Guardsman retires from Missouri Army National Guard

Sgt. 1st Class Craig Collins receives the Meritorious Service Medal from Maj. Tammy Spicer, 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment commander, for his service to his country during a retirement ceremony at the Ike Skelton Training Site. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Clay Beyersdorfer, 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Missouri Army National Guard).

Pfc. Clay Beyersdorfer
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A retirement ceremony for a local guardsman was held at the Ike Skelton Training Site recently.

Sgt. 1st Class Craig Collins, a Columbia resident, has dedicated more than 20 years in the United States military while serving in the Air Force, Air Force Reserves, Army, and Missouri Army National Guard.

"My time in the Guard has been great, I have been able to see so much and make a lot of close friends," Collins said.

Collins began his military service in June of 1982 when he joined the United States Air Force, where he was assigned to the 351st Operational Missile Maintenance Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, as an electro-mechanical technician for the remainder of his tour on active duty.

After spending some time in the Air Force Reserves, Collins entered the United States Army in 1990 as a cavalry scout. While he was in the calvary, he completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration at Regis University before completing his active duty tour in 1994.

In November 1999, after working for the University of Missouri for five years, Collins joined the Missouri Army National Guard as a combat documentation and production specialist.

Collins started as the readiness noncommissioned officer for the 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and 135th Military History Detachment in Jefferson City in January 2006 and worked there until his retirement.

While he was with the 70th MPAD, Collins deployed to Kosovo in 2008, participated in Southern Partnership Station aboard the USNS Henson in Columbia, South America during March 2010, and then went to Egypt for Operation Brightstar in October 2010.

"I feel as though we're losing a great NCO, a great leader, and an even better friend," said Staff Sgt. Ty Stafford, a fellow member of the 70th MPAD.

During the ceremony Collins was awarded the Missouri National Guard Commendation Ribbon, as well as the State Emergency Duty Ribbon for his service to the state of Missouri in 2011.

Collins also received a certificate of appreciation signed by President Barack Obama, a State of Missouri Certificate of Appreciation signed by Gov. Jay Nixon and Maj. General Stephen Danner, and a certificate of service from General Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Monica Collins, Collins' wife, was also presented with an award; a certificate of appreciation for supporting her husband.

"I will never be able to thank my wife Monica for her patience and understanding throughout my military career," Collins said. "She has been there for me so much over the years."

Sgt. 1st Class Collins' military awards include the meritorious service medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Global War on Terrorism Campaign Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer professional development ribbon (3rd award), the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the Air Force Training Ribbon, the NATO medal, the Missouri Commendation Medal (2nd award) and the State Emergency Duty Ribbon (3rd award).

Joining Collins for his ceremony along with his wife Monica were his parents Jim and Kathy, and his daughter, Alex. Collins also has a son James, as well as his stepsons Andy, Danny, Brian and Pvt. Curtis Bobka of the United States Marine Corps.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites: www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard; www.moguard.com/blog; www.pinterest.com/monationalguard/

Maj. Tammy Spicer, 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment commander, presents a certificate of appreciation to Sgt. 1st Class Craig Collins at his retirement ceremony at the Ike Skelton Training Site. Collins retired as the full-time readiness noncommissioned officer for the 70th MPAD. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Clay Beyersdorfer, 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Missouri Army National Guard).