Illinois National Guard Official Visits Poland

7 December 2007

from left, Major James Fisher, Captain Jekielek and Ambassador Ashe

Captain Krista Jekielek from the Illinois National Guard visited Poland from December 4 to 6, 2007 to meet with Ambassador Victor Ashe, the Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation, and other members of the Embassy Team to discuss events to be held between the Polish Air Force and Land Forces during "Training Year 2008."  The State of Illinois is officially designated as the “State Partner” to Poland and Captain Jekielek is the State Partnership Program Coordinator for the Illinois National Guard.  Captain Jekielek coordinates yearly events between the National Guard of Illinois and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland.  The State Partnershp Program has been instrumental in the success of F-16 implementation in Poland, the Land Forces Noncommissioned Officer Development Program,  familiarizing over 2,000 Land Forces soldiers on Peacekeeping Operations, and in numerous other familiarization and State Partnership Program program events supporting the transformation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland.

Captain Jekielek is employed full-time by the state of Illinois and is set to take command of Alpha Company, 634th Brigade Support Battalion.  In June, 2008 she will graduate from Norwich University with a Master of Arts in Diplomacy.