Some estimate nearly 40 percent of the servicemembers in WWI were in the National Guard.
“This was the first time the National Guard was tested on a large scale; federalized and challenged to meet the standards of the full-time active military,” said Schachtsiek.
The Illinois State Military Museum is two blocks north of the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and North Grand Avenue at 1301 North MacArthur Boulevard, Springfield.
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