Illinois National Guard
Statewide, Illinois
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists the three Illinois National Guard Civil Support Team talkgroups on STARCOM21 as encrypted, while its aviation and general operations talkgroups remain in the clear.
Encryption Details
What This Means
A subset of this department's talkgroups are encrypted rather than the whole system. Everything outside that subset may still be audible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Illinois National Guard radio encrypted?
Yes — Illinois National Guard's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. A subset of this department's talkgroups are encrypted rather than the whole system. Everything outside that subset may still be audible.
Can I listen to Illinois National Guard on a police scanner?
Partially. Illinois National Guard encrypts specific talkgroups rather than the whole system, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Illinois National Guard encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Statewide County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
Can Statewide County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Illinois National Guard encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Illinois National Guard, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Statewide County with you.