SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – Master Sgt. Jonathan Brewer of the Illinois Army National Guard, based in Springfield, was named the Distinguished Honor Graduate of Class 50 of the Sergeants Major Academy. Three other soldiers from the Illinois National Guard also finished in the top tier of the class.
The Sergeants Major Academy graduated over 1,130 non-commissioned officers in Class 50 on April 26 at Fort Bliss, Texas. The majority of the program was conducted through distance learning, with the final two weeks in Texas.
Brewer, from the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters, was the top graduate and Distinguished Honor Graduate, while Sgt. Maj. James Davis, also from Joint Force Headquarters, was an Honor Graduate. Both were part of the Commandant’s List, which includes the top 20 percent of the class.
Command Sgt. Maj. Brad Gregory and Command Sgt. Maj. Norman Simard were recognized for “Superior Academic Achievement” in Class 50 of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. Gregory is with the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry in Kewanee, while Simard is with the 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment in Peoria.
The Academy prepares senior enlisted leaders for operational and strategic roles through a distance learning course that spans 18 to 24 months and includes over 1,480 hours of instruction.
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