Bolingbrook Man Returns Home After Long Deployment in Afghanistan

This article was provided by Larry Randa, Director of Community Relations, Valley View School District 365U

When he was younger, Thomas Gilligan always wanted to be in the military.

These days, the Romeoville High School Class of 2003 graduate and Bolingbrook resident is living his dream as the commanding officer of the Illinois Army National Guard’s 933rd Military Police Company.
         
“It was something I gave a lot of thought to,” Gilligan said as he recalled his decision to enlist in the National Guard seven years ago during his senior year at Elmhurst College. (He completed his degree in History and American Studies after basic training.)
         
Since then units, former Lieutenant, now Captain, Thomas Gilligan has served in have been mobilized four times, twice in preparation for missions in Iraq which never came about, and twice for back-to-back combat zone deployments in Egypt during the 2011 revolution and in Afghanistan from mid 2012 through early June of this year.
         
The 28-year-old calls the Egypt mission “interesting,” but readily admits commanding troops in Afghanistan “was a challenge every day…the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
         
While much of the 933rd’s Afghanistan mission remains classified, the Company’s main job was to protect American forces located at the various out-stations in the country. His men and women were scattered throughout Afghanistan and, while Capt. Gilligan’s headquarters technically were in Konduz, he traveled non-stop via C130s and “Gumbies” to all of the out-stations.
       
“Essentially our soldiers had to sit in the towers and patrol the areas around the out-stations to make sure no one was tampering with the exterior,” he said. “And we served as a QRF (Quick Reaction Force) which was the only line of defense if one of our out-stations was attacked.”
         
The former RHS Student Government President said he “didn’t give much thought” to putting his life on the line, but when asked directly if his life was in danger every day, he said “Yes. I don’t tell my mom that though.”
         
Regardless of the danger, “Company command in a combat zone is the pinnacle of an officer’s career,” he added. “If you ask any General, this is the best time in their military life because you have the most influence over everything.”
         
For his outstanding leadership in a combat zone, the Army gave him the Bronze Star and a host of other medals and ribbons which he shrugs off as “no big deal.”
         
Captain Gilligan’s mom and dad, Bolingbrook residents Georgia and Tom Gilligan, eagerly welcomed him home June 15. But, because Capt. Gilligan has decided to make a career out of the National Guard even as he serves as a policeman in Bensenville, they know another deployment could be right around the corner.
         
“We’re supposed to have dwell time which allows a soldier five years at home,” Capt. Gilligan said. “But an executive order can override that. We could be re-deployed anywhere at any time.”
       
Soon Capt. Gilligan must “rejoin” the unit which has been tasked to serve as the state’s Quick Reaction Force for Homeland Security. As part of the task, he must develop a plan that will have his soldiers ready to deploy anywhere in the state within 12 hours.
         
As for the future, retirement from the National Guard won’t come for at least 15 or 20 years. But once it does he might take up another passion of his.
       
 “I might transition into politics,” he said.