Rock Island Today

Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) is being called back to duty, in a sense.

Swanson recently announced that House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) has asked him to serve on the Veterans Advisory Council. 

“I am honored to have received the call from Leader Durkin to let me know I had been chosen to represent our caucus on the Veterans Advisory Council,” Swanson said in his press release. “Standing strong for our Veterans is critically important to me.”

State Representative Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) will be appointed to the Veterans Advisory Council.

According to the press release, Swanson began his military service career in 1977, when he enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard. In 1980, he served on an active duty tour with the Illinois Army National Guard. He later attended officer candidate school at the Illinois Military Academy and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1986.

After 20 years of active duty and more than three years as a traditional guardsman, Swanson retired in 2001.

Swanson was recalled to active duty in 2007 to serve with the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq; Coalition Army Advisory Training Team, Baghdad, Iraq. He returned to retirement in 2008 and earned the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.

In 2010, Swanson was recalled to serve with the Army Sustainment Command. He returned to retirement in 2013.