NYS DMNA Photo Archive

Staff Sgt. Robert Hale, Northeast Air Defense Sector identification technician keeps a close eye on tracking Santa. To ensure Santa is safe and on schedule, the Air National Guard will ensure that their alert fighter aircraft, controlled by NEADS, are prepared to fly and help Santa at a moment�s notice, if needed. And in case of poor flying weather, NEADS will provide jolly Saint Nick navigation and guidance.

During a commemorative anniversary ceremony honoring the 224th Birthday of former President Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United States, Air Force Brig. Gen. Verle L. Johnston, commander, 105th Airlift Wing and Lt. Col. Eric Olsen, chaplain, 42nd Infantry Division, prepare to place a wreath at the base of the Van Buren monument in Kinderhook, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2007. Van Buren was a native of Kinderhook and served as President from 1837 to 1841. The event was also attended by area government officials, media and students from Ichabod Crane elementary school.

Placing a firm grasp on the National Guard Birthday cake are (at left) Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt, New York State Command Sergeant Major and (at far right) Command Chief Master Sgt. Hardy Pierce, senior enlisted non-commissioned officer of the New York Air National Guard. Cutting the cake are Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, New York State Adjutant General and Pvt. Ashley Corsi, Company E, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment. The difference in General to Private rank symbolizes the current and future leadership in the National Guard.

Staff Sergeant Daniel Brunner, a N.Y. Army National Guard Citizen Soldier with the 42nd Infantry Division, passes a donated Christmas Tree to fellow volunteer 1SG Tony Coluccio at Ellms Farms in Charlton, N.Y. on November 28. The trees are part of a donated shipment for DoD installations in the U.S. and across the globe as part of the "Trees for Troops" charitable donations for 2007. Brunner voluteered his time on November 28 to help other area veterans and military famiily members in loading more than 150 trees for shipment at Ellms Tree Farms in Charlton, N.Y.

1st Battalion 69th Infantry Command Sergeant Major Jorge Vasquez presents a battalion coin to movie star Will Smith during the filming of the newly released movie "I Am Legend" under the Brooklyn Bridge in January this year. Members of the 69th Infantry and other New York Army National Guard units portrayed MPs during the filming.

The New York National Guard introduces the Guard Times News Magazine for 2008. Following our call for new publication name submissions, our editorial staff decided to retain the original Guard Times name so familiar with out thousands of readers across the state. The magazine will be produced quarterly and this premiere issue for the winter of 2008 should be delivered to the homes of New York Army and Air National Guard servicemembers in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you may read the most current issue here at www.dmna.state.ny.us/gdtimes/gdtimes.php

Welcome to the premiere issue of the Guard Times news magazine. The Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs staff has redesigned our command information publication to better feature our New York State Military Forces. Our goal is to better tell the stories of all our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and New York Guard volunteers. The Guard Times will be published quarterly, providing you with a highlight of operations, training and missions across the State of New York and around the world. Your four issues each year will make a yearbook of events from the entire New York National Guard. After announcing our transition last fall and the retirement of the Guard Times military forces newspaper, we asked for submissions to rename our new publication. Your input was both fun and creative, with many names keeping to our National Guard theme or the nicknames so common to our Empire State. In the end, we chose to keep the Guard Times name because it is so well known throughout our force and maintains our ties to the past. Besides, we all really like the whole gt logo for brand identity!

NASCAR champion road racer Boris Said and brakeman, National Guard Soldier Specialist Daniel Moreno, Watervliet, NY climb into thier bobsled during the third annual Bo-Dyn Bobsled Challenge at the Mt. Van Hoevenberg, US Olympic Sports complex on Saturday, January 5, 2008. Moreno is wearing the helmet former National Guard driver, Todd Bodine wore during the 2003 Winston Cup series.

Master Sgt. Jennifer Mahoney boards a New York Air National Guard 107th Refueling Wing KC-135R tanker January 4 as 27 members of the unit deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mahoney will be part of an Expeditionary Combat Support package for a Civil Engineering Squadron. More than 100 members of the 107 Refueling Wing, based at Niagara Air Force Reserve Station, will be deploying in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan over the next few months.

Mr. David Moose from the Harris Radio Company instructs Pvt. William Babineau, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, on the AN/PRC-150 Harris radio system inside a New York Army National Guard Humvee on the newest high-tech communications radio available to the New York Army National Guard. This communication innovation augments and adds a mobile capability to the long-standing VCR-100 ground-based system and the ARC-220 aircraft-based system. The Harris radio provides an Automatic Link Establishment to other networked Harris radios in a matter of seconds by finding an “open” frequency and “linking” the radios together. The Harris system is an external dipole antenna system hooked to a battery powered man pack capable of transmitting up to 1200 miles. When installed in a military vehicle with the power amplifier connected, it can transmit in excess of 3000 miles. The major advantage of having this combination of HF radio systems allows unit commanders to have long range command and control of battle operations working from either their ground vehicle, an aircraft or a base station.

The Color Guard of the New York Army National Guard?s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team stands at attention Jan. 16, during the unit?s send-off ceremony at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in North Syracuse, New York. The 27th BCT is deploying to Afghanistan to train the Afghan National Army and Police Force.

January 17, 2008 - Specialist Joseph Barber (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Charles Young position and seal pallets on the floor of the Thompson Road Armory as they work to prepare the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters for deployment to Afghanistan. Both Soldiers are assigned to the brigade’s Communication Section. Soldiers of the 27th BCT depart for Fort Bragg, North Carolina on January 20th for a two month train-up period before heading to Afghanistan. The brigade’s Soldiers will be responsible for training the Afghan National Army and Police during their deployment.

A KC-135R Stratotanker leaves her home with the New York Air National Guard?s 107th Air Refueling Wing in Niagara Falls for a new home with the 126th Air Refueling Wingof the Illinois Air National Guard,on Jan. 23. The aircraft served with the 107th ARW for 14 years. The departure begins a series of farewells the Guardsmen of the 107th will give to their aircraft as they convert to an airlift wing. Members of the unit have already begun retraining on C-130 aircraft. Under the reorganization plan the 197th will jointly operate 12 C-130 aircraft in conjunction with the Air Force Reserve?s 914th Airlift Wing. Both units share the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

Specialist David Tinker,a member of the New York Army National Guard from Herkimer,New York, checks the oil level of a humvee during morning preventative maintenance checks and services at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Patriot at Fort Bragg , North Carolina. Tinker and other members of the 27th Brigade Combat Team are conducting post-mobilization training at Fort Bragg prior to deploying to Afghanistan in April. The unit arrived at Fort Bragg on January 20 and is participating in “Theater Immersion Training” in which soldiers live on a FOB similar to the one they will be based at in Afghanistan. Soldiers wear body armor and carry weapons routinely. The training day begins at 5:30 in the morning and runs until 8 p.m.

New York Naval Militia Major General Robert Wolf, is congratulated by by Major General Joseph Taluto (left) the Adjutant General, following his promotion in the New York Naval Militia on Monday, Jan. 28. Major General Wolf, a retired Marine officer, is the commander of the Naval Militia, a force comprised of Navy and Marine Corps Reservists who volunteer to perform state duties. The New York Naval Militia is one of seven state naval defense forces and is the oldest in the United States .

The number 88 NASCAR driven by Dale Earnhart, Jr., the new NASCAR driver for the National Guard, makes a debut at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs drill shed floor Jan. 28 in Latham, N.Y. The New York Army National Guard?s Recruiting and Retention Command, Area 3, will have the race car on display at Upstate New York central region area towns of Stamford, Oneonta and Sidney Center until the end of January, 2008.

Spc. Joshua Destevens of Oswego, N.Y. receives an encased American flag, a commemorative coin and a certificate of appreciation from his 466th Area Support Medical Company commander, Lt. Col. Richard Green during the unit Freedom Salute ceremony at the Glens Falls High School on Sunday, February 3, 2008. Congresswomen Kirsten Gillibrand, State Senator Elizabeth Little, community and National Guard senior leaders were on hand to recognize the 70 National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and their families from the 466th for their service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit returned home from Iraq in October 2007, after operating four separate medical treatment facilities across Iraq. During their year-long deployment, unit personnel completed more than 30,000 medical visits, ranging in patient care from minor aches, pains and illnesses to extremely serious battlefield injuries and trauma. More than 40,000 prescriptions were filled for patients in the 466th Medical Company facilities. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo. (RELEASED).

Roberta Basile (left) a contract optometrist, positions a prescription eyeglass device in front of Pfc. Bryan Novak, 133rd Quarter Master Company, Feb. 9 during a preliminary Soldiers Readiness Check at the Department of Military and Naval Affairs building in Latham, New York. Novak was one of approximately 250 Soldiers to go through the preliminary physical examinations in preparation for a possible deployment with 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation in the near future.

Family members of New York National Guard Soldiers gathered at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs in Latham, N.Y. on Feb. 22 to look on as Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, Adjutant General, signs the Army National Guard Family Covenant presented by the New York National Guard Family Readiness Program office. Seated from right are: Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt, Taluto, Mrs. Susan Taluto and Debbie Van Pelt. Standing from right are: Sherry Imbarrato, Kevin Swint, Erica Swint holding Kevin Swint Jr., Andrea Seeger holding Rachel Seeger, Shauna Simmons, Cindy Casey, Nicole Ross holding Jordan Ross, Linda Somersall and Mary Stewart.

New York Army National Guard Spc. Thomas Kovacs meets with local Afghan children during a mission in January, 2008 with the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix Embedded Training Team. Kovacs deployed with 16 other National Guard Soldiers from the 27th Brigade Combat Team to mentor, train and support Afghan national army soldiers.

The African-American Soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment Harlem Hellfighters charge into the hell of the Argonne Forest in September 1917 as they advance to capture the French village of Sechault, in this painting from the U.S. Army History Series. The unit?s heroism in this battle won the men of the former New York National Guard?s 15th Infantry Regiment the unit Croix de Guerre, the highest unit award in the French Army. ?My men never retire, they go forward or they die,? said Colonel William Hayward, the regiment?s commander. The traditions of the 369th Infantry Regiment are recalled during Black History Month by the men and women of the New York Army National Guard?s 369th Sustainment Brigade.

ROME – Raven Fallon, 8, performs a railslide during the second annual Combat Skate Jam hosted by the New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the Rome Weed and Seed at the Rome armory February 22, 2008. The event was free to kids of all ages to learn about the dangers of drugs and compete in a skate board competition for prizes. The New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force works with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in an effort to combat drugs in New York State. As part of the support to these agencies, the Counterdrug Task Force receives a share of forfeited monies from apprehended drug dealers to be used for community activities. Part of the seizure money was used to purchase a mobile skate park that was used during the skate jam and can be transported to communities across the state throughout the year. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Peter K. Towse (RELEASED)

KINGSTON, N.Y - The familiar marching cadance --"Marching down the avenue. One more day and we?ll be through"-- came true on 13 March as approximately 70 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 104th Military Police Battalion were dropped off in front of Kingston High School and paraded down Broadway Avenue to the Midtown Neighborhood Center were they held their welcome home ceremony. The unit was deployed early last summer to Camp Bucca, Iraq, where they ran a detention facility.

An aircrew member on the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS, aircraft from the 552nd Air Control Wing based at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., briefs Rome Fire Department Chief Roger Sabia about the AWACS mission Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Major General Joseph Taluto, New York State Adjutant General views a partially restored New York battle flag during his visit to the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation at Peebles Island, Waterford, N.Y. on March 28. Looking on at right is Carol Ash, director, New York State Office of Parks and Recreation.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Dr. Steven P. Bucci (left) meets with New York Army National Guard Sergeant Linda Liautaud (center) and Spc. Jean Johnson (right) from Task Force Empire Shield, the state’s homeland security standing task force in Manhattan’s Grand Central Station rail terminal on Wednesday, April 2. Dr. Bucci, who overseas Department of Defense policy issues regarding Domestic Counter Terrorism and National Guard operational issues, was in New York to meet with state Office of Homeland Security officials, representatives of the New York City Police Department Counter Terrorism leaders and members of the National Guard’s Civil Support Team and homeland security elements in lower Manhattan. U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Joseph Sullivan (RELEASED).

The Division of Military and Naval Affairs held their first Diversity day on April 8, 2008 with a special performance from “Too Deep”, a theater group from Albany N.Y. dedicated to education and entertainment for the community through dramatic presentations. Diversity day is an event focused on increasing awareness about differences as well as similarities that make us all unique. Celebrateing diversity allows us to work better as a team. Over 100 DMNA employees attended the event.

Staff Sergeant Steven Hughes from Co. B, 642nd Aviation, New York Army National Guard, validates a known point on the Fort Drum compass course during Annual Training at Fort Drum. Hughes was checking the course to ensure that Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, were getting accurate readings when they negotiated the course. The Soldiers of 3-142nd Aviation are training at Fort Drum until April 24 to prepare mobilization and deployment to Iraq this summer.

A New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk dumps 660 gallons of water from a "Bambi Bucket" on a wild fire raging in Minnewaska State Park, Ulster County, New York on April 21. The fire, which erupted on Thursday, April 17, consumed 3,100 acres, making it the largest such fire in New York in 13 years. Army National Guard aviation assets responded to a State Emergency Management Office request for assistance on Saturday, April 19, when one Blackhawk helicopter flew 37 water dump missions. On Sunday April 20, and Monday April 21, two Blackhawks responded, flying 14 water missions each day. A New York Army National Guard OH-58 recon helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging device was also used to identify fire hot spots for targeted drops. Helicopters from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Police also participated in the fire-fighting mission.

Pvt. First Class James Bach, an engineer with the 1156th Engineer Company, New York Army National Guard works to finish a picnic table for the children of St. Mary?s orphanage in the town of Tacarigua, Trinidad as part of Operation Beyond the Horizon 2008; a joint nation, joint service humanitarian mission composed of elements from the Army, Army National Guard and Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Seabees and Marines April 28, 2008. The engineers are also building a school and a medical clinic for the children of the orphanage.

New York Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Linda Nosbisch, from Lancaster, N.Y., is a military mom currently serving with Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in Kabul Afghanistan. Nobisch has 10 years of military service as a Chaplain Assistant. She supervises all the chaplain assistants for the task force. Her oldest son is on active duty at Eglin AFB, Florida and her younger son is serving in the New York Air National Guard. ?Those who put on the uniform of our country show tremendous self-sacrifice and service to others,? said Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, The Adjutant General for the State of New York. ?I can think of no better group of military women more deserving of our military family?s praise than those serving women who balance their careers as Soldiers or Airmen and mothers for their children. They are heroes in their families, in their communities and deserve that recognition across our great state and our nation,? Taluto said. U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Paul Fanning. (RELEASED)

LATHAM, N.Y. ? Major General Joseph Taluto (left), commander of the New York National Guard and Rear Adm. Timothy Sullivan, commander of the 1st Coast Guard District exchange signatures on an official memorandum of agreement on May 14 that will provide a New York Army National Guardsmen from the Guard?s Counter-Drug program to work in conjunction with the Coast Guard in their Staten Island, N.Y. intelligence center

At more than 7,000 feet above sea level, members of CJTF Phoenix VII look forward to climbing Ghar Mountain at the Kabul Military Training Center. Holding the American Flag on the peak of Ghar Mountain on May 9 (from left) is Spc. Raymond Persons, Spc. Bill Rose and Staff Sgt. James Waleski from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 427th Support Battalion. Courtesy photo.

Specialist Eugene Corbett, from Webster, NY, a mechanic assigned to Company B, 427th Support Battalion based in Rochester,works on a ball joint on an M1151 Uparmored Humvee at Camp Phoenix, Kabul Afghanistan. Corbett is one of 1,700 New York Army National Guard soldiers deployed as part of Combined Joint Task force Phoenix VII. The Task force is training Afghan National Army and Police members as part of Operation Enduring Freedom

New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Brian Coons, speaks to Mohamed Faroq ? one of the Khvajeh Ghar Village spokesmen ? to gather sewer, water, electric, academics, and trash data relating to the town. Coons, with the New York Army National Guard?s 106th Regional Training Institute, planned the early morning mission. ?It helps to search out the village elders first,? said Coons, 42, from Pine Plains, N.Y. ?It sets a positive tone for the relationship.

New York Army National Guard Spc. Jeremy Singer from Oneida, N.Y. (Right) greets Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General of New York, at the Camp Phoenix Dining Facility in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 29. Taluto is on a week-long trip to Afghanistan, along with New York National Guard Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt to met with New York Army National Guard Soldiers operating there. Hough is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 27th Brigade Combat Team, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII.

Staff Sergeant Nikolas Isler, his wife Alison and step-daughter Giana share a long awaited hug as he returns from a 10-month Afghanistan deployment with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation. The unit, which operates CH-47 Chinook helicopters returned home Saturday, May 31 after a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cohoes, NY -- Cohoes High School student Kourtney Hebert tries on Individual Body Armor or IBA belonging to Staff Sgt. Karin Coons of the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, NY. The Cohoes High School toured the new exhibit at the Cohoes Visitors Center which highlights the accomplishments of area women who have served in the military and are currently serving in the New York Army and Air National Guard. The exhibit is sponsored by The Spindle City Historic Society of Cohoes and Cohoes Remembers Vets with the assistance of the New York National Guard and the Foundation of New York State Nurses. The exhibit illustrates the opportunities afforded to women in the military and reveals the contributions made through their military service as camp followers, in the Army and Navy Nurse Corps, National Guard and Women?s Air Force Service Pilots (WASPS). The exhibit will be available for view at the Cohoes Visitor?s Center, 58 Remsen Street, the ground floor of the Cohoes Music Hall from June 3 ? 27, 2008; hours are 11am to 4pm, Tuesday through Friday. There is a special evening showing from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday June 5, 2008.

LATHAM, N.Y. -- The first five of ten UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation head out in flying formation from the Latham Army Aviation Support Facility #3 on their way to Fort Sill, Okla. Approximately 40 pilots and crew-members bid final farewells to family and were rendered salutes by other aviation Soldiers. The 142nd Aviation will train-up at Fort Sill for about two months before leaving for Iraq.

ALBANY N.Y. - Female members of the New York Army and Air National Guard and women veterans of World War II stand with Assemblyman Darryl Towns, an Air Force veteran, and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Women Veterans, on the steps of the New York State Capitol. The women veterans and military members were honored on Women Veterans Day June 12. The female servicemembers were saluted for their service by the Assembly Subcommittee and were present in the Assembly Chamber during the adoption of two legislative resolutions honoring female military members and veterans.

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Mike Mallin (center), a member of the 27th Brigade Combat Team, cuts the ribbon at the new $14 million Helmand Provice Afghan Police station on May 27. Mallin, originally assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division and a police officer in civilian life, is the senior mentor to the Helmand Provincial Police Chief. Mallin and other members of the 27th BCT are part of Regional Police Advisory Command-South working in Helmand province in conjunction with the British Army. Members of the Afghan Ministry of Interior and Police and local community leaders attended the ceremony

COLONIE, NY -- Donald Bowman, Niverville, NY completes the Family Readiness Council 5K "Hometown Heroes Run" on Saturday, June 14, 2008. Bowman is the spouse of Master Sgt. Kimberly Bowman, a recruiting supervisor with the 109th Airlift Wing, Scotia, NY. The couple participated in the run to help raise money to support families of deployed troops.

ALBANY, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Soldiers load supplies bound for Afghanistan on June 16. Sixth Grade students from Sand Creek Middle School collected school supplies and clothing for the children of Afghanistan. The supplies will be shipped to Afghanistan and be distributed by New York Army National Guard Soldiers in the 27th Brigade Combat Team.

Pfc. Matthew B. Gatta with the 206th Military Police Battalion from Latham climbs into the new M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) during MPs training at the Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany on June 25, 2008. (Released)

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Jamie Green and Soldiers of the 466th Area Support Medical Company receive the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) Distinguished Service Award from Michael Dowling, Chairman of HANYS? Board of Trustees and President and Chief Executive Officer of North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. ?This award recognizes distinguished service, and we cannot imagine service more distinguished than putting your own life on the line to provide lifesaving medical care to a fallen comrade,? Dowling said. ?Over the past two years the Soldiers of this unit dove into this job,? Green described of the mobilization training and combat tour in southern Iraq. The company operated from four locations, treating and stabilizing patients, both U.S., coalition or Iraqi, before moving them on for more advanced care. ?They took command of what they needed to do and got it done,? Green said. A separate award was presented to National Guard Col. Dr. Joan Sullivan of Ithaca, for administering life-saving care to thousands of wounded, injured, and ill soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Sullivan accepted the award via video message from her current deployment in Kabul, Afghanistan--her second combat tour of duty overseas in the past five years. She was represented at the ceremony by her sister, Barbara Sullivan-Sicke of Lake Luzerne. ?I cannot adequately describe the pride she has in her fellow Soldiers,? Sullivan-Sicke said. ?We are truly inspired by their commitment to service, their commitment to their fellow Soldiers, and their commitment to our nation,? Dowling said. ?There are no better friends to a wounded Soldier than the 466th and Colonel Sullivan, and we believe their sacrifice should not go unnoticed.? ?I want to thank you and the hospitals you represent for being such a tremendous training ground for the National Guard,? Green said to the conference attendees. ?Our Guard medical personnel come from your civilian hospitals and they performed with a level of experience and maturity unmatched anywhere. It is to your credit and I appreciate everything you?ve don in this honor to our Soldiers.?

The American flag flies at half-staff at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, June 30, as Soldiers line up to pay their respects to one Marine and three Army National Guard Soldiers who were killed in action on June 25 and June 26. Two New York Army National Guard Soldiers--Sgt. First Class Joseph McKay, aged 51 from Cambria Heights, Queens, and Spc. Mark Palmateer, aged 38, of Poughkeepsie-- were among three Soldiers killed on June 26. The 27th Brigade Combat Team of the New York Army National Guard is providing command and control for Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, a multi-national force training the Afghan Army and Police.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – More than fifteen minutes of fame came to Sgt. Stephen Tschiderer, 249th Air Ambulance Company, as he is interviewed by Frank Grimes, a contract video producer for The History Channel June 27. Tschiderer, who served as a medic with E Troop, 101st Cavalry under the 256th Brigade Combat Team, Louisiana Army National Guard, was deployed in 2004-2005 to Iraq. While deployed, he was shot by a sniper from a van. The sniper videotaped the attack and was surprised by Tschiderer when his protective body armor stopped the bullet resulting in Tschiderer and other members of Troop A pursuing and capturing the sniper and his accomplices. The interview will be part of The History Channel’s “Shock Wave” series and is expected to air sometime in the Fall.

Sgt.1st Class Jeffrey Bailey and his wife Darlene talk with Education Care Manager Scott Kaczmarek from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. The Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation and their family members took part in the New York Army National Guard Reintegration Program Saturday July 12 in Buffalo. The Reintegration Program is an effort to help Soldiers and families cope with the stress of returning to civilian life after deployment. Soldiers from Co. B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment based in Rochester returned home May 31 following a ten-month tour in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.

PLATEKILL, NY- Members of the New York Army National Guard?s Honor Guard prepare to lay to rest the remains of New York Army National Guard Sgt. Mark Palmateer, at the New Hurley Cemetery on July 11, while family, friends and fellow Soldiers look on. Sergeant Palmateer, of Poughkeepsie, and Sgt. 1st Class Joseph McKay, of Queens, were killed when their humvee struck an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Logar Province, eastern Afghanistan. Both men were assigned to B Troop, 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry, which deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 27th Brigade Combat Team. Sgt. Palmateer had previously been assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, while Sgt. 1st Class McKay had been a member of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion. Sergeant First Class McKay was interred on July 10 at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Private Andrew C. McMillan (on ground) from Kingston, and Staff Sgt. Kenneth B. Marimow from Peekskill, react to an IED during convoy live fire training on July 16. Both soldiers are members of the 1156th Engineer Company, with the 204th Engineer Battalion. About 300 members of the battalion are training on battle tasks and engineer tasks at Fort Drum.

ROUSES POINT, N.Y. - Petty Officer 1st Class Donald Heart of the New York Naval Militia directs boaters coming from Canada into the U.S. to an inspection dock at Lake Champlain. The New York Naval Militia will be assisting U.S. Border Patrol Agents throughout the summer as part of "Mission Lake Champlain".

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff presents a leader’s challenge coin to New York Army National Guard Spc. Jason DeFazio from the 27th Brigade Combat Team and Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in Kandahar, Afghanistan, July 11. Mullen conducted a six-day tour of the region to visit troops and host a USO contingent including NFL All-Pros Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, and Osi Umenyiora, defensive end for the New York Giants, as well as the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. Members of CJTF Phoenix provided a transportation team to support Mullen during his time in Kandahar. Among the troops tasked with the transportation assignment were Spc. Joe Adle, Spc. Jason Defazio, Spc. Gary Dennis, Spc. Douglass Moore. Spc. Edward Nickles, Spc. James Penlon, Spc. Stephanie Wolfanger, Sgt. Michael McGrath, Sgt. Darren Ringler, Sgt. Steven Watt, Staff Sgt. Maurice Edwards, Staff Sgt.Fred Fah, Tech. Sgt. Dennis Marks and Lt. Cdr Edward Ferguson. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley.

FORT MONTGOMERY, N.Y. - Ten Military Emergency Boat Service (MEBS) patrol boats from New York’s Naval Militia form a tactical formation training column on the Hudson River just south of the Bear Mountain Bridge, Orange County, N.Y., Aug. 3, 2008. The Naval Militia recently received its tenth boat to assist in maritime security for New York State in conjunction with other civil maritime authorities and was on the Hudson River for the day to perform multi-boat practice operations such as open-water radio communications and naval intercept/intrusion drills to prevent civilian boat traffic from entering restricted areas. So far this year, MEBS has participated in various state-wide naval operations to include the U.S. Navy “Fleet Week� in New York City, 4th of July on the East River and has recently assisted the U.S Border Patrol on Lake Champlain.

UD KHIEL VILLAGE, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN-- New York Army National Guard Captain Joseph Merrill from Binghamton, NY and commander of Security Force Delta of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, works with a translator to direct a father seeking medical attention for his son during a medical treatment visit conducted on August 7. More than 1000 residents of Ud Kheil village were treated by Afghan medical staff and received medicine, vitamins and personal items through a joint assistance operation on August 7th. The medical assistance visit was part of a partnership between the village and International Security and Assistance Force Soldiers stationed at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, the home of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix -- and Afghan National Security Forces and coalition allies. The operation was held at the girls? school, a project completed along with the boys? school in the spring. That work is part of Camp Phoenix?s ongoing outreach efforts and support to the Afghan government and its people. About 1,700 members of the New York Army National Guard are serving in Afghanistan as part of the mission to train the Afghan National Army and Police

FORT DRUM -- Corporal Nicholas Sbano, a New York Pre-Mobilization Assistance Element (PTAE) Officer Controller/Trainer, and Spc. Leslie Thomas, an assistant instructor, aid deploying Soldiers in moving through a barbed wire obstacle course on August 8. Formed in April, 2007, the 21-day-long PTAE training was deemed necessary by Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General of New York, to provide important instruction and certification to deploying Soldiers.

Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 105th Military Police Company assemble a decontamination line during training at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on August 7. The Soldiers are preparing for certification as part of the New York National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), the state’s military force trained and equipped to support first responders with casualty extraction, evacuation, decontamination and medical triage for hazardous material or weapons of mass destruction events. The Army Guard troops train to conduct the CERFP decontamination line. The unit is expected to validate and receive certification for employment later this fall. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Charity Edwards.

Ithica New York native, Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Deis, New York Army National Guard, assigned to Security Force Company D, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry, speaks with National Guard Bureau Chief Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum at the conclusion of an open forum meeting at Camp Phoneix in Kabul, Afghanistan. ?You leave your family, you leave your loved ones, you leave your job, you leave your education and do not know for sure exactly when it is going to come back to you.? Blum told New York Guard members whose mission is to train the Afghan National Army and Police. ?It takes a special breed of men and women, that I am proud to be a part of, that calls themselves National Guard,".

An New York Air National Guard HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopter departs Francis S. Gabreski Airport, Westhampton Beach, N.Y. August 31, 2008 on its way to Hurlburt Field, Florida to prepare for post-Hurricane Gustave recovery operations. 3 CH-47s and 3 UH-1 Medevac Helicopters from the Army National Guard flight facility in Rochester were sent to assist the Lousiana National Guard in recovery operations.

Tenth grade students from Hancock Central School hold up a 3-by-14 foot banner displaying ?KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK? and signed by the then 3rd graders, faculty and other students. The banner was taped to donations sent to Soldiers working 18-hour shifts supporting rescue and recovery efforts at ?Ground Zero? following the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. The banner was returned nearly seven years later by retired Sgt. 1st Class Delbert Higgins, 42nd Infantry ?Rainbow? Division during a school wide 9-11 Remembrance ceremony on Sept. 11, 2008. Higgins kept his promise to say thank you to roughly 35 youngsters who demonstrated concern and ultimately motivated Soldiers during a difficult time.

LATHAM, NY - 42nd Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Paul Genereux passes the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade colors to incoming commander Col. Michael Bobeck inside Army Aviation Support Facility #3 on Sept. 13. Standing at far left is out-going 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander Col. Mark Burke and Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Justin Cappon awaiting to receive the colors for safe-keeping.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Assuming command of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion is incoming commander, Lt. Col. Scott Norcutt, who passes the Battalion colors to 642nd Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Rounds for safe-keeping on Oct. 4, at Army Aviation Support Facility #2. Colonel Michael Bobeck (right), commander of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, transitioned command authority from outgoing commander Lt. Col. Mark Stryker to Lt. Col. Norcutt.

CAMP STRYKER, Iraq – As the colors of the New York Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion unfurled for commander Lt. Col. Al Ricci and Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Imbarrato, aircrews and Soldiers from the “Jesters” assumed their combat mission here in Iraq on September 25, 2008. The transfer of authority ceremony marked the culmination of more than a year of battalion training at locations such as Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort Rucker, Ala. and a predeployment training period at Fort Sill, Okla.

Brigadier General F. David Sheppard, deputy commander of the New York Army National Guard and NY National Guard Capt. (Chaplain) Brian Pidkaminy mark the 179th birthday of President Chester A. Arthur by laying a wreath at Arthur’s gravesite in Albany, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 5.

FORT DIX, N.J.- Sergenat Wilfredo Taveras of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Bn, 258th Field Artillery instructs a fellow Soldier on Land Navigation Sept. 27. The weekend-long Field Training Exercise involved members of HHB, 1st Bn, 258th FA and Company G, 427th Brigade Support Battalion from Jamaica, N.Y.

FORT PICKETT, Va. - Commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, Brig. Gen. Paul Genereux, passes the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry colors to in-coming commander, Lt. Col. John Andonie at a change-of-command ceremony at the Fort Pickett movie theater on Oct. 17. At right, Lt. Col. Charles Crosby, out-going 69th commander, looks on.

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - New York National Guard Soldiers conduct their Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Explosion Emergency Response Force (CERF-P) validation training here on Oct. 22 by responding to a simulated casualty. Behind the training teams are the CERF-P decontamination tents where the injured are taken to begin the individual decontamination process. The CERF-P consists of the 102nd Military Police Battalion, 105th MP Company, the New York Guard, and airman of the Air National Guard.

New York Army National Guard Spc. Jin Hui Jiang hands Richard Crogan his pay during a mission readiness exercise at Fort McCoy, Wis. Jiang is a cashier with the 27th Finance Battalion Headquarters Company from Whitestone, N.Y. The unit is mobilized to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and expects to deploy overseas to Kuwait in early November. Crogan is a “civilian on the battlefield” role-player employee at Fort McCoy. (U.S. Army Photograph)

CAMP PHOENIX, KABUL AFGHANISTAN--New York National Guard Soldiers who are also members of the New York Police Department mourn the loss of Sgt. Deon Talyor, a fellow New York Police Department officer, and other Soldiers and Marines killed in action in Afghanistan during a memorial service here on October 30. Sgt. Taylor was killed during combat operations in Bala Baluk in Farah Province, when the armored humvee he was riding in hit an improvised explosive device. Sgt. Taylor was ten year veteran of the Army and Army National Guard and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Syracuse.

BINGHAMTON, NY - Lt. Col. Jeffrey M. Cipolla passes the 204th Engineer guidon to Command Sergeant Major Daniel Ames for safe keeping during the Change of Command Ceremony for the 204th Engineer Battalion, Saturday, November 8. Cipolla an Iraq War veteran and Bronze Star recipient assumed command from outgoing commander Lt. Col. Carlton C. Cleveland. The 204th Engineer Battalion is the only engineer battalion in the New York Army National Guard and plays a significant role when the Guard responds to state emergencies. Overseeing transition of command was Colonel Fred Kubus, Commander 153rd Troop Command. Ltc. Cleveland is slated to become operations officer for 53rd Troop Command in Valhalla, NY.

Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, Director of Joint Staff for the New York National Guard signs the Army Community Covenant, Nov. 19, at the Palace Theater in Albany. The covenant is a symbolic declaration of support from community leaders to partner with local Army and Reserve forces to improve the quality of life for Soldiers and their families. Also signing the covenant were Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian, Watervliet Mayor Mike Manning, Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton and representatives from the V.A. Medical Center and the Watervliet Arsenal. ?I know we have the support from our communities,? said Brig. Gen. Murphy, who served 32 months in the Middle East. ?I know this because whenever there is a fallen warrior the community always comes out to help that family. And, around the holidays, our troops get Christmas gifts and letters from people appreciative of what they?re doing to protect our freedoms.? The Army Community Covenant is an initiative of the Secretary of the Army Pete Geren with ceremonies similar to Albany taking place around the country for the past several months. Soldiers flanking the Covenant are Staff Sgt. Harold Gosling, Joint Forces Headquarters, Latham, NY and Sgt. Jennifer Dowling, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Albany, NY

ROCHESTER - Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto, and his wife Susan Taluto, address Soldiers and family members of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Saturday Nov. 22, via video, at the Woodcliff Resort & Conference Center. The soldiers and their families gathered for The New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. The NYARNG Reintegration Program is an effort to help Soldiers and their families cope with stress of returning to civilian life after deployment, while also helping National Guard Units transition from federal mobilization status back to state control. The two day event included opening remarks by Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, Director Joint Forces Headquarters and was followed by a Job Fair type event featuring VA, veterans groups, legal assistance, etc. The 2-108th Infantry (Security Force Company) recently returned from Afghanistan where they served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of Task Force Phoenix VI and VII.

KINDERHOOK, N.Y. - Brigadier General F. David Sheppard (at left), Deputy Commander of the New York Army National Guard and New York Air Guard Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Todd Luce place a wreath beside other wreaths on Dec. 5 honoring the 226th birthday of former U.S. President Martin Van Buren, a native of Kinderhook. The birthday remembrance was also attended by U.S. Mint Deputy Director Andy Brunhart who introduced the first issuance of the Van Buren $1 presidential coin that was given to local school children who also attended the event. Van Buren is buried in the Kinderhook Reformed Cemetery, along with his wife Hannah, his parents, and his son Martin Jr.

SYRACUSE - "Orion has landed". More than 100 New York Army National Guard Soldiers returned home, landing at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base on Tuesday afternoon, December 9. The soldiers are members of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team who spent ten months in Afghanistan training members of the Afghan National Army. Soldiers exiting the aircraft are greeted by Lt. Col. Reggie Sanders, Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt and a host of well wishers from the "Rear Detachment" The 27th BCT under the command of Colonel Brian K. Balf, mobilized in January 2008 to serve as part of Combined Joint Task Force - Phoenix VII. They are the first of approximately 1,700 NYARNG soldiers returning home over the coming weeks.

BAGHDAD--New York Army National Guard Pfc. Steven P. Fitzgerald and his fianc饠and fellow Guard member Spc. Viviana B. Molina, of the 3-142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, review intelligence reports before a briefing in Iraq. Fitzgerald, is an 18-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, and joined the National Guard when he was 41 years old. The battalion, which has units on Long Island and in the Albany area, deployed to Iraq in August.

Col. Brian K. Balfe (right) and Command Sgt. Maj. David A. Piwowarski case the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard, colors to mark the end of their tour as Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix command. The 27th IBCT then moved authority of CJTF Phoenix to the 33rd IBCT, Illinois National Guard, as part of the Transfer of Authority ceremony at Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan. The past year for the 27th has been a series of challenges that they have met successfully, said Maj. Gen. Richard P. Formica, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan commander. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Luke S. Austin.

Command Sgt. Maj. David Piwowarski is assisted by Staff Sgt. Linda Nosbisch in unveiling the CJTF-Phoenix VII plaque in Patriot Square on the National Guard?s 372nd birthday last Saturday evening, 13 December. Both are from Lancaster, NY. The plaque marks the iteration of the training task force led by the New York Army National Guard?s 27th Brigade Combat Team. Colonel Brian K. Balfe, the task force commander and Spec. Ray Ramirez from Saratoga Springs, who helped design it, stand next to Staff Sgt. Nosbisch as Captains Juan Bravo from New York City and Joel Abelove from the Capital District use their cameras and Sgt. Mike Heron from Syracuse watches.

SYRACUSE - Specialist Bryon Hulsizer reunites with his wife Brandy and their sons Joshua and Shawn Saturday, December 27 at the Thompson Rd. Armory. Hulsizer and approximately 150 soldiers of the New York Army National Guard?s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returned from Afghanistan where the unit has served since April training the Afghan National Army. After landing in Syracuse the returning Soldiers were bused to armories in Albany, Rochester and Buffalo. The plane also carried returning Soldiers to New York City.

LATHAM-- The family of New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Paul Hulslander, affectionally known as "Papa Hooah Man" to his grandson, wait for him to arrive home from a 10 month deployment to Afghanistan on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters. More than 300 members of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returned to armories in Long Island, New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Capital Region as the last wave of soldiers finished outprocessing at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

CAMP SMITH- Members of the 442nd MP Company and the 104th MP Battalion, go through Soldier Readiness Checks Saturday, Jan. 17, at Camp Smith Training Site as they prepare to deploy to Washington D.C. to support the inaguration of Barack Obama as president of the United States. The New York National Guard is sending 225 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard to Washington to assist the District of Columbia National Guard with traffic control and communications. The Soldiers and Airmen mustered at Camp Smith before heading to Washington on Jan. 18. Their service and health records were checked as part of the inprocessing at Camp Smith.

Capt. Steven Perry, of Headquarters Detachment, 104th Military Police Battalion from Kingston, N.Y. and part of Task Force 104, checks on his Soldiers and Airmen who are providing security for the 56th Presidential Inauguration held in Washington D.C. Jan. 20. Perry is a team commander providing security and assistance to local authorities for an inaugural that expected more than one million attendees.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Canadian CH-47 "Chinook" pilot Capt. Sylvie Coutoure, 430th Squadron, Canadian Air Force, performs pre-flight checks at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2 here on Jan. 21 aboard a New York Army National Guard aircraft. Canadian avaitors are preparing for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan and partnered with the Rochester-based Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation for a two-week training period. The 126th Aviation recently returned from a 10-month deployment flying missions in Afghanistan.

LATHAM, N.Y. - Anthony Riscica, a course instructor and Domestic Operations Program Manager for IIF Data Solutions, Inc. instructs more than 50 Air and Army Guardsmen attending a week-long course tailored to Joint Operations Center practices and procedures ranging from Homeland Security to natural disasters at Joint Forces Headquarters here, Jan. 26-30.

CALVERTON, N.Y. – Members of the New York Army National Guard Military Forces Honor Guard render final honors to Sgt. Jonathan Keller at Calverton National Cemetery Feb. 2. Keller, a Citizen Soldier from Wading River, N.Y., had served in the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment and received full military honors during his funeral service. Dozens of fellow Soldiers, including his battalion commander, brigade deputy commander and division commander attended the funeral mass and service. Keller died Jan. 24 while recuperating at the Army’s Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Bragg, N.C. following combat service and wounds received earlier in Afghanistan in April 2008.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE- Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General, speaks to the incoming and outgoing commanders of the 2nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) during a change of command ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6. Army National Guard Lt. Col. Matthew H. Cooper (left) turned over command of the 22-member joint unit to Air National Guard Major Rich Nunziato after holding the job for four years. The 2nd CST is trained to detect biological, chemical or radiological agents, identify them, and provide the information to civilian or military responders in the event of an attack. Nunziato is the forth commander for the unit, which served at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks and regularly conducts support missions in New York and other states. Cooper will become the WMD Branch Chief at Joint Forces Headquarters- New Yoek

PHITSANULOK, Thailand -- Sgt. Sayantieamme Suwat, Royal Thai Army, and New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. John T. Snyder, mortarman with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Battalion, plot coordinates during a call for fire exercise Feb. 5. During Cobra Gold 09, Thai and U.S. Soldiers are working side-by-side to share tactics, techniques and procedures during joint squad-level training. Photo by Lance Cpl. Cristina Noelia Gil.

New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Randy Ross hugs his wife before getting on a bus for his mobilization station at Fort Dix, N.J. as his unit prepares for a deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. Some two dozen members of the 53rd Army Forces Liaison Detachment departed from the Park Avenue Armory in New York City Feb. 21. The unit will deploy to Iraq to train and mentor the Iraqi Army.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - Sergeant 1st Class Mike Judge (left) and Spc. Brad Provost, crew members for Detachment 20, C-12 Operational Support Airlift headquartered in Latham, N.Y. react to a quick decompression exercise inside the high-altitude oxygen chamber here on Feb. 25, by connecting their breathing apparatus to an emergency air tank. The two Soldiers are among ten New York Army National Guard Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan as part of Task Force ODIN, an aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission. Every aviation Soldier must pass the high-altitude training before deploying as part of the task force. Detachment 20 will leave for Fort Benning, Ga. in mid-March for active duty training as part of a larger aviation unit.

SYRACUSE-Major General Robert Knauff, outgoing Commnader of 6,000 men and women of the New York Air National Guard stands at attention as his command flag is furled for the last time, Thursday, Feb. 26 at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base. Knauff, who was also Deputy Adjustant General for the New York National guard, retired after a 33-year career in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard. A fighter pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours, Knauff was once commander of the 174th Fighter Wing, which is based at Hancock Field.

BOLTON LANDING, N.Y. - Nearly 500 Soldiers and family members of the 27th Brigade Combat Team, recently returned home from Afghanistan, conduct Yellow Ribbon Reintegration at the Sagamore Resort here February 28. The unit deployed in 2008 as part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix for the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army and Police Force. The troops met with more than 50 providers to gather information about services ranging from education or medical benefits, veterans services, military and family services or counseling. The troops will continue their reintegration at an additional 60 and 90-day events as part of their welcome home and return to a traditional Citizen Soldier status.

NEWBURGH- Members of the 105th Civil Engineer Squadron clean up the aircraft ramp at Stewart Air National Guard Base here. While this snowfall occured in Jan. 10, the 105th Airlift Wing Engineers were kept busy again this week as snow hit the Hudson Valley. 105th Civil Engineers clean up the aircraft ramp after heavy snowfall that fell on 10 Jan. 2009. (U.S. Air Force Photo / SrA Jonathan Young)

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. - Eight month old Nathaniel Bendetti, surveys the scene as his father Spc. Daniel Bendetti and mother Victoria attend reintegration briefings at the Tarrytown Marriot. The Bendetti family, from Mohegan Lake attended the New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration program at the Marriott Hotel here on March 7th. Specialist Bendetti recently returned from a deployment with the 27th Infantry Bridage Combat Team to Afghanistan in support of Joint Task Force Phoenix.

LATHAM, N.Y. - Colonel Michael Bobeck, State Aviation Officer, delivers a farewell address to ten Soldiers of Detachment 20, Operational Support Airlift Command, on Friday, March 13, before they boarded a military C-26 aircraft bound for Fort Benning, Ga. for some pre-mobilization training. Detachment 20 will be conducting aerial reconnaissance in Afghanistan, detecting the presence of Improvised Explosive Devices and assisting Soldiers on the ground using unmanned aircraft.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery and supporting Soldiers from Company G, 427th Forward Support Battalion conduct combat training for urban terrain here March 14. The Soldiers used smoke to mask their movements through the restrictive terrain as part of their training. The 258th Field Artillery headquarters and Company G Soldiers are based in Jamaica, N.Y. with the artillery battery Soldiers based in armories in the Bronx and Newburgh. Photo by 2nd Lt. Mark Getman.

Hancock Field Air National Guard Base-- New York Air National Guard Staff Sgt. William Barney and Technical Sgt. Thomas Moade from the 174 Fighter Wing and Staff Sgt. Felix Moya from the 105th Airlift Wing are loading a C-5A Galaxy from the 105th AW, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh on Friday, March 20. The two Air Guardmembers were loading equipment for the 174th FW as the wing prepares for a deployment to Nellis AFB, NV in support of the Weapons Instructor Course. This will be the last planned deployment for the F-16s from Syracuse before the wing converts to flying unmanned attack aircraft.

ROCHESTER - Specialist Kevin Gilbo and his girlfriend Elizabeth Kearns talk with Michelle Pipas from Syracuse University’s Office of Admissions, Saturday March 21 at Rochester’s Riverside Convention Center, site of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration program’s 60-day event. Soldiers, spouses and family members of the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Brigade Combat Team took part in the two day event as a "follow on" to the 30-day event held in February. A variety of programs, counseling and a career fair were available to the Soldiers and their families to help them transition from full time Soldier in a combat environment back to Citizen Soldier. More than 1,500 members of the 27th BCT spent most of 2008 in Afghanistan training the Afghan Army and Police

Oriskany - Capt. Robert Miron and Staff Sgt. Brendan Dunfee move through the "Hot Zone", an abandoned aircraft hangar investigating for potential contamination during an exercise, Tuesday March 24 at the New York State Preparedness Training Center. Miron and Dunfee are part of the New York National Guard?s Weapons of Mass Destruction 2nd Civil Support Team. The 2nd CST is composed of both Army and Air National Guard Soldiers based at Stratton Air Force Base in Scotia, NY. The day long exercise was observed and evaluated by officials from U.S. Army North in preparation for the teams? 18-month inspection in November

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA-- New York Air National Guard Technical Sgt. Ed Peck, Staff Sgt Mack McMclowry, Senior Airmen Kyle Potter and Airman First Class Cliff Lamb replace the engine of an F-16C belonging to the 174th Fighter Wing. The members of the 174th FW are on their last deployment as an F-16 unit to Nellis, serving as the opposings force for the Air Force Weapons Instructor Course.

ITHACA - New York Army National Guard Cpl. Timothy Bishop, of Company D 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, instructs Reserve Officer Training Corps ( ROTC) Cadets in building clearing procedures Saturday, April 4, at the New York State Armory. The three day ROTC training event included Cadets from Cornell University, Syracuse University and the Rochester Institute of Technology and was hosted by the New York Army National Guard and the Ithaca Armory. The Cadets got instruction in basic tactics, talked to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and learned the benefits of enrolling in the Simultaneous Membership Program, that allows ROTC cadets to serve in the National Guard while they are enrolled in college.

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. - Private First Class Donald Ingoldsby, Jr., Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, assissts other HHC Soldiers as they practice erecting a Base-X tent system at Guilderland Rifle Range, Saturday, Apr. 4. The 42nd Combat Avn. Bde. is training for their "live" Tactical Operations Center Excercise in May.

FORT DIX, N.J. -- New York Army National Guard 206th Military Police Specialist Kim Hunter, engages targets with a shotgun while training on a small arms range at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The Soldiers of the 206th spent most of April here in preparation for a deployment to Iraq in June.

Gen. Craig McKinley, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau praised Army and Air National Guard spouses for their support of their service members who have deployed overseas since the attacks of September 11, in a letter releases this week. McKinley, an Air National Guard officer, is the highest ranking officer in the National Guard and is the responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting more than half a million Army and Air National Guard personnel.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse-- Vice President Joseph Biden shakes hands with New York Air National Guard Senior Airman Mitchell Kuhn Sunday as he arrived in Syracuse to speak at the commencement ceremonies of Syracuse University on Sunday, May 10. Biden spoke briefly with members of the 174th Fighter Wing as he arrived at Hancock Field.

HEMPSTEAD -- Three members of Hofstra University Army ROTC received their commissions as second lieutenants for service in the New York Army National Guard. In a ceremony held May 14 at Hofstra University, the graduating cadets from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) four associated Long Island colleges or universities received their oath of commission and gold bars from their professor of military science. Newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant Anthony J. Fasano (pictured above) receives his lieutenant bars from his family. Fasano, an Adelphi University senior, was commissioned a field artillery officer and will serve with the New York Army National Guard’ s Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry. Joining Fasano were new lieutenants Andrew P. Stein, a new aviation officer who graduates from Hofstra and will serve with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter in Ronkonkoma and Stephen Totter, a Hofstra graduate who received his commission as an intelligence officer and will serve with the 501st Ordnance Battalion in Schenectady, N.Y. Photo by 2nd Lt. Mark Getman, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery.

FORT DIX, N.J. - About 130 aviation Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment got back on home soil here on May 17 after a year in Iraq. On hand to greet Soldiers as they got off their charterd flight were 42nd Infantry Division commander, Brig. Gen. Steven Wickstrom and 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander, Col.Michael Bobeck. The 142nd will spend about a week at Fort Dix conducting their demobilization process.

LATHAM-- Members of the Army and Air National Guard, New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard participate in the Joint Staff Training Course at Joint Forces Headquarters on Wednesday, May 20. Seventy-five New York military force members are now certified by Northern Command to conduct joint operations. The Army and Air National Guard, New York Naval Militia and New York Guard members completed an eight-month on-line and resident course training, culminating with a two-day face to face joint staff training exercise on May 20 at the Latham, NY headquarters. The Joint Staff Training Course enables participants to better execute domestic operations and work with local first responders in a Joint Task Force. Joint Task Force staffs will practice these newly trained skills during a large scale disaster preparedness exercise called Vigilant Guard later this year. The November exercise in Buffalo, will enable the Joint Task Force to oversee roughly 2,000 members of the National Guard, New York state and local first responders and provide a full range of flexible and adaptable, command and control capabilities for emergency response operations in order to protect, defend and assist the citizens of New York State.

LATHAM-- Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General, speaks about the 31 members of the New York Army National Guard, and one Naval Militia member (a Marine Corps Reservist) who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. The Joint Forces Headquarters, and New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, holds a pre-Memorial Day ceremony annually to remember fallen New Yorkers.

FORT DIX, N.J. - Major Jason Lefton is greeted by Brig. Gen. Steven Wickstrom, commander of the 42nd Infantry Division as he arrives here on Sunday, May 25 after redeploying from Iraq. Lefton and about 145 aviation Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment were in the second wave of New York Army National Guardsmen to return over the Memorial Day weekend.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia-- New York Air National Guiard Airmen assigned to the state CERFP check their medical equipment on Friday, June 5, as they prepare for a major exercise at the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control training site in Albany. The CERFP, which stands for CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and enhanced-yield Explosive) Enhanced Response Force Pacakge, is a team of Army and Air National Guardsmen trained to extract victims from destroyed buildings, decontaminate them and provide emergency medical care. New York fields one of 17 such teams in the United States.

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. - Before heading out to complete a land navigation course at Camp Smith, Spc. Peter D. Haas, 42nd Infantry Division, and former Soldier with the 56th Personnel Services Battalion had some fun and learned how to rappel off a 60-foot tower. Haas got off the wall pretty far as other Soldiers watch below. Haas recently tranferred to the 42nd Inf. Div. due to the recent deactivation of the 56th.

LATHAM - 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Company Soldiers relax during family day June 7 as they spent their Sunday drill attending a Tricare medical benefits briefing and then toured the Army Aviation Flight Support facility #3 with their children. The 42nd CAB Soldiers concluded their Sunday drill with a barbeque at a nearby park.

FORT DRUM - Aviation Soldiers from Detachment 1, Company B, 126th Aviation Regiment conduct night door gunnery familiarization aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, June 9 at Range 48 here. They also conducted day door gunnery and water bucket training using a Bambi bucket.

NEW YORK CITY-- Rufus Lekala, Harbormaster for the Port of Durban, South Africa, listens to Captain Robert Pouch of the New York Naval Militia explain the capabilities of PB 400 during a visit to New York City on June 5. Lekala was in New York last week as part of a South African delegation participating in a State Partnership Program port security event. As part of that event the South African team met with various interagency partners responsible for the security of New York Harbor. PB400 is one of the New York Naval Militia boats which is on call to conduct harbor security missions and assist the United States Coast Guard when required. In civilian life, Pouch is also a commissioner on the Board of Commissioners of Pilots of New York State.

NEWBURGH, NY -- Members of the 105th Airlift Wing and 213th Engineering Installation Squadron move through Personnel Deployment Function out-processing stations during a mock mobilization exercise held at Stewart Air National Guard Base on June 6, 2009. The exercise is designed to simulate a mass deployment in support of Air Force operational needs.

FORT DRUM - Specialist Diego Menendez, 442 Military Police Company, crawls under concertina wire while under fire on a dismounted patrol reacting to contact. The combat-oriented course is about two miles long and exposed the Soldiers to what to expect and how to react to different situations they may encounter, should they be deployed to a war zone.

UNIONDALE-- Mr. Chris Valentino, admissions counselor for John Jay College of Criminal Justice, provides New York Army National Guard Pfc. Marco Torres, a member of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, with information about continued education opportunities in the National Guard during the New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program meeting at the Uniondale Marriott Hotel, June. 13. Torres, who missed the reintegration for the 69th, took advantage of the session being held for the 133rd Quartermaster Company. “I was not ready to be around large groups of people when I first came home," he explained. “Now was a better time to interact in a large group environment and having my daughter involved means a lot to me,” said Torres.

NEW YORK -- New York Army National Guard PFC Amanda Rosado, a member of Headquarters Company 369th Sustainment Bde., joins Army Vice Chief of Staff Peter Chiarelli in cutting the Army Birthday Cake on June 14 during a ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid Air and Space Museum, marking the 234th anniversay of the United States Army. Traditionally the youngest Soldier present joins the oldest Soldier in cutting the cake at Army Birthday events.

NASHVILLE - Recognition was given to Soldiers of Detachment 1, Company B, 126th Aviation by Army Aviation Association of America magazine for the Army National Guard Aviation Unit of the Year for 2008. Company B is comprised of Soldiers from the Rochester Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Rochester and Soldiers from Edgewood, Md. The award was presented to members representing both states. Accepting the award in the photo from left are: Capt. Eric Fritz, (NY), Capt. Christopher Gagliardo, (NY), Chief Warrant Officer Keith Hughes, (NY), Maj. Craig Hummer (MD) and 1St Sgt. Greg Kecken (MD).

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE- Syracuse-area reporters interview New York Air National Guard Col. John Balbierer about the MQ-9 Reaper, the unmanned attack aircraft the wing is slated to begin operating later this year. Balbierer is the 174th Fighter Wing Maintenance Group Commander. The wing held a media day on Friday,June 26 to educate the local press about the new aircraft. The reporters received a briefing from the Wing Commander, Col. Kevin Bradley, toured the Reaper maintenance training facility that has been constructed on the base and got a chance to see how the Reaper ground control station works

STEWART ANGB, NEWBURGH, NY, June 29, 2009 -- Lead runners pass a 105th Airlift Wing recruiting trailer as Guardsmen, dependants, relatives and area running club members compete in the first Stewart C-5K fundraising run, a 5 Kilometer race held here on Sunday morning. 82 runners participated in the event which raised approximately $1,400 to be used by the NY National Guard Family Readiness Council to provide financial assistance to National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families during deployment emergencies. Kevin Portillo, nephew of Staff Sgt. Fernando Cruz, 105MXS, won the race in 17 minutes and 2 seconds. The C-5K was sponsored by the 105th Family Readiness Group and 105th First Sergeants Council.

FORT KNOX, KY -- Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry go into the attack during annual training, June 13-27. The Soldiers of the "Fighting 69th" practiced urban combat tactics at the Zussman Range Complex at Fort Knox, which simulates a village environment. The Soldiers also conducted a battalion field training exercise, live fire, and crew-served weapons training.

FORT HAMILTON, Brooklyn -- New York Army National Guard Maj. Charles Flood of the 24th Civil Support Team discusses the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Explosive (CBRNE) detection and identification capabilities of the Civil Support Team with Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, at left, commander of the Israeli Defense Forces Homefront Command. The Homefront Command has similar responsibilities to the National Guard to support local emergency responders and civil authorities in response to natural disasters or other incidents to protect the public. Golan was in New York City to meet with Emergency Operations planners and leaders to gather and share lessons and best practices between the two countries. Photo by 2nd Lt. Mark Getman.

ALBANY--New York Army National Guard Signal Soldier pose with Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart New York’s Chief Information Officer, during the New York State Interoperability Symposium, held July 1 and 2 at the Desmond Hotel. The members of Joint Forces Headquarters demonstrated the New York National Guard’s JISCC (Joint Incident Site Communications Capability) during the two-day meeting which brought together communications experts from a number of state and federal agencies. The Soldiers with Dr. Mayberry-Stewart are (from left) Spec. Amanda MacWhinnie, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Moore, and Chief Warrant Officer Dave Tiffany. The JISCC system allows different emergency responders to communicate with each other, as well as providing a command post communications capability through video, voice and e-mail.

ROCHESTER - Pilots and crew members of Detachment 1, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation accommodated the "Black Knight" Parachute Jump Team from West Point Military Academy with a little high-altitude training, July 30 over Geneseo Airport, near Rochester. The Black Knights, wearing black jump suits, annually train new jump team members by doing single and tandem parachute jumps for familiarization and skill enhancement from as high as 12,500 feet.

ROUSES POINT--New York Naval Militia Petty Officer Garrett Aldershoff, a Scotia resident, scans the waters of Lake Champlain on July 25, during an operation supporting the United States Border Patrol. During July the New York Naval Militia assisted Border Patrol members in stopping and inspecting pleasure craft entering the United States from Canada at the very top of Lake Champlain. This is the second year the Naval Milita has assisted in this mission.

LATHAM--Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General, initials the new contract between the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs and the New York State Association of Civilian Technicans, the union that represents federal employees of the New York National Guard on Thursday, July 30, as union state chairman Craig Solo looks on. The three-year contract covers 2,047 technicians who work for the New York Army and Air National Guard while also being members of the force. The New York National Guard has the third largest technician workforce in the United States.

BUCHANAN--An unmanned, radio-controled boat known as a MUSCL, short for Modular Unmanned Surface Craft, Littoral, manuevers in the Hudson River off the Indian Point nuclear plant near New York Naval Militia Patrol Boat 400, on Tuesday, August 4. The MUSCL, a naval version of the anti-IED robots used by EOD technicians in Iraq and Afghanistan, employs television and forward looking infrared radar to examine ships and docks for attached explosives. Civilian experts from the U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Center teamed up with the New York Naval Militia to test the craft in the Hudson River during exercise Trojan Horse, a maritime security exercise run annually by the State University of New York Maritime College.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--The members of the 105th Airlift Wing receive medals at the Hometown Heroes salute ceremony at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y. Aug. 2. Airman were awarded this honor to recognize their deployments in support of contingency operation since September 11th, 2001.

ALBANY-- Members of the New York Army National Guard and their family members join other veterans seeking autographs from New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning at the Giants summer training Camp at the State University at Albany on Friday August 7. Manning met with the Soldiers and their families as part of a special Giants and Stratton Veterans Administration Medical Center veterans salute.

GOWANDA--Gov. David Paterson holds a press conference at Gowanda Middle School on Wednesday, Aug. 12 to announce the mobilization of the New York Army National Guard?s 152nd Engineer Support Company to support flood recovery efforts in the area following flash flooding on Sunday, August 9. He is joined by Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, Director of the Joint Staff for the New York National Guard and Mr. John Gibb (right) Director of the State Emergency Management Office. To the left of Brig. Gen. Murphy is 2nd Lt. Kevin Kopec of the 152nd Eng Support Company.

TARRYTOWN - Former New York Giant offensive lineman, Bart Steven Oates autographs a miniature National Guard football for Staff Sgt. Charles Garretto, a member of the 142nd Attack Helicopter Battalion during the units 60-day Reintegration event at the Tarrytown Westchester Marriot on 15 Aug. Another former Giant, defensemen George Martin, also attended the event. Both former athletes praised members of the 142nd for their service and recent return from Iraq during the two-day event.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- A rainbow across the sky at Fort Drum’s live-fire range August 22 spans the training site of Soldiers from the 1-258th Field Artillery annual training. In the foreground are vehicles from the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) communications team. The brigade Soldiers were on site to train leaders, staff and operators on the Joint Network Node (JNN) system of digital communications. The JNN package is very mobile and designed to provide communication services to the battalion command posts up to the brigade combat team. Photo by Sgt. Darryl Mehnert, 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR, Syracuse-- New York Army National Guard Private Mark Howell from Jordon, NY assigned to HQ 27th IBCT and in training to become a Military Intelligence Specialist, shows a New York State Fair visitor to the National Guard recruiting display how to operate the Guard Car tire changing station while Private Megan Merriman from Syracuse looks on. Merriman has been in the Guard for one year and is assigned to the 107th Military Police Company in Utica. The Guard Car Tire Change simulator gives state fair visitors the opportunity to find out what it feels like to change the tire on a high-performance NASCAR vehicle.

KINGSTON, R.I. - Aviators from Detachment 1, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation, were once more called upon to provide aerial support for the 27th Annual International Military Parachute Competition “Leap Fest” that is hosted by the Rhode Island Army National Guard. Leap Fest is an exercise which develops the command and control of Army Aviation to deliver a maneuver force on the tactical objective with precision and in a timely manner to conduct combat operations. There is a competitive aspect to the exercise as well, which builds camaraderie and esprit de corps among the U.S. and International Community. Teams are from all over the world, including Canada, Germany, El Salvador, Britain, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, and others. Teams consist of 4 jumpers and 1 alternate. The competition is for the jumpers to land as close to the big orange X in the middle of the drop zone. Judges time them from when they leave the aircraft to when they reach the X. Winners are based on the fastest individual time and the team with the best time combined. For more about this event, go to:www.leapfest.com

BUFFALO--Local, county, state and military officials gathered at the Adams Mark Hotel in Buffalo on Sept. 2, for a Senior Leaders Table Top Exercise for Vigilant Guard 2009 to discuss the simulated earthquake scenario set to strike western New York in early November setting the stage for the full scale exercise. "The level of participation, as evidenced by everyone here in this room who works daily on preparedness, serves us well, " said New York National Guard Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, director of Joint Staff for the Guard."You should take credit for participating in anevent that runs from local to national in scope."

GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR, Syracuse--New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Edward Begel (right) explains an F-16 cockpit simulator to Vietnam veteran Alfred Harding of Newark, New York on Thursday, Sept. 4. Harding, who served as an Air Force tailgunner during Vietnam, was one of many visitors to the Air National Guard Recruiting Station during the day set aside to honor veterans at the state fair. Begel is a flight Line expediter with the Syracuse unit.

Gen Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, sent this message to the members of the Army and Air National Guard of the United States to mark the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11 2001 attacks on New York City and the Pentagon.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh, NY, September 11, 2009 - Air Guardsmen pay their respects to a fallen friend at an on-base memorial, after the 105th Airlift Wing’s 8th memorial observance of the terrorist attacks on 9-11. The wing remember two members who were killed doing their duty as civilian first responders when the World Trade Center Towers fell. Staff Sergeant Jerome Dominguez, a member of the 105th Security Force Squadron and Staff Sgt. Andrew Brunn, who belonged to the 213th Engineering Installation Squadron gave their lives in service of others. Dominguez was a member of the NYPD Emergency Service Squad #3. Brunn was a member of FDNY Ladder Company #5.

SIENNA COLLEGE, Loudonville, N.Y. - Chief Warrant Officer Chris Panarese and his family members come together at the conclusion of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion?s Freedom Salute. The 3-142nd returned from a year-long deployment to Iraq in May, 2009. Company?s A, D, and E gathered at Marcelle Athletic Complex on the Sienna campus to receive praise from their senior officer chain-of-command for conducting battle operations in Iraq at a very high operation tempo.

NEW YORK CITY-- A portrait of the late SSG Christian P. Engledrum of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry ("Fighting 69th") New York Army National Guard is unveiled to his family during a special ceremony aboard the Intrepid Museum in New York City on September 12th, 2009. The Dallas, TX-based artist and founder of the American Fallen Soldier Project has been painting portraits of fallen service members and is sponsored by American Airlines which has been flying him and the portraits for special presentations around the nation.

BUFFALO--Lt. Col. John Burke accepts the colors of the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion from Col Geogg Slack, commander of the 27th Brigade Combat Team, during change-of-command ceremonies held Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Connecticut St. Armory. Lt. Col. Burke took command of the unit, which includes engineers, military intelligence and signals troops, from Lt. Col. Reginald Sanders.

SHARPSBURG, Maryland--New York Army National Guard Specialist Jose Perez, a member of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard, presents arms along with members of the National Park Service, during the transfer of the remains of an unknown New York Civil War Soldier from the National Park Service to the New York National Guard. The Soldiers remains are being returned to New York for burail at Saratoga National Cemetery on Sept. 17.

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. - Soldiers from Headquarters Company, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment file past Brig. Gen. Steven R. Wickstrom, commander of the 42nd Infantry Division (far left) and Col. Michael Bobeck, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander at the conclusion of their Freedom Salute on the campus of St. Joseph’s College, Sept. 13. The 142nd deployed in 2008 for nearly a year and took command and control of 27 additional UH-60 Blackhawks and nearly 600 Soldiers shortly after arriving in Iraq.

NIAGARA FALLS-- Lt. General Stephen Blum, Deputy Commander of United States Northern Command and former Chief of the National Guard Bureau speaks to leaders of the New York Army and Air National Guard during a domestic operations conference at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. The Guard leaders gathered with civilian leaders and emergency responders to learn the latest on responding to emergencies at home and homeland security operations.

SARATOGA NATIONAL CEMETERY, Schuylerville -- New York National Guard State Chaplain (Col.) Eric Olsen says a few last words over a coffin containing the remains of an unknown New York Soldier who was buried 147 years to the day after he died at the Battle of Antietam on Sept. 17, 1862. The Soldiers remains were discovered by a hiker in 2008 and turned over to the New York State Division of Military of Naval Affairs by the National Park Service, and returned to New York to be buried.

FORT DRUM-- Senior Chief Warrant Officer Jan Viljoen, Chief Warrant Officer Dennis Leonard, and Warrant Officer Mandla Makhoba from the South African Army observe premarksmanship instruction for B Company, 2-108th Infantry Battalion at Ft. Drum on Saturday, Sept. 19. The South African Warrant Officers were at Ft. Drum to observe training as part of the State Partnership Program; an exchange program between the New York National Guard and the Republic of South Africa.

LATHAM – Colonel Michael Bobeck, commander, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade greets Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice-President Joseph Biden outside of Army Aviation Support Facility 3 on Sept. 21. Dr. Biden spent the afternoon of Sept. 21 visiting New York National Guard Headquarters to learn more about the New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program. She was in the Capital Region to accompany President Barak Obama to Hudson Valley Community College for a speech there. After her visit she and some staff members was transported to Andrews Air Force Base, Md. aboard the New York National Guard’s C-12 aircraft flown by Col. Bobeck and Chief Warrant Officer Dave Lewis.

ALBANY -- Brigadier General Patrick Murphy, Director of Joint Staff for the New York National Guard (left) and Chaplain (Capt.) Glen Lightfoot, present a wreath at the gravesite of the 21st President of the United States, Chester A. Arthur at Albany Rural Cemetery on Oct. 5. The annual wreath laying event was in honor of the 180th anniversary of his birthday. President Arthur was born in Fairfield, Vt. and attended Union College in Schenectady and later practiced law in New York City. He also was a member of New York?s State Militia and served as Judge Advocate of the Second Brigade. In 1881, he was elected as Vice-President on the Republican ticket with James A. Garfield. Upon the death of Garfield, who was slain at a train station in Washington, D.C. Arthur became president in 1881 and served until 1885. He died a year later in 1886.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh N.Y. - New York Air National Guard Maj. Thomas Forrester accepts the colors of the 105th Force Support Squadron from Lt. Col. Lori J. Scheuermann the commander of the 105 Mission Support Group during assumption of command ceremonies held at the base on Oct. 3 The Force Support Squadron handles manpower and personnel issues and service support for the 105th Airlift Wing.

LATHAM, NY-- New York National Guard "Soldier for a Day" nine-year old Jacob is promoted to honorary Sergeant by Major Kevin Ferreira and Sgt. Major Anthony Malizia during a visit to the Army Aviation Support Facility here on Oct. 3. Jacob, who suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, has dreamed of being a Soldier and his visit to New York National Guard Headquarters was arranged by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Matthew Starr and Family Readiness Group Coordinator Julie Rutledge. During his day Jacob and his inspected helicopters and military vehicles, met the Adjutant General, Major General Joseph Taluto, and ate an Army lunch of Meals Ready to Eat. Staff Sgt. Dolan Bramer, an aviation crew chief joined Jacob in formation during his promoton ceremony

AIBANO TRAINING AREA, JAPAN-- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Johnny Madera, a Squad Leader with Bravo Company, 1-69th Infantry Regiment, Queens Village, NY gets a lesson from Japanese Soldier Nobuyasu Hirata, a Combat Instructor for the 3rd Army Division on the Joint Ground Self-Defense Force Tank Type 74 . during MOUT training, October 10, 2009 during exercise Orient Shield.

LATHAM -- First Lieutenant Michael Squires (left) takes the Headquarters and Headquarters Company guide on from Col. Michael Bobeck, commander, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade in a change of command ceremony at the opening formation of the units drill on Oct. 16. Squires, who recently returned from Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, took command of HHC from 1st Lieutenant Joshua Heimroth (right). In a follow on ceremony, HHC 1st Sgt. Joseph Marino took over as the new 1st Sgt. for Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ravert.

AIBANO TRAINNG SITE, JAPAN-- New York Army National Guard Spec. Joshua Earle, a member of 1st platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Bn, 69th Inf. Regiment fires a 240 Bravo machine gun against opposing forces during Orient Shield field training exercise, Aibano Training Site, Japan, Oct. 16, 2009. Orient Shield is a mutual US Army and Japan Ground Self Defense Force joint exercise designed to enhance staff coordination and promote regimental and battalion level command and staff training opportunities, combat readiness and tactical level training. The exercise took place at Camp Imazu and Aibano Training Area in Shiga-prefecture, Japan, October, 10-17, 2009.

AUBURN - Lt. Col. Reginal Sanders, the commander of the 153rd Troop Command "unfurls the colors" of the 102nd Military Police Battalion prior to presenting them to the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Marting Dinan during the battalion activation ceremony, Sunday October, 18. The Auburn-based battalion headquarters will provide command and control to Military Police companies. Photo by Ssgt. Kevin Abbott, JFHQ

TONAWANDA--Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, Director of the Joint Staff, Headquarters New York National Guard, discusses the progress of the construction of the simulated disaster scene for the upcoming exercise Vigilant Guard with Erie county Commissioner of Ermergency Services Gregg Skibitsky at the former Spaulding Fiber Plant site in Tonawanda, NY. The disaster scene will support realistic training for both military and civilian search and rescue and emergency response teams coming from around the state and region for the training, which is set for 1-6 November in the Greater Buffalo area.

ROCHESTER -- Canadian Corporal Pres Lavier, 408th Tactical Helicopter Squadron, watches as one of Detachment 1, Company B, 126th Aviation’s CH-47 “Chinook” helicopters departs Genesee County Airport after successfully making a two-wheel pinnacle landing on Sept. 20. A detachment of Canadian pilots and crewmembers are getting transition training with Chinooks at Army Aviation Support Facility 2 prior to their deployment to Afghanistan. Canadian aviation forces currently have all of their Chinook aircraft deployed to Afghanistan and travel to various American facilities to get transition training.

SYRACUSE--Colonel Geoff Slack, commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team passes the colors of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion to Maj. Stephen Bousquet during Change of Command ceremonies at the Thompson Road Armory on Sunday, Oct. 18. Bousquet took over the battalion from Lt. Col. Brian Marshall who is moving on to become deputy director of logistics for Joint Forces Headquarters.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH - Crew members from Army Aviation Support Facility-1 in Ronkonkoma do some innovative readiness training on Oct. 6 by airlifting abandoned vehicles out of the Pine Barren area. They worked in association with the Pine Barrens Law Enforcement Council. New York Aviators have been assisting the Pine Barren Council for a number of years to remove abandoned vehicles in order to beautify and clear areas for walking and bike trails.

LATHAM,NY--New York Army and Air National Guard members man the New York State Joint Operations Center in Latham as Exercise Vigilant Guard kicks into gear on Sunday, Nov. 1. The state of the art command and control facility oversees the operations of the 20,000-member New York Military Forces.

NIAGARA FALLS RESERVE AIR FORCE BASE, North Tonawanda – Denise O’Donnell, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety (left) listens to Col. Michael Bobeck, commander, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade as he briefs her on aviation operations during Vigilant Guard on Nov. 2 inside the 42nd CAB’s tactical operations center located on the Niagara Falls Air Force Base. The exercise involves New York Air and Army National Guardsmen as well as local first response teams to include fire departments and police agencies. The exercise runs Nov. 1-5.

TONAWANDA --Members of the New York National Guard CERFP ( Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosive (CBRNE) Enhance Response Force Package, made up of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and the all-volunteer New York Guard ( In old-style BDU uniforms) move a simulated casualty to the decontamination site at the former Spaulding Fiber Plant in Tonawanda, NY on Monday Nov. 2. The site has been equipped with a rubble pile which simulates a hospital collapsed in a 5.9 Richter earthquake. The operation is part of Exercise Vigilant Guard which teams almost 1,500 National Guard troops with civilian responders.

FIREMANS PARK Tonawanda, NY -- Sergeant. Wunders and Sgt. Harris, medics from the 53rd Troop Command transfer one of four simulated wounded personnel from a ground evacuation vehicle to a UH-60 Air Ambulance Helicopter flown by the 249th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) at Fireman’s Park on Nov. 3 as part of the Vigilant Guard exercise. The wounded personnel evacuated were found at a simulated “rubble pile” nearby as a result of a collapsed hospital caused a simulated earthquake near the Buffalo area.

NEW YORK -- New York Army National Guard Maj. Sergio Hidalgo, a native of the Dominican Republic, received a promotion to the rank of lieutenant in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) March 26 at One Police Plaza. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly acknowledged Hidalgo for his outstanding work with the New York City Police Department. Fellow Army Guard officers from the 369th Sustainment Brigade congratulate Maj. Hidalgo following his promotion to police lieutenant with the NYPD. From left, Majors Daniel Harris, Sergio Hidalgo, Miguel Castillo and James Gonyo from the 369th Sustainment Brigade.

TONAWANDA--Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, New York State adjutant general (right) speaks with Massachusetts Army National Guard CERFP team members at the Spaulding Fibre site in Tonawanda during Exercise Vigilant Guard on Tuesday. Earlier, the soldiers practiced rescuing mock casualties from the simulated earthquake disaster area, or rubble pile, located at the site. The soldiers are, from left: Spc. Mark Williams, Spc. David Lyons and Sgt. Randy Isaacs.

NIAGARA FALLS RESERVE AIR FORCE BASE, Niagara Falls, NY – General Craig R. McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, accompanied by Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto, New York State Adjutant General, greets Col. Michael Bobeck, commander, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, during a visit to the Soldiers of the 42nd CAB on Nov. 4 during the Vigilant Guard exercise. The 42nd CAB tested newly acquired field equipment such as a BASEX tent while conducting routine field operations.

TONAWANDA--New York Army National Guard Soldiers get some instruction on search and rescue and extraction techniques from a member of one of the 14 civilian urban search and rescue teams that are participating in the exercise, including teams from Canada. Observers from Mexico, South Africa and Denmark were also on hand to watch the National Guard and Niagara Frontier emergency service responders work together. National Guard General Officers from a number of states visited the exercise site, as did Gen. Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The four-star general is the highest ranking officer in the National Guard of the United States.

A military forces honor guard stands next to a portrait of New York Army National Guard Sgt. Deon Taylor, killed in Afghanistan while serving as part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix. His hometown street in the Bronx was renamed as Police Officer Deon Taylor Way on October 29 in honor of his service as an NYPD officer and Citizen Soldier.

BUFFALO-- A New York Army National Guard Medevac Blackhawk crew, and Air National Guardswoman move a simulated patient at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo to the helicopteras Exercise Vigilant Shield wraps up on Thursday, Nov. 5. The largest joint civil/military domestic emergency exercise held in New York involved more than 1,300 National Guard members and hundreds of civilian first responders.

LATHAM - The 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) based in Latham said good bye to a long-time aviation officer, Col. Michael Bobeck (at left), who took command of the 42nd CAB on Sept. 13, 2008. He relinquished command to take an army tour at National Guard Bureau where he will over see operations of the National Guards fleet of fixed-wing aircraft. Batavia, N.Y. area native, Col. Mark Stryker, who formerly commanded the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, assumes command of the 42nd CAB. At far right, Stryker conveys the Brigade colors to Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Rentz, 42nd CAB Command Sergeant Major for safe keeping. The reviewing general officer was Brig. Gen. Steven Wickstrom, commander, 42nd Infantry Division (middle).

NEW YORK-- The New York Army National Guard Color Guard leads a contingent from Joint Forces Headquarters--New York up Fifth Avenue during the annual Veterans Day Parade Wednesday, Nov. 11 in New York City. More than 1,500 members of the New York Army National Guard, including the famouse "Fighting 69th", the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, the 1st Battalion 258th Field Artillery and the 369th Sustainment Brigade, which earned the nickname "Harlem Hellfighters" in World War I. Members of the New York Air National Guart also participated. The Color Guard presented the flag during the opening ceremony of the New York Knicks game Wednesday night while Staff Sgt. Brooke Leavitt sang the National Anthem.

TONAWANDA - During Vigilant Guard in early November, the 249th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) practiced using a hoist mounted aboard their UH-60 Blackhawk to rescue simulated victims in the aftermath of an earthquake scenario in the Buffalo, N.Y. suburb. Here, 1st Sgt. Mark Hansen, a medic with the 249th rides the hoist to “safety” with Spc. Christopher Smalls, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade

ALBANY -- Members of the all-volunteer organization, AmeriCorps from the Buffalo, N.Y. area start packing care packages to be sent to Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 206th Military Police Company who are currently serving in Iraq. Besides packing care packages, AmeriCorps and other local and state organizations also contributed by gift wrapping presents for children of military personnel, writing letters to Soldiers, making Welcome Home banners and Hero kits for children of Soldiers. The event took place at the New York State convention center on Nov. 20.

General Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General of New York, wish members of the National Guard and their families a Happy Thanksgiving, 2009.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION—General Raymond Johns Jr. the commander of Air Mobility Command, meets with members of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing and the Air ForceReserve’s 914th Airlift Wing, during a visit on Tuesday, Dec. 1. The two wings share C-130 aircraft under the Air Force’s association concept which pair Reserve and Air Guard units. Johns ( right), is greeted (left to right) by Senior Master Sgt. Steven Buchwald, from the 107th Airlift Wing, and Stephen Trosterud and Joe Dellaville from the 914th Airlift Wing

CAMP CHITOSE, Japan --New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Patrick Macklin, the deputy G3 for the 42nd Infantry Division (left), tells Maj. Takashi Kobayashi, the assistant G3 for the Japanese Defense Forces 2nd Division how they use slides to brief the 42nd Infantry Division commanding general on combat power. The 42nd Infantry Division is conducting a command post exercise in conjunction with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force as part of Yama Sakura 57,an anuual exercise between the Ground Self Defense Force and the United States Army.

Ballston Spa-- Volunteers from Joint Forces Headquarters spent Thursday morning, Dec. 3, helping to load Christmas trees at Ellms Tree Farm here that were being donated to troops at Fort Benning under the Trees for Troops Program. Taking a break afterr loading 100 trees are (from left) Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, Mr. Chip Ellms of Ellms Christmas Trees, Lt. Col. Art Zegers, Lt. Col. Paul Sausville and SFC (ret) Joel Powzyk.

TARRYTOWN--New York Governor David Paterson meets with Soldiers, leaders and family members of the 442nd Military Police Company on Saturday, Dec. 5, during a Yellow Ribbon Program pre-mobilization meeting at the Marriott Hotel here. The governor spoke to the Soldiers and their families before meeting privately with a few members of the unit. In his remarks he thanked the members of the unit for their sacrifice and the families for supporting their Soldiers. "Remember that your family,your friends, The State of New York, and the United States of America stand squarely behind you," Gov. Paterson said. The 442nd deployed to Iraq in 2003 and is due to return in the spring of 2010.

RONKONOMA, Long Island- Lieutenant Colonel Mark Slusar hands off the battalion colors of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion to Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Imbarrato for safekeeping. Slusar replaced Lt. Col. Albert Ricci as the new commander for the 142nd on Dec. 5 at the Army Aviation Support Facility 1 at McArthur airport in Long Island. However, Slusar once commanded an aviation detachment from the 142nd while serving on peacekeeping duties in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

CAMP CHITOSE, Hokkaido, Japan -- New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. John Willsey of the 42d Special Troops Battalion renders honors during the national anthems of the United States and Japan during opening ceremonies of Yama Sakura 57 here Dec. 7 at Camp Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan. More than 170 Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 42d Infantry Division Headquarters, based in Troy, N.Y. are participating in the battle simulation exercise with counterparts from the Japanese Northern Army’s 7th and 2nd Divisions in Japan and at Fort Lewis, Wash. Yama Sakura (Japanese for “Mountain Cherry Blossom”) is an annual, bilateral Command Post Exercise that simulates Japanese-US military operations required to defend Japan. New York Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 42d Infantry Division.

BUFFALO--Citizen Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard and Army Reserve march through Buffalo on Saturday, Dec. 5 as they collect food for the Western New York Food Bank. They were joined by "Hondo" a member of the Legacy Veterans Motorcycle Club and a Vietnam veteran. The Soldiers collected 2000 pounds of food during their 10-mile Roadmarch.

SYRACUSE--New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Donna M. Giambalvo packs a box at the Oncenter Complex in Syracuse, NY on 22 Dec. 2009. Giambalvo was volunteering at the Annual Salvation Army Food and Gift drive supplying needy families with gifts for their children and food for their Holiday meal.

CAMP CHITOSE, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN -- New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Steven Wickstrom (left) and division Soldier Pfc. Callie Haynes cut a cake to celebrate the 373rd Birthday of the National Guard during Yama Sakura 57 bilateral command post training exercise with members of the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces. The 42nd Infantry Division command and staff have been taking part in the exercise along with other U.S. military units and the Japanese Northern Army. The Northern Army command staff (background, left) and Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, Commanding General USARPAC (background, right) watch the ceremony. Photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta, 138th Public Affairs Detachment.

LATHAM-- Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General of New York and the oldest Soldier in Joint Forces Headquarters--New York, joins Pvt. 1st Class Joshua Loiselle, age 19, the younger Soldier, in cutting the cake marking the 373rd Birthday of the National Guard on Dec. 13. Loiselle, of Watervliet, drills with the 42nd Special Troops Battalion, and currently works in the headquarters on special duty. On Dec. 13 1636 the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colonie passed a law organizing the colonial militia into regiments. This is considered to be the start of organized militias in the United States which evolved into the modern National Guard.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE-- New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Mike displays the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft control for local media at Hancock Field in Syracuse, NY on 17 Dec. 2009. The media were invited to observe MQ-9 operations at the 174th Fighter Wing.

QUEENSBURY, NY (12/24/2009)-- Led by New York Army National Guard Soldiers Pfc. Matthew Jones (left) an Albany resident, and Pfc. Seth Wieland, who lives in South Glens Falls; almost 100 New York Army National Guard Soldiers and Civilian set out on a 3.8 mile hike that began and ended at the Queensbury Readiness Center on the morning of Christmas Eve. This is the sixth time that area Soldiers, veterans, and military families have met to conduct a Road March in support of Soldiers deployed away from their homes during Christmas. The tradition began in 2004 when Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion 108th infantry, who had been assigned to the Glens Falls Armory , were serving in Iraq over Christmas. Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coons, the local recruiter organized a road march, the military term for a hike, to remember the Soldiers who were not at home and instead overseas. Since then the march has continued. "We want them to know we are keeping them and their service in mind this season. We wanted to take some time out to remember them and what they are doing for our nation far from home and seperated from those who love them," Coon said. New York State Sen. Elizabeth Little, who represent the region, was one of those attending this years march ,which was also covered by local television stations and newspapers. The Guard members came from the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, the 466th Area Medical Company, and the 1427th Medium Truck Company, the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation, and the 206th Military Police Company.

LAKE PLACID, NY--A New York Army Natgional Guard Soldier from the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry keeps his head down while serving as brakeman on a sled speeds down the Mount Van Hoevenberg bobsled track during the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge in 2009. The weekend of Jan. 9-10 20 members of Company B 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, based in Morrisonville, will participate in the 2010 edition of the race.

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo -- New York Army National Guard Capt. Elizabeth Ramsey, of New York City, leads a discussion during a mock trial held as part of the Fundamentals of Criminal Law college class she teaches at the Laura Bush Education Center. Ramsey, a logistics officer in the 369th Sustainment Brigade and a public defender in Elizabeth, N.J., has deployed to Kosovo for a year as part of Mulit-National Task Force East.

LATHAM -- Sergeant First Class Robert Ravert, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade gets some time behind the wheel of a Humvee for familiarization training using night vision goggles to maneuver around the State National Guard Headquarters parking lots after hours on Jan. 8.

LAKE PLACID, NY--The National Guard # 88 sled tears down the track at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex driven by race car driver Melanie Troxel, with New York Army National Guard Spec. Matthew Powers serving as brakeman. The two were participating in the 5th Annual Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge Presented by Whelen Engineering on Jan. 10. The event raises money for the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team. Twenty Soldiers from Company B, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry participated in the race with NASCAR and National Hot Rod Association drivers. (Photo by A1C Ben German, 109th Airlift Wing)

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh-- Members of New York Task Force 1, the New York City Urban Search and Rescue Team, roll through the gates of Stewart Air National Guard Base on Thursday, Jan. 14, to prepare for a possible deployment to Haiti. The team brought their equipment and personnel to the base, 70 miles north of New York City, to wait for pickup. Members of the 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard secured their gear and stand prepared to assist in helping them depart for Haiti when an aircraft is available.

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. - Braving afternoon temperatures near zero degrees, Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade spent the day conducting cold weather weapons familiarization training at Guilderland Rifle Range, Jan. 9. Soldiers also focused on "zeroing" their individual weapons in unfavorable conditions.

TUXEDO, NY--Barbara Allen and her sons Trevor, Collin, Sean and Jeremy, pose with a picture of her husband, 1st Lt. Lou Allen, who was killed in Tikrit, Iraq in June 2005, during a ceremony honoring Allen and his family held on Friday, Jan. 22 at George F. Baker High School, where Allen taught. Allen, who was assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division, was killed in a non-combat incident. His portrait was painted by Phil Taylor of the American Fallen Soldiers Project who honors Soldiers by painting their portraits for their families.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. - Representative Maurice Hinchey outlines plans to construct a solar energy complex at Stewart ANGB during a press conference held at the base on Monday, Jan. 25. The federal governnment will spend $4 million to construct a solar array that will up to three quarters of a megawatt of electricity, satisfying half of the bases power needs. The array will occupy four to six acresat the site. U.S. Rep Maurice Hinchey detailed the future solar energy complex being built here later this year. The project is the largest solar initiative in the Hudson Valley and will assist toward meeting the Air Force�s goal of all bases using 25% renewable resources by the 2025.

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Major Tanya Pennella greats her daughter Angelina Pennella after returning from 10 months service in Iraq with the 53rd Army Liaison Team. Pennella and other members of the small, specialist unit, returned to their headquarters at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan on Saturday, Jan. 30. The members of the 53rd provided specialists to man both U.S. and Iraqi headquarters in Baghdad and also provided members of the U.S. commanders personal security detachment.

LATHAM--Brigadier General Patrick Murphy meets the press Wednesday afternoon at Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters folloing the announcement by New York Gov. David Paterson that he had been selected to replace Major General Joseph Taluto as Adjutant General of New York. “Brigadier General Murphy is an outstanding officer who brings with him a wealth of experience integrating the National Guard and active military components into State emergency and security planning, homeland defense, and anti-terrorism activities,� Governor Paterson said. “He has played a critical role in the New York National Guard’s response to flooding in Western New York, providing emergency aid to other states, and refocusing the National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield into a more capable security force in New York City.� Brigadier General Murphy, a 32-year veteran of the Army National Guard, is currently serving as the New York National Guard’s Director of Joint Staff and Assistant Adjutant General, responsible for the National Guard’s State emergency and homeland security operations.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti--While on a Haiti relief mission picking up critically injured Haitians, aircrew from the 107th AW had the honor of meeting former President Bill Clinton. (From left to right) Staff Sgt. Brian Waite, 107th C-130 flight engineer, 1st Lt. Joe Neglia, 107th C-130 pilot, President Bill Clinton and Maj. Greg Miller, 107th C-130 pilot.

UTICA--Capt. Rick Redmond and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Marshall, the commander and acting First Sgt. Of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 108th Infanty join the captains of the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen, Anthony Longo (left) and Utica College Pioneers, Aaron Jeffrey, in dropping the puck to open their game Saturday, Feb. 6 in Utica. The event was part of Military Appreciation Night at the Utica Auditorium. Members of the unit along with Recruit Sustainment Program soldiers stood in formation on the ice during the singing of the National Anthem

MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.--Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Obrochta 107th Airlift Wing C-130 load master, ensures that a pallet of water bottles destined for delivery to Haiti are secure during a relief mission executed on Monday, Feb. 8. The New York Air National Guard crew delivered 18,270 water bottles to Haiti during this mission. "Everything needs to be secured for flight." said Obrochta. "If it is not bolted down, it gets strapped down" he added. The 107th has provided crews along with aircraft for the transportation of supplies into and evacuees out of Haiti since four days after the earthquake hit.

LATHAM-- New members of the New York Miltary Forces Honor Guard prepare for dress blues inspections during training held the week of Feb. 22-Feb. 26 at Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters. The Honor Guard provides funeral honors for all Army veterans entitled to them. All members of the Honor Guard go through training to help them execute their duties.

LATHAM -- Six aviation Soldiers and two 42nd Infantry Division Soldiers competed for top honors to be selected as the 2010 Soldier of the Year, the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year and the Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) Soldier of the Year at the brigade level, Feb. 20 at the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigades headquarters in Latham. This years selectees were Spc. David Murray, Soldier of the Year, Sgt. Lance Allen, NCO of the Year and Staff Sgt. Leanne Delaney, AGR Soldier of the Year. Following the brigade level of competition, the selected Soldiers will advance and compete at the New York State level at Camp Smith next month. Front row from left are: Spc. Raya Clement, 42nd Special Troops Bn, Spc. Stephanie Saunders, 42nd Combat Avn. Bde., Sgt. Lance Allen, 142nd Assault Helicopter Bn. and Staff Sgt. Leanne Delaney, 42nd Special Troops Bn. Back row from left are: Staff Sgt. Eric Swartzenberg, 642nd Avn. Support Bn., Spc. David Murray, 142nd Assault Helicopter Bn., Staff Sgt. David Dargan, 42nd Combat Avn. Bde., and Spc. Russell Duquette, 642nd Avn. Support Bn.

HORSEHEADS-- Several hundred family members and friends gathered at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center here Sunday, Feb. 21, to say goodbye to members of the 827th Engineer Company has they departed for post-mobilization training at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The Soldiers are slated to deploy to Afghanistan following their train-up.

TROY, N.Y. -- Retired National Guard Maj. Gen. Gus L. Hargett, Jr. addresses members of the New York Army National Guard on behalf of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) at the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters in Troy, N.Y. March 6. Hargett, the former Adjutant General for the state of Tennesee, has been a lifelong member of NGAUS and now serves as president of the organization that lobbies on behalf of the Army and Air National Guard to ensure elected leaders provide for the members of the National Guard and the readiness of the force. “We are the oldest lobbying organization in our nation’s capital,� Hargett told the troops, “since 1878 working to make equipment, resources and benefits available to our National Guard.�

NEW YORK--The family of Spc. Wilfredo Urbina, a member of Company A, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, views a portait of the Soldier, who was killed in Iraq, during a special Portrait Presentation Ceremony at the Lexington Avenue Armory in Manhattan on March 15th. Artist Phil Taylor from the American Fallen Soldier Project devoted more than 80 hours to the painting of Urbina who was killed in November 2004. From the left is niece Sydney Urbina, sister Jeanin, Mother Jeanette and father Agusta. The honor guard Soldier is Pfc. George Dominguez from the Bronx, assigned to Co A, 1st Battalion 69th Inf.

LATHAM, NY-New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Mark Bowden greats his children after returning from deployment to Afghanistan on Friday, March 12. Bowden and nine other New York Army National Guard aviators flew missions designed to spot insurgents laying improvised explosive devices during their deployment.

NEW YORK -- Gary Sinise, at right, and Jeff Vezain perform with the Lt. Dan Band at the New York Army National Guard’s armory on Lexington Avenue March 18 in tribute to the Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry. Sinise, an acclaimed actor who stars in the CBS hit television series CSI:NY has won both Emmy and Golden Globe awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Lt. Dan Taylor in the mega hit movie Forest Gump. He teamed up with Vietnam veteran Kimo Williams to form the Lt. Dan Band in 2004 and has entertained tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel all over the world. Proceeds from the event will benefit the SSG Chistian P. Engeldrum Memorial Scholarship Fund. Chris Engeldrum was a NY City Firefighter assigned to Ladder Company 61 in the Bronx, responded to the terror attacks on September 11, 2001 and went on to serve with the “Fighting 69th� in Iraq. Engledrum was killed in action on November 24, 2004.

STATEN ISLAND--New York Naval Militia Petty Officer Kurt Schneider tracks the distance between the pier and Patrol Boat 440 during a training exercise at Stapleton Navy Pier here on March 23. Petty Officer Ken Stefandel was manuevering the high-tech watercraft during coxswain qualification training. Petty Officer Kurt Schneider, NYNM (right) assists with reporting the distance to the pier.

Stewart Air National Guard Base, 15 October 2007. Members of the 105 Airlift Wing board a C-5A Galaxy for transport to Volk Field W.I. Unit members will participate in an Operational Readiness Exercise with two other Air National Guard units, the 128 AW & 157 ARW.

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, the Commander in Chief of the New York National Guard, expresses support Tuesday, July 31, for members of the 27th Brigade Combat Team who are due to be deployed in Afghanistan in 2008. The brigade, which is headquartered in Syracuse, NY, will be responsible for training Afghan National Army troops. Approximately 1700 soldiers from around the state will be part of the deployment. Spitzer visited the brigades headquarters at the Thompson Road Armory to thank the soldiers for their service and pledge the support of the people of the state.

Soldiers of the 427th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) display the U.S. flag during the patriotic day pregame events at the Syracuse Carrier Dome on Saturday, September 15, 2007. The Central NY Citizen Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008 as part of Task Force Pheonix, the senior headquarters for training Afghan army and national police forces. Col. Gary Yaple, Deputy Commander of the Syracuse-based 27th Brigade Combat Team presided over the coin toss as Syracuse University Athletics saluted the American armed forces during the Syracuse University football game against Illinois on Saturday, September 15 at the Carrier Dome. Patriotic Day at the Dome. The "Fighting Illini" beat the Syracuse Orange, 41-20.

Chief Warrant Officer Mark Kimes conducts members of the 42nd Infantry Division Band during the unit’s concert series in the State Capitol in Albany on Thursday, August 16, 2007. The 34 Citizen Soldiers of the Rainbow Division Band, based at Camp Smith Training Site, conducted their collective annual training as community concerts in Hudson, Schenectady, Lake George, Troy, Albany and Glens Falls, New York from 13-16 August.

The long-awaited kiss from Sgt. Daniel Tompkins girlfriend Janice Gloss was waiting for him when 40 Soldiers from the 727th Military Police Liaison Detachment arrived at their Poughkeepsie armory after serving 15 months supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Victory Complex, Baghdad, Iraq.

National Guard Bureau Chief Lt. Gen. Steven Blum speaks with New York Adjutant General Major Gen. Joseph Taluto during a visit to New York City on Sept. 17, 2007. Blum wears a New York Police Department baseball cap presented to him by members of the New National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield who are also members of the NYPD. Joint Task Force Empire Shield employs National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to enhance security at New York City airports, and train stations., along with power plants in upstate New York.

Members of the decontamination team from the New York Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry prepare casualties for decontamination and medical processing during validation of the team’s casualty evacuation, decontamination and medical assessment mission. Nearly 300 members of the New York Army National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) conducted their team’s validation exercise at Fort Drum, N.Y. on June 17, 2007. The exercise evaluated the team’s ability to rapidly establish decontamination sites, evacuate casualties and provide decontamination and medical triage in support of civil authorities.

SPC Patrick E. McCarthy, 827th Engineer Company, New York Army National Guard, operates a D7 bulldozer in an attempt to restore the washed away protions of the Holiday Brook Road and return the Holiday Brook back to its original course Thursday, June 21, 2007. After heavy rains Tuesday evening, a flash flood removed portions of the road, destroyed 1 home and damaged several others. Four persons were reported missing after the flood waters receded.

BASRA, Iraq-- Brig. Gen. Pat Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, shakes the hand of 206th Military Police Company member Spec. Tracy Bryant during a visit to the Basra Logistics Support Area on April 7. Murphy, the commander of the New York National Guard was visiting the 206th and other New York Army National Guard units in Iraq and Kuwait along with Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt, the New York State Sgt. Major has part of the Joint Monthly Access for Reserve Components program which allows both Army Reserve and National Guard leaders to go see their troops deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Members of the New York National Guards’ Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package (CERF-P) team prepare to move a casualty into a decontamination tent, where the individual will be washed to remove chemical agents. During a two-day exercise, joint training provided an opportunity for Soldiers and Airmen to improve and refine their Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) reaction skills. The training was held at the NY State Urban Search and Rescue Training site in Colonie, NY on Friday and Saturday November 2-3, 2007.

To mark September as National Preparedness Month, New York’s Deputy Secretary for Public Safety is urging members of the New York National Guard to make sure that their home and family are ready for emergencies of all kinds.

The 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation uses a UH-60 Blackhawk to extract an abandoned vehicle during a GuardHELP community project in the Edgewood Oak Brush Plains Preserve near Ronkonkoma, Long Island June 14, 2007.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh-- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood speaks with Brig. Gen. Verle Johnston, the commander of the 105th Airlift Wing, on Friday, April 9, 2010. Mr. La Hood was touring Stewart Airport and visited the new airbase fire station which provides protection to both the Air National Guard Base and the airport, which is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs has officially signed on to support the re-employment rights of Reservists and National Guard members who return to their jobs from active duty. Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General and the commander of the New York Army and Air Force National Guard signed the “Five Star Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve� June 26, 2007 that signifies participation in the Five Star Employer Program run by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Participating government and private employers ensure that their human resources departments are trained on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, that their human resources policies acknowledge the provisions of the act, and that they support their employees who are National Guard and Reserve members and advocate for the Guard and Reserve. The Division of Military and Naval affairs includes civilian employees who are members of the Guard and Reserve as well as full-time National Guard members. Taluto was joined for the June 26, 2007 signing ceremony by retired Army Reserve Major General Thomas Sabo, a West Seneca resident and the chairman of Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve in New York. Sabo was vice president of operations for Michael P. Guastella and Associates Inc., a Boston insurance company, and commander of the 98th Division, headquartered in Rochester, before retiring in 2001. Pictured are (from left) Sabo; Beverly Keating, state family program director; Taluto; Eugene Murphy, redeployment transition assistance advisor-NY; Col. Curtis Williamson, human resources officer; and William Tracy, ESGR program support specialist

New York Army National Guard Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. F. David Sheppard renders honors to President Chester Arthur, 21st President of the United States, at Albany Rural Cemetery on the 178th anniversary of his birthday Oct 5, 2007.

Members of the NY National Guard train alongside Rhode Island National Guard and 5th Army representatives from ARNORTH during a hurricane preparedeness training exercise. The exercise, known as Ardent Sentry, was conducted May 1-4, 2007 in Providence Rhode Island and included representatives of state and federal emergency response agencies.

Members from the Northeast Air Defense Sector perform their command and control mission in order to prevent air attacks against the U.S. by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within U.S. sovereign airspace Aug 12, 2007.

A Rome Fire Department firefighter works to stabilize Northeast Air Defense Sector simulated victim during the Griffiss Park Mass Casualty Exercise Thursday June 7, 2007. The exercise challenged first responders to perform their triage and hazmat procedures on victims of a simulated terrorist attack.

Air Force 60th Anniversary attendees check out the A-10 static display from the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass, Sept. 18, 2007. Members from the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, Northeast Air Defense Sector and returning 465th Fighter Interceptor Squadron veterans commemorated their heritage during the event. The commemorative events were held at the AFRL Hangar located at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome, N.Y.

BUFFALO-- New York Naval Militia Petty Boatswains Mate 2nd Class Dawn Burgess (left) is awarded the New York State Military Commendaiton medal during a ceremony here at the Navy Operational Support Center by Chief Warrant Officer Philip Slominski. Burgess was honored for her performance as Coxswain onboard Patrol Boat 281 on May 28-31, 2009 as the Naval Militia was supporting the 2009 ESL Air and Water Show in Rochester. Her boat, along with craft from other agencies were tasked with establishing a restricted zone off Ontario Beach so the air show could be conducted safely. On May 31 high seas forced other boats to quit the restricted zone but Burgess was able to maintain station, allowing the air show to continue. Her actions in this case were lauded by the local Coast Guard Station.

ROME-- Tech Sgt. Andrew Preston and Tech Sgt. Christopher Kent, Eastern Air Defense Sector Alpha Flight Weapons Directors, discuss aircraft weapons information just after finishing a simulated mission at the Sector Operations Control Center in Rome, N.Y. Both were named best Scope operators in the Sector following the Top Scope competition that wrapped up April 7.

WATERVLIET--New York Army National Guard Sgt. Donald Leinfelder explains to Ray Gaston, Watervliet Arsenal support division chief, how a similar armor kit may have saved his life during a 2005 firefight in Iraq. Since 2004 the Arsenal team has produced more than 15,000 gunner protective kits and 6,000 overhead protection kits. The Arsenal has ended production of those kits as the Army switches to new types of armored vehicles.

LATHAM - Sergeants Ceth Morocco (left) and Daniel Dukin, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), knock-out as many elevated pushups as they can on the drill shed floor during a rigorous physical training workout Sunday morning, April 11. CAB Soldiers conducted "round-robin" station training where pairs of Soldiers perform a timed event , jump up and run around in a circle of chairs until they advance through all ten stations

MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Spc. Larry Sloan (left), and Spc. Amber Davis (right), examine a snake Sloan foraged during survival training near the Mount Morris Dam Thursday, April 22. The two Soldiers are crew chiefs with the 249th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) based in Rochester which was conducting survival training at Mount Morris Dam, a facility owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Soldiers taking part in the exercise boiled and ate the snake.

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- New York Army National Guard Sgt. John Conley, a technician in the 1108th Explosives Ordinance Disposal Team, walks out to a suspicious package in a bomb disposal suit to plant a disposal charge during a controlled detonation exercise here on April 5. The Pleasantville, NY resident was taking part in a demonstration for Brig Gen. Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, during his trip to visit troops in Kuwait and Iraq. The Soldiers of the 1108th are responsible for responding to unexploded ordnance and bomb threats in the Camp Arifjan area and also providing training to troops coming into the area of operations. The company, based in Scotia, was mobilized last year

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Members of the Jamaica, N.Y. based 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery conduct small arms weapons qualification training here April 24, 2010. The artillery troops fire and qualify with pistols or M16 / M4 automatic rifles.

Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh--Two members of the 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard move a simulated casualty off a C-130 belonging to the 109th Airlift Wing as part of an exercise designed to test the ability of the base to accept wounded personnel and then transfer them to local emergency providers who take them to area hospitals. The exercise Golden Eagle II, tested the National Disaster Medical System.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE--Members of the Recruit Sustainment Program from New York City get ready to conduct an urban assault drill during weekend training at Camp Smith over the May 1-2 weekend. About 125 new members of the New York Army National Guard spent their drill practicing pugil stick fighting, rapelling, drill and ceremonies, and basic room-clearing skills armed with Airsoft rifles that resemble M-4 carbines. The RSP program helps new recruits prepare for basic training, said Warrant Officer Douglas Sherman, the program coordinator.

HANCOCK FIELD, SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- National Guard Bureau Chief, U.S. Air Force General Craig R. McKinley and The Adjutant General of New York, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy receive a rundown of the capabilities of the MQ-9 Reaper, Remotely Piloted Aircraft from US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Eric W. Schenck at Hancock Field in Syracuse, NY on May 5, 2010. McKinley and Murphy were getting a tour of the school house responsible for all MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft maintenance training for the US Air Force. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy M. Call, 174th Fighter Wing.

ALBANY--A World War II-era M-8 armored car is manuevered into position by its owner, vehicle collector Greg Wolanin, as the centerpiece of a New York State Museum exhibit honoring the service of New York Army National Guard Soldiers. The 101st Cavalry Group of the New York NationalGuard operated M-8s during their service in Europe in 1945. The exhibit, titled "Citizen Soldier" opens on May 28 and will run through March 2011.

CAMP SMITH -- Specialist Paul Vanbuskirk (center) and Staff Sgt. James Clark, Company E, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion wait to take their turn in the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer rollover simulator located in the training center building during May drill weekend. The simulator is used to prepare troops to escape from their vehicle under full tactical conditions. Members of the 142nd were at Camp Smith validating their yearly training requirements.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh - President Barack Obama reaches out to shake hands with greeters on the morning of May 22, 2010. The President met military personnel, family members and guests before taking a short flight aboard Marine One to attend a West Point Graduation.

RONKONKOMA-- Members of the New York Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, Radiological, & High Yield Explosive Enhanced Responsive Force take a break during a day of training at the Army National Guard Flight Facility at McArthur Airport. The New York Guard Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, Radiological, & High Yield Explosive Enhanced Responsive Force Team is an unpaid corps of service members, who volunteer to help augment the New York National Guard force designated for the same mission. For this day’s training the New York Guard

ALBANY--Members of the New York Army National Guard Honor Guard participate in a Memorial Day observation held at the New York State Purple Heart Memorial here on Friday, May 28. The ceremony, sponsored by the New York State Museum, was conducted in conjunction with the Citizen Soldier Exhibit that opened on May 27. The exhibit highlights the history of the New York Army National Guard since the Spanish American War.

GUILDERLAND - Sergeant Ally Andolina, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade finds and plots each given point on a topograpghical map of the Guilderland Rifle Range area on May 15 while conducting squad tatics training.

LATHAM -- Brigadier General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General, looks on as Philip Imbarrato, New York Chapter Presisdent of the Association of Civilian Technicians, initials a new safety agreement between the union, New York National Guard leadership, and the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday, June 3. The " New York Army National Guard Voluntary Protection Program Labor-Management Commitment Statement" outlines the ways that supervisors and employees will work together to improve safety at armories and maintenance facilities across the state. Joining the Adjutant General and Imbarrato in signing the agreement are Col. Mark Burke (seated) Director of Aviation and Safety; and (from left) Major Richard Friess, Surface Maintenance Officer, Mr. Lawrence Gallagher, State Safety and Occupational Health Manager; Col. James Lettko, NYARNG Chief of Staff; Col. Philip Pugliese, Director of Logistics; and Col. Curtis Williamson, Director of Federal Human Resources.

CAMP SMITH--Major Mark Michels delivers last minute instructions to PFC Andrew Allen, a member of the 153rd Troop Command, during rappelling training on June 5.The Soldiers were participating in a pre Air-Assault course for the weekend. Michels, also a member of the 153rd Troop Command, was the OIC of the course.

RANDALLS ISLAND, New York - A member of the reconnaissance section of the 24th Civil Support Team, New York National Guard based at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn takes air samples from a simulated clandestine lab. It was part of an evaluated exercise on June 8 at the New York Fire Department Training Academy at Randalls Island, New York City. As part of the scenario, the 24th was called to a notional crime scene where federal and local law enforcement authorities believed that terrorists may have been creating a chemical or biological agent for use in future attack. The 24th responded to the call and quickly moved to the site, linked with the civil authorities at the scene and went to work to determine the extent and nature of the threat. Army evaluators tested the unit’s abilities through situation injects throughout the day-long exercise.

Gabreski Field Air National Guard Base-- Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing salute as the remains of New York Army National Guard 1st Lt. Joseph Theinert pass by on June 9, 2010. The remains of Theinert, who was serving in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division when he was killed in action, were flown into the base prior to being moved to Shelter Island where his funeral is set for June 11.

SHELTER ISLAND--The flag-covered casket of New York Army National Guard 1st Lt. Joseph Theinert is borne from Our Lady of the Isle Church on Shelter Island, NY before his family, members of the community and military leaders by the New York National Guard Military Forces Honor Guard on Friday, June 11. Theinert was serving on active duty with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan when he was killed in action by an Improvised Explosive Device on June 4. He was assigned to Troop B, 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry and was age 24 at the time of his death. Brigadier General Patrick Murphy, The Adjutant General of New York and State Command Sergeant Major Robert Van Pelt were among other members of the New York Army National Guard and other services who attended the funeral. More than 2,000 people attended an out door funeral mass. Theinert was the first service member from the community to be killed in action since World War II.

COLONIE-- Runners push through the rain on Saturday, June 12, as they cross the finish line during the New York Family Readiness Council’s annual Hometown Heroes Race held at Colonie Crossings Park here. More than 200 runners, including both civilians and New York National Guard members, participated in the fund-raising event. The money raised by the Family Readiness Council is used to assist Guard families in need during deployments.

COLONIE - 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander Capt. Michael Squires runs the last leg of the Army Physical Fitness Test with Staff Sgt. Jerry Swain to motivate him to get across the finish line at the Colonie Town Park Bike Trail on June 12.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall meets thanks Private David Selman and members of the New York Army National Guard Recruiting team at Roy Wilkins Park during the NFL’s High School Player Development training camp June 17 in Queens, N.Y. Along with Selman were Private Leroy Poole, Sgt. Tom Davies in background, Private Nur Sadlee and Staff Sgt. Zipora Baez.

LATHAM--Members of the New York Army National Guard’s 206th Military Police Company wade into a crowd of well-wishers as they return to home station at New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters on Friday, June 18. More than 70 members of the unit from New York’s Capital Region returned to company headquarters here. More than 160 National Guard Soldiers deployed to Iraq with the company and similar receptions occured a Camp Smith near Peekskill, Utica, Rochester, Buffalo and Auburn on Friday.

LATHAM -- Specialist Stephanie Saunders, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade tries her hand at acquiring a target on the "Beam-Hit" computerized/laser pop-up target simulator set up on the drill shed floor on Saturday, June 12.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--Col. Timothy LaBarge accepts the colors of the 109th Airlift Wing from Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General, during change of command ceremonies held at the base on Saturday, June 12. LaBarge took over from Col. Anthony German who was promoted to Brig. Gen. on Sunday. June 13 and is now taking on the duties of Assistant Adjutant General for Air.

WINDSOR, NY--Spc. John Stanley from Elmira Heights, prepares lunch as the food service section from the 204th Engineer Battalion’s 204th Forward Support Company competes for the Philip A. Connelly Award of Excellence in Army Food Service award on Sunday June 13. The cooks prepared a lunch at the 204th’s training site in the Windsor Quarry for Soldiers working there as part of their annual training. The food service specialists were evaluated on aspects such as technique, skill, safety consciousness, professionalism, and presentation of product. The menu included roast turkey, gravy, Mexican corn, corn soup, salad, and Florida lemon cake with a cream cheese frosting. The winners of the award, which involves units from across the Army, will be announced in January 2011.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh--Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing and members of the United States Marine Corps Reserve’s Air Refueler and Transport Squadron 452 deploy containment booms across Recreation Pond on the base as part of atest of the bases’ ability to respond to fuel spills. The spill containment exercise is a requirement set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh --the Crew of "the Hudson Valley Hauler" after completing an initial home station flight on the 105th Airlift Wing’s first Avionics Modernized C-5A. The Avionics Modernization Program or AMP replaces existing avionics with a modern, digital flight deck. Pictured are, from left to right: Capt. Ryan Dannemann, MSgt Joseph Cincotta, Lt Col Steven Branche, Chief MSgt Peter McDermott, Maj Philip Leone, and Staff Sgt Ryan Rosa.

Troy-- 2nd Lt. Alexander Saxsby conducts a land navigation and map reading class for OCS Candidates Christopher Minarch, Liza Rosado and Kelly Sayward on June 26 at the Glenmore Road Armory. The class was the initial test of a program to provide pre-OCS instruction for New York Army National Guard Soldiers seeking commissions.

QUEENS--New York Army National Guard Soldiers, Sgt. Aaron Hess (left) and Spc. Yuriy Ostrovskiy, patrol Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport on June 29. The two Soldiers, both members of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the New York National Guard security force operating in New York City, were taking part in a security exercise headed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department. More than 200 members of the Army and Air National Guard, and the New York Guard, a state defense force, participate in the task force.

QUEENS -- Empire Shield Soldiers Sgt. Aaron Hess and Spec. Yuriy Ostrovskiy stand in Terminal 5 here at JFK Airport while on patrol June 29. The Soldiers seen took part in a security surge drill headed by the New York and New Jersey Port Authority Police Department (PAPD). Empire Shield participated by request of the PAPD.

QUEENS -- New York Guard Capt. John Passarotti and Capt. Robert Patterson are briefed in John F. Kennedy International Airport by Joint Task Force Empire Shield Staff Sgt. Ronnie Redfern, a member of the New York Army National Guard on June 29. The two officers toured various terminals where the JTFES performed a surge drill alongside the New York and New Jersey Port Authority Police Department. The New York Guard is a nonpaid all volunteer force, which augments the Army National and Air Guard in state. Currently, there are members of the NYG attached to the element to assist in daily efforts.

LATHAM - Private First Class Harley Jellis spent Sunday morning’s drill testing the M-43 Protective Mask on the FIT Analyzer which tests the mask for air leaks. Sitting opposite Jellis and getting his mask tested is 1st Lt. Bryon Bullock. Both Soldiers are part of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade. The FIT testing was part HHC’s annual maintenance checks on their mask inventory.

LATHAM-- New York State Trooper Edward Stefik, who is also Master Sgt. Stefik of the 107th Security Forces Squardon of the New York Air National Guard, recieves the Master Sgt. Joseph Longobardo Trophy for best novice marksman at the annual Adjutant General’s Match from Brig. Gen. Patrik Murphy, the Adjutant General, during a short ceremony at State Headquarters on Wednesday, June 30. Stefik, a 13-year member of the New York State Police and a rifleman on the State Police Special Operations Response Team, has been a member of the 107th Airlift Wing, based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, for the past two years. Prior to that he served with the 98th Division of the United States Army Reserve and spent a year in Iraq, where he was awarded the Combat Action Badge. The Longobardo Trophy, the New York National Guard’s top award for shooters participating in the annual competition for the first time, is named after New York State Trooper Joseph Longobardo, who was also a member of the New York Air National Guard and who was killed in the line of duty on August 31, 2006.

AL SHEEB, IRAQ -- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Alfonso Villacres and Spc. Ronald Simmons from New York, N.Y., from the 37th Financial Management Detachment unit provide finance support to U.S. Soldiers assigned to Joint Security Station Al Sheeb, Iraq, June 17. Villacres’ unit visited JSS Al Sheeb to assist U.S. Soldiers manage their Eagle Cash card funds. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Lukas McWhorter)

ALBANY--Producer/director Matthew O’Neill talks about his film “Baghdad ER� at the New York State Museum with Staff Sergeant Craig Macy, a wounded New York Army National Guard Soldier who appears in the film. Macy joined O’Neill for a special showing of his film at the Museum on Thursday, July 1, 2010 in conjunction with the Citizen Soldier exhibit the state museum is mounting.

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. -- The New York Army National Guard welcomed its newest Citizen Soldier on July 4th when Spc. Frank Rosales from Porter Corners, N.Y. enlisted as a Forward Artillery Observer in the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry. Rosales, a former U.S. Marine, was recruited by a Guard Recruiting Assistant, Sgt. Erwin Dominguez of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery. Administering his oath of enlistment were Chief Warrant Officer Two Ryan Comstock from Queensbury, serving in the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment and 2nd Lt. Dawn Hersey of Stony Creek, serving with the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters. Both officers returned to the Queensbury Readiness Center to administer the oath of enlistment since it was the same location that they first joined the New York Army National Guard. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Arthur P. Coon.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- New York Army National Guard Spc. Joseph Ruiz, from the Headquarters Company of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment in New York City, receives a plaque of recognition for the 8 Soldiers, 8 Missions from NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., June 30, 2010. On July 3, Earnhardt’s No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet featured a special paint scheme in honor of the 8 Soldiers and 8 Missions in which they served. Photo by Sgt. Michael Baltz.

New York State Museum’s Huxley Theater was filled on July 6 for “Restrepo� and a question and answer period with one of the film’s producers and one of the featured soldiers.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers from Company B, 642nd Aviation Support Battalion move quickly away from the gas chamber located at Training Area 3A on July 10. The 642nd is training to perform CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force missions starting October 1, 2010 if activated for natural and man-made disasters.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Private First Class Harley Jelis (left) and Pfc. Holden Davenport, Headquarters and Headquarters, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade use a fake wound and lots of field dressings to demonstrate to Soldiers of Company B, 642nd Aviation Support Battalion the importance of first aid in a field environment on July 11. The 642nd is training in preparation for CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force missions on active duty if needed in the event of natural or man-made disasters.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Two Soldiers from Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment from Rochester assist each other escaping from a 90-degree simulated roll-over at Fort Drum’s Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer Center on July 13. The 126th is training in preparation for CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force missions on active duty if needed in the event of natural or man-made disasters beginning October 1, 2010.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Throughout the sweltering days of July, Soldiers of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade’s (CAB) supply section ensure that Soldiers keep properly hydrated by adding bags of ice to a "water buffalo" beside the barracks building #473 on the morning of July 14. Loading the water buffalo with ice is Spc. Stephanie Saunders, Pfc. Jeffery Hicks and Staff Sgt. Brian Hudspath. The 42nd CAB is assisting in training other aviation units for CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force missions on active duty if needed in the event of natural or man-made disasters beginning October 1, 2010.

WEST POINT-- A Soldier from the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion 258th Field Artillery9 right) gives tips on firing the big guns to a West Point cadet during a training exercise at the United States Military Academy’s training areas on Monday, July 12. The National Guard Artillery unit provided guns and Soldiers to help man them and teach the cadets the basics of artillery.

FORT DRUM, NY -- Soldiers from both Detachment 1, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment and Co. D, 3rd Battalion, 142n.d Assault Helicopter Battalion spent a hot July afternoon getting re-familiarization training on the effectiveness of their M40 Protective Mask at the gas chamber at Range 3A on July 15. Both of these units are training in preparation for CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force missions on active duty if needed in the event of natural or man-made disasters beginning October 1, 2010.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Specialist Joshua C. Smith, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion makes a hasty exit from the Humvee rollover trainer inside the Virtual Training Facility building on July 16. Company D is training in preparation for CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force missions on active duty if needed in the event of natural or man-made disasters beginning October 1, 2010.

ALBANY--Chief Warrant Officer Mark Klimes leads the 42nd Infantry Division (Rainbow) Band in the service medley during a performance on the Concourse of the Empire State Plaza on Monday July 19. The Rainbow Division Band is on a tour across the state as part of it s Annual Training program.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Specialist Beth Britton, Company F, 1st Battalion, 169th Medical Evacuation engages pop-up targets with her 9mm pistol at Fort Drum’s Range 41A on July 19 during individual weapons qualification in preparation for the 169th’s roll in the CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force (CCMRF) missions. Company F is training in preparation for CCMRF missions on active duty if needed in the event of natural or man-made disasters beginning October 1, 2010.

FORT DEVENS, Mass--New York Army National Guard Spec. Alex Rodrigues, a Soldier with the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry Regiment fires an M4 during the annual Logan-Duffy Rifle Match between the "Fighting 69th" of New York and the "Fighting Irish" of the Massachusetts Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion 182nd Infantry Regiment here on Saturday, Oct. 2. The two units have conducted the annual match, named for their commanders during the Spanish-American War since 1936. The 1-69th won this years event.

BRONX--Marie Crooke, the J. Peters Veterans Administration Medical Center patient care center director, Maj. Gen. Fergal Foley, Commanding General New York Guard, Betsy Faden, VA recreation therapist, and Maj. Bob Coulombe of the 65th BDE are seen here during a presentation ceremony of musical instruments, July 30. The instruments were donated from various households to enable veterans to take part in music therapy.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Brigadier General Steven Wickstrom, commander, 42nd Infantry Division paid a visit to Fort Drum on July 21, where New York Army National Guard Aviation Soldiers are training for CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force(CCMRF) missions starting Oct. 1, should they be called to active duty. Soldiers at the Virtual Training Center on Fort Drum are demonstrating how to escape from a rolled Humvee using the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer. Wickstrom also visited Soldiers conducting Nuclear, Biological and Chemical training at Range 3A, later in the afternoon.

NEW YORK CITY--New York Army National Guard Sgt. Alberto Caceda, a member of the 37th Finance Detachment embraces his fiance Nanci Gentilesca as he gets off the bus at the Lexington Avenue Armory on Thursday, July 22, 2010. Caceda and 25 other members of the detachment returned to their home station after ten months in Tikrit Iraq.

FORT DRUM--Spc. Steve Freiberger, a rifleman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, fires his M-4 carbine during qualification on a Fort Drum range July 25 during his battalion’s Annual Training. Freiberger is a native of Stillwater. More than 1,000 27th Brigade Combat Team Soldiers are conducting Annual Training at Fort Drum.

FORT DRUM--New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Coon, a sniper section leader with the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, opens the door to a courtyard for his assault team Monday during tactics training here. The 2-108th and other elements of the 27th Brigade Combat Team are conducting Annual Training at Fort Drum.

SCHUYLERVILLE--A New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter operating out of Army Aviation Support Facility 3 at the Albany International Airport fills a "Bambi Bucket" in the Hudson River during fire fighting training conducted on Wednesday, July 28. New York Army National Guard helicopters stand read to support state and local fire services in fighting forest and grass fires during the summer months. Helicopter crews train regularly during the summer on the right way to fill one of the 660 gallon buckets and then practice manuevering to drop the water on a simulated fire.

ALBANY -- Service members who appear in Rumara Jewett’s original oil painting now on display at the NYS Military Museum and Veterans Research Center in Saratoga Springs include Logistics Specialist 1st Class James Savaria, USNR, Lt. Col. Robert Mitchell, NYARNG, Lt.Col. Kim Terpening, NYANG and Sgt. Brandon Lee Gibson, USMCR and N.Y. Naval Militia. The service members are posed close to their positions in the painting.

TROY-- New York Naval Militia patrol boat PB 230 conducts training in the Hudson River the week on July 30. The New York Naval Militia trains regularly in New York waterways to familiarize boat crews.

BEERSHEBA, Israel - New York Army National Guard Col. David Martinez, right, discusses chemical protection equipment and employment tactics with Dr. (Col.) Gady Sadovsky from the Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command and a member of the Home Front Command reserve chemical response battalion. Martinez, the Director of Domestic Operations for the New York National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters, was in Israel for Shared Future 2010, the bilateral military support to civil authorities training exercise between the National Guard Bureau and the Israeli Home Front Command.

COLONIE--New York Army National Guard Sgt. Linday Crabtree, a member of the 206th Military Police Company, visits on of the providcer tables during the 30-Da y Yellow Ribbin Reintegration Program event held for the unit at the Desmond Hotel during the July 31-August 1 weekend. More than 500 Soldiers and family members attended the event. The 206th MP Company returned from a tour in Iraq in June.

COLONIE--A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter of the New York Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation in Latham conducts a training run with the Firehawk fire fighting system over the Mohawk River on August 4. The unit practices water bucket and Firehawk operations annually in case they are need to support the civil authorities with fighting wild fires. The Firehawk allows the air crew to siphon 1000 gallons of water in about one minute and deliver it to the scene of a fire. The crew can control the rate of release based on the firefighters needs.

SMITHTOWN-- New York Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Nate Dean,a member of the 106th Maintenance Operations Flight, displays his first fluke of the day,during the annual Soldiers on the Sound fishing trip organized for military members by the Smithtown Bay Yacht Club on July 24. The fish had to be thrown back because it was too small to keep. Members of the 106th Rescue Wing, from F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, were the majority of participants for the event which paired the Airmen with civilians who took them on their boat to fish. The main fish the members sought to catch was the fluke. Out of the 18 boats which were deployed for the event only four regulation size fish were caught. The winning fluke was caught by SSgt. Derek Wallace, 106th Vehicle Maintenance, and it measured 4 lbs 3 ounces.

COEYMANS--New York Naval Militia Machinest Second Class Robert Hill mans Patrol Boat 230 during a joint operation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the Hudson River here on Wednesday, August 4. The Naval Militia patrol boat acted as a target for a DEC team on another boat simulating a check for radioactive emissions from a vessel in the river. The operation was part of Exercise Trojan Horse, a maritime security drill run by the State University of New York Maritime College in New York City

Maj. Gen James Kwiatkowski is pinned by his son 107th Airlift Wing Tech. Sgt. Andrew Kwiatkowski and his wife Ranea as his daughter Nicole Dabby looks on during a ceremony held Aug. 4 at Scott AFB. "This is a sacred trust and I will do my best to be effective in the trust placed in me today," the General said. Kwiatkowski, a former commander of the 107th, is the Director of Operations for the Headquarters New York Air National Guard and also serves as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, United States Transportation Command.

FORT DRUM--New York Army National Guard 1st Lt. Clint Davis, the executive officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, discusses the features of an XM-110 sniper rifle with Brig. Gen. Steven Wickstrom, commanding general of New York’s 42nd Infantry Division, during a visit to the 27th Brigade’s annual training at Fort Drum on July 30. The 27th Brigade Combat Team is currently conducting Anual Training at Fort Drum

FORT DRUM--New York Army National Guard Pvt. August Viehweger, an Auburn resident and a member of the 102nd Military Police Battalion uses compressed air to ensure his unit’s M249 Squad Assault Weapons are clean and dry following the previous days range firing, while working at the New York Mobilization and Training Equipment Site (MATES) here on Monday, August 9, 2010.

Soldiers from the 501st Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Battalion practice urban assault tactics during their pre-mobilization training Aug. 8, 2010 at Fort Drum, N.Y. The unit is preparing to mobilize and deploy to Iraq later this year.

FORT IRWIN, Calif. …ldquo; New York Army National Guard Pfc. Quanise Miller (left), finance specialist, 14th Finance Co., and Cpl. Christmally Torres (right), a supply specialist and New York native from the 369th Sustainment Brigade, collaborate to send up a mock nine-line medical evacuation request during a land navigation training exercise here on Aug. 10. The New York City-based 369th has elements going through Annual Training at the National Training Center here.

LATHAM-- Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, gets his new two-star rank pinned on by his mother, Carolyn Murphy, of Dike, Iowa. Murphy, whose promotion to state Major General was confirmed in March, delayed his pinning ceremony until his mother and other family members could be present.

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Sgt. James Ader from the 501st Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD) congratulates John Sidur after he was presented long overdue recognitions 65 years after his actions in the Pacific during WWII. Sidur, a lifelong Cohoes native a former member of the National Guard’s 27th Infantry Division, received his Purple Heart and New York State Conspicuous Service Star for actions on Okinawa during a family ceremony here August 15. Both Soldiers served in upstate New York’s 105th Infantry Regiment. Ader continues the lineage of the infantry regiment after reorganization this decade into the 501st EOD.

FORT IRWIN, Calif.-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1569th Transportation Company, based in New Windsor, N.Y., at the National Training Center secure pallets of sports drinks on a flatbed truck. The 1569th brought supplies to a forward-operating base outside the safe zone as part of a convoy with the 298th Transportation Company, based in Franklin, Pa., and the 758th Maintenance Company. The 1569th and other units of the 369th Sustainment Brigade are conducting their Annual Training at the National Training Center here.

MEADOWLANDS STADIUM, EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery’s Headquarters Battery, Battery A and Battery B assist during the preseason exhibition game opener Aug. 16, 2010, displaying the American Flag on the field alongside military personnel from the active Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The military servicemen and women appeared before a crowd of more than 80,000 fans who later watched the Giants " Big Blue" defeat the Jets "Gang Green" 31-16.

NEW YORK HARBOR-- Officers from the National Guards of New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands pose before the Statue of Liberty during a security tour of New York Harbor conducted by the New York Naval Militia on Tuesday, August 17. Officers from the National Guards of Federal Emergency Management Administration Region II gathered at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn this week to plan for the creation of a regional Homeland Response Force; a National Guard team that could respond to chemical, biological, and radiological attacks within the area.

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT--Members of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard carry the remains of United States Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Ray Fletcher from a plane to a waiting hearse Wednesday, Aug. 18 during an honorable transfer of remains ceremony here. Fletcher and three others were killed in 1944 when the B-25 medium bomber he was piloting crashed into a mountainside on the Mediterranian Island of Corsica. His remains were finally recovered in 1995 and identified in 2009. Fletcher will be interred in Essex Junction, Vermont.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--Airman 1st Class Dan James, a loadmaster from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing answers questions from Capitol Region media about the return of the units LC-130 aircraft from earthquake torn New Zealand. James recalled the feeling of being in an earthquake and described the powerful sensation and sounds that he experience that day. The 109th deploys each year to Antarctica in support of Operation DEEP FREEZE and uses Christchurch New Zealand as deployed duty location to launch aircraft to and from McMurdo Station Antarctica. This aircraft made the 11,000 mile journey home on March 1st 2011.

Janet Marie Conte (center) receives the Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher from Lt. Col. Michael Hoblin, commander of the 1-258 Field Artillery at the Saint Barbara&rsquot; Day Celebration in Jamaica, N.Y., February 22, 2011 for her dedication to her husband, Lt. Col. Paul Conte, during his many years in service to the Field Artillery community.

CROWN POINT-- A New York Naval Milita patrol boat monitors boat traffic moving through the construction site where a new bridge linking New York and Vermont is being constructed on Saturday, Aug. 21. The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs provided the boat at the request of the United States Coast Guard which is enforcing a special navigation zone during the construction of the new bridge

NIAGARA FALLS--Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 136th Airlift Squadron float in the waters of Lake Ontario during a biannual training exercise that teaches aircrew water survival skills in the event of an in-water- emergency. Aircrew members practiced deploying signal devices, such as smoke flares, beacons and flare guns and then took a short ride compliments of the United States Coast Guard, Station Niagara, to deploy their life vests and swim to the awaiting life raft where they mastered entry techniques and deployment of the protective canopy.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh - 105th Galaxy Camp students wave to attract attention as New York Air National Guard Major Bruno Gaita, demonstrates ‘popping’ colored identification smoke. The three day camp provides a opportunity for children to learn about what their parents and family members do for the Air National Guard.

LATHAM--Chief Warrant Officer 5 Charles Rodda speaks to members of the Albany press corps about his experiences providing relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina during a Thursday, June 26 pres briefing at Army Aviation Support Facility 3 here. New York Army National Guard aviators, along with members of the 109th Airlift Wing, talked about their experiences as the fifth anniversary of the hurricane approaches. Other Army National Guard aviators did the same thing at press events in Rochester and Ronkonkoma.

NEW YORK CITY-- New York Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Jeff Hansen, a platoon leader in New York’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield, a state active duty security force that operates in New York City, briefs Gen. Craig McKinley, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau on his team’s mission at Grand Central Station August 26, 2010. McKinley, the highest ranking officer in the National Guard, was in New York City to visit city emergency management officials, see the New York National Guard’s task force in action and give a speech.

ROCHESTER -- Sergeant First Class John Bobeck, Detachment 1, Company B, 126th Aviation talks to local media about his and the 126th’s experiences when they were sent to Louisiana to respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the 5th anniversary date of the catastrophic event. Bobeck is one of three remaining members of the 126th which also includes Chief Warrant Officer Jim Hall from the 169th Aviation and Staff Sgt. Daniel Krebs from the 126th. "We saw the devastation first hand and it was like a giant hand had swept everything away." Hall said.

TARRYTOWN - New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey addresses Soldiers of the 37th Finance Detachment during the organization’s Yellow Ribbon Reintegration program here Aug. 28. More than 45 Soldiers and family members attended the event that provides Citizen Soldiers and their families with access to information about services all related to the transition from Soldier back to Citizen. "This weekend is all about you and your family," Swezey told the group.

CAMP NATURAL BRIDGE, West Point -- Sergeant Daniel Dukin, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, spent a hot day knocking down targets from the kneeling position at one of West Points Qualification ranges on Saturday, Aug. 28. along with most of the Brigade. For all photos taken of this training event, please click on the Facebook icon and see folder West Point Qualification Range.

New York--New York Army National Guard Soldiers pose with comedian Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at the studios of Comedy Central in Manhattan in front of an M1117 Armored Security Vehicle which was used in the opening of Colbert’s Sept. 8 program saluting US troops. They are (from left) Capt. Shawn Tabankin, Staff Sgt. Kent Theobald, Sgt. Josuha Flint, and Spec. Jeffrey Vucich. Theobald, Flint, and Vucich participated with Colbert in a segement which opened his Sept. 8 program which saluted troops who served in Iraq. Tabankin also appeared on the program.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The New York National Guard’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy dedicates a memorial wreath with Gold Star Mother Mary Burgen during the Veteran’s Day Ceremony here at the New York State Fair Sept. 2.

CROWN POINT--Chief Petty Officer Wayne Hurlburt mans the helm of a patrol boat on the waters between Crown Point, NY and Chimney Point, Vt on Lake Champlain Sept. 4. as a ferry transports its passengers to the Vermont border. New York Naval Militia Patrol boats provided assistance to the United States Coast Guard and local law enforcement on four weekends in August and September in slowing down boats passing through the location where a new bridge linking Vermont and New York is being built.

Westhampton Beach-- Local officials, leaders and members of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing cut the ribbon formally opening the Wing’s new 38,000 square foot building housing the "Guardian Angels" pararescue teams on Sunday, Sept. 12.

LATHAM -- Kacie Ost, daughter of Staff Sgt. George Ost and Landon Saunders, son of Spc. Stepanie Saunders (shown), get behind the controls of an OH-58A Kiowa helicopter at Army Aviation Support Facility 3 in Latham on Sunday, Sept. 12. during a tour of the facility. The 42nd CAB was enjoying a Family Day event sponsored by the CAB’s Family Readiness Group, which included a barbecue at Watervliet Arsenal. To view photos of family day, please click on the 42nd CAB Facebook.

LATHAM--New York Army National Guard Sgt. Kevin Ressler steadies the tail of an OH-58 Kiowa assigned to Detachment 1, Co. A, 1st Battalion 224 Security and Support Aviation on Monday, Sept. 13 as he and other maintainers prepare the aircraft for a flight to Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh. Ressler, and four other members of the detachment, will accompany the aircraft to the Africa Aerospace and Defense Exposition 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa. The helicopter was flown to Stewart ANGB on Tuesday, Sept. 14, to be loaded on board a giant C-5A Galaxy belonging to the 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard. That aircraft is due to depart for South Africa on Wednesday, Sept. 15. An HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter and members of the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard is also participating in the air show, as are vehicles provided by the 53rd Troop Command. About 75 New York Soldiers and Airmen are participating.

QUEENSBURY SOLDIER READINESS CENTER -- A Soldier from the New York Army National Guard’s 466th Area Support Medical Company competes with a visitor here Sept. 11 during the readiness center Interactive Gaming Experience. The event, free to the public, encouraged gaming enthusiasts to visit the new National Guard Soldier Readiness Center and learn more about the National Guard and career opportunities with the 466th or the 1427th Medium Truck Company based here. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coon.

EAST SYRACUSE--Major General Patrick Murphy (far left) the Adjutant General, discusses issues surrounding support to civil authorities with (from left, Col. Doug Mills, the Emergency Preparedness Liasion Officer from the Army for New York; New York Naval Militia Capt. Mark Woolley, and Thomas LaCrosse, the director of Defense Support of Civil Authorities for the Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense; during the New York National Guard’s annual Domestic Operations Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at the DoubleTree Hotel here. The annual meeting brings together key leaders and joint task force commanders from across the New York Military Forces to refine plans for aiding local and state government when directed to do so by the governor.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH--Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing oversee the loading of an HH-60 Pavehawk Helicopter onto a C-17 Globemaster II cargo plane at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, Tuesday. The Pavehawk and more than 20 members of the 106th Rescue Wing are departing for Cape Town, South Africa to participate in Africa’s largest air show as part of the New York National Guard’s State Partnership Program with the South African military. While there, the wing will also be participating in joint search and rescue training while in South Africa.

CAMP SMITH-- New York Guard Staff Sgt Jonathan Peebles models the new uniform being worn by members of New York’s state defense force. The modified Army Combat Uniform features a distinctive New York flag patch, black ranger cap, and gray sewn-on name and service tapes to differentiate this uniform from that worn by members of the Army National Guard. New York Guard members had been wearing uniforms based on the Army Battle Dress Uniform which was phased out beginning in 2005. Stocks of that uniform are no longer easily obtainable.

LATHAM -- Aviators from Army Aviation Support Facilities (AASF) 1, Ronkonkoma and 3, Latham conduct joint AASF rescue hoist operation training in an effort to qualify aircrews on aerial hoist operations to increase avaition facility response to domestic response needs that require a rescue hoist. Training was conducted by members from AASF 2, Rochester. The initial training was with a dummy load, and live loads being conducted in the afternoon and later that night using Night Vision Goggles.

SYRACUSE--Staff Sgt. Anthony Burgess (center), a master gunner instructor with Charlie company, Warrior Training Center, Ft. Benning, GA, instructs Sgt. Peter Hyland, the unit administrator for 1st Detachment, Headquarters and headquarters company, 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, on the new .50 caliber individual gunnery trainer Sept. 15, 2010 at the 27th armory, Syracuse, NY.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA--New York Army National Guard Soldiers from Detachment 1, Alpha Co, 1-224 Aviation Security and Support Battalion, unload an OH-58 Kiowa from a C-5a operated by the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing on Friday Sept.17 at Air Force Base Ysterplaat here. The crew, based at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 in Latham is participating in the African Aerospace Defence Exposition 2010. Seventy members of the New York Air and Army National Guard are participating in the exposition,which kicked off on Sept. 21. The New York National Guard is paired with South Africa through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA--Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing from Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., unload an HH-60 Pavehawk from a C-17 Globemaster III at Air Force Base Ysterplaat, South Africa Saturday Sept 18. The Pavehawk and Air Guard Airmen will participate at at the Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD) 2010 exhibition. The event begins Sept. 21 in Cape Town and is Africa’s premier aerospace, general aviation, defense and security expo that includes a world class air show, dynamic vehicle demonstrations and many other static displays. More than 70 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard are participating in the event. The New York National Guard conducts joint training with South Africa through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. The C-17 Globemaster III known as Heavy Airlift Wing or HAW, from Papa Air Base, Hungary, routinely supports European Union, NATO and U.N. missions with a strategic airlift and global reach capability.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa--New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Noble an aviator with Det 1 A Co 1-224 Aviation Security and Support Battalion flies an OH-58 Kiowa during a demonstration flight here on Sunday, Sept 19. The Army National Guard is participating with other Military forces throughout the world at Air Force Base Ysterplaat, South Africa at the Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD) 2010 exhibition. The New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing has an HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopter on display at the event.

FORT DRUM--Lt. Col. Mike Hoblin, commander of the 1st Battalion 258th Field Artillery christens an M-119 howitzer belonging to B Battery of during live fire training at the Fort Drum artillery range September 16-19 before sending the first round downrange. This weekend drill was the battalion’s first live fire exercise with its new 105 millimeter guns. The new modern artillery pieces replace the M-102 howitzer’s the battalion had been using.

WASHINGTON -- New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Steven Wickstrom, commander of the National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division, greets Spc. Ryan Braman during a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center Sept. 16. Wickstrom and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Jenks were at Walter Reed to meet with wounded Soldiers from the division’s combat brigades from New York, New Jersey and New England aligned for training with the 42nd Infantry Division. Braman, a Soldier from the 101st Airborne Division from Lafayette, Ind. wears a Boston Red Sox baseball t-shirt, which caught the attention of Wickstrom, an Upton, Mass. resident. Wickstrom learned that Braman’s ties to the Red Sox extend to a friendship with Casey Fisk of Byron Center, Mi., son of the former Red Sox great Carlton Fisk. Courtesy photo.

FORT DRUM-- A team from the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team sends a Javelin anti-tank missile downrange during new equipment training here on Thursday, Sept. 23. Sixty-one Soldiers participated in the live-fire exercise as the 27th gears up for a possible deployment to Afghanistan. The Javelin is the Army’s latest generation infantry anti-tank weapon, capable of knocking out a tank, or busting a bunker more than two kilometers away.

FORT SNELLING, MN--Members of the New York National Guard’s Military Forces Honor Guard participate in a standing proficiency drill during the 2010 Army National Guard Honor Guard Competition at Fort Snelling, Minn. The drill tested their ability in maintaining military bearing and rifle movements. The New York team bested seven other competitors in the grueling, week long, competition which was judged by members of the Third Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, who perform funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

WRIGHT PATERSON AFB, Ohio--Eight New York Air National Guard members who participated in the 14the annual Air Force Marathon at Wright Paterson Air Force Base, Ohio on Saturday. Sept. 18, pose for a photo after the race. Pictured are, from left first row: Master Sgt. Kristy Stearns, Esperance; Master Sgt. Shannon Pingitore, Fort Edward; Master Sgt. Linda Peters, West Monroe, and Senior Master Sgt. Ann Miller, Greenwich. In the back row are, from left: Senior Master Sgt. Donna Roper, Mechanicville; Lt. Col Tammy Street, Clifton Park; Master Sgt. Kimberly Bowman; Universal City, Texas; and Senior Master Sgt. Terry Potter, Fort Edward. All but Peters and Bowman are assigned to Headquarters New York Air National Guard in Latham. Peters is assigned to the 174th Fighter Wing in Syracuse and Bowman is assigned on active duty in Texas. Not pictured is Lt. Col. Emily Derosier a member of the 106th Rescue Wing from Westhampton Beach, Long Island. 12,000 runners took part in the race. Participants were allowed to compete in a half marathon or a full marathon.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh - New York Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Jackson shows Maj Gen Kenneth Merchant, the Director of Logistics for Air Mobility Command, examples of C-5 cargo bay brackets fabricated by the mechanics of the 105th Airlift Wing. The brackets are due to become standard for the entire C-5 fleet.

CAPETOWN, South Africa--Members of the 106th Rescue Wing from F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, N.Y. took part in the African Aerospace and Defense Exposition 2010 at Air Force Base Ysterplaat in Cape Town, South Africa, on Sept. 24, 2010. The event featured an HH-60 and crew from the 101st Rescue Squadron, Guardian Angels from the 103rd Rescue Squadron and maintenance crew from the 106th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

NEW YORK CITY-- A member of the New York National Guard’s 24th Civil Support Team boards the State University of New York Maritime Academy’s training vessel Empire State from New York Naval Militia Patrol Boat PB 400 during a training exercise on Tuesday, Sept. 28. The members of the Civil Support Team, or CST, are trained to identify the presence of chemical, radiological, or biological weapons or materials. The exercise tested the ability of the CST to work with the Naval Militia and accomplish a mission on the New York City Waterfront.

MENANDS-- Brig. Gen. Renwick Payne ( left) the Director of Joint Staff and Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt place a wreath at the grave of President Chester Arthur in Albany Rural Cemetery on Oct. 5; which would have been the president’s 181st birthday. The New York National Guardsmen were representing President Barack Obama and honoring a former president on his birthday. Military units around the nationa fulfill this duty on the birthdates of former presidents. School Children from Menands also attended the presentation.

A Soldier at Fort Rucker, Ala., trained as a voting assistance officer, signs in to receive his instructional books for the Federal Voting Assistance Program held in February, 2010. As part of the effort to ensure that National Guard members are able to vote when deployed overseas, the New York State Board of Elections established a new webpage to allow military and overseas voters to obtain general election ballots by email in addition to the existing fax and mail options. The program, found at www.elections.state.ny.us and clicking the link for "Military & Overseas Voters," complies with the MOVE Act (Military & Overseas Voters Empowerment). For more information about the FVAP, or help with absentee voting, call (800) 438-8683.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh - The first production C-5M Super Galaxy is towed into inspection stands here early Thursday morning Oct 7. Aircraft maintainers of the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing are performing an annual inspection that incorporates restoration work to the inspection program. This Total Force effort consisting of Air Guard, Reserves, Active Duty and contractors will result in interior standardization and a new look for this aircraft and eventually for the entire C-5 fleet.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE -New York Air National Guard aircraft maintainers of the 105th Airlift Wing refurbish the flight deck of the first production C-5M. This Total Force effort consisting of Air Guard, Reserves, Active Duty and contractors will result in interior standardization and a new look for this aircraft and eventually for the entire C-5 fleet.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia--An LC-130 belonging to the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing roars down the runway here on Friday, Oct. 15 as it heads for Antarctica. The plane and its seven-member crew are the first of six ski-equipped C-130s that will spend the 16-week Antarctic summer transporting people and equipment around the southern continent in support of the National Science Foundation.

GUILDERLAND, NY--New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Angel Ocasio, a member of the 1427th Transportation Co. from Glens Falls, assists Pvt. 1st Class Michael Ellsworth, a Co, C, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry from Hudson Falls, develop a firm firing stance from a kneeling position, during weapons training at the Guilderland Weekend Training Site, Oct 15. Ellsworth is preparing for a South African Military Skills Competition in Pastrami, South Africa, Nov. 8-14.

FORT DRUM,NY--Private First Class Sixto Flete, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Batter, 1st battalion, 258 Field Artillery from New York City, and operator of the ANTMQ-52B Profiler, performs a system check on the computer and radio systems of the weather truck during the unit’s live fire missions October 15, 2010 at Fort Drum, NY. The Profiler provides the fire direction center with enhanced data collection and automated analysis of current weather conditions.

WEST POINT--Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, and Major General Robert Wolf ( right) the commander of the New York Naval Militia congratulate retiring Naval Militia Captain Robert Pouch during a retirement ceremony on Friday, Oct. 15 at the United States Military Academy here. Pouch, who served as deputy operations director for the New York Naval Militia was retiring after XXX years of service.

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Greg Dreisbach, commander of New York’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield briefs current operations to Brig. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, Deputy Director of the Army National Guard during a brief two-day visit to New York Oct. 18-19. Kadavy spent time at the New York National Guard’s MATES site at Fort Drum, a tour of Camp Smith and a visit with the joint security forces of Task Force Empire Shield in New York City. Photo by 1st Lt. Mark Getman, 1-258th Field Artillery.

QUEENSBURY -- Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadet Tracy Pauquette, right, directs New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Adam Barber where to establish security following a mock attack during training Oct. 23. The two were part of a field training exercise at the Soldier Readiness Center here to prepare cadets from the State University of New York Adirondack Community College for future leadership roles. Six Army National Guard Soldiers from the Glens Falls area volunteered their time to support the cadet training, acting as squad leaders or infantrymen for the officers-in-training. For more imagery, visit the Queensbury Army National Guard Recruiting page at www.facebook.com. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coon, Recruiting and Retention Command.

SCOTIA--New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Shawn Nethaway and his family watch the activities at the farewell ceremony for the 501st Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) held on Monday, Oct. 25 at Stratton Air National Guard Base here. The 501st will deploy to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor-- Area emergency responders work on a Soldier simulating a car accident victim during an emergency preparedness drill conducted here on Saturday, Oct. 23. The exercise involved personnel from Camp Smith Training Site, 106th Regional Training Institute, The 727 MP Co. Force Protection personnel from Task Force Empire Shield, the Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Continental Village Fire Department, Lifenet of NY, the Peekskill Office of Emergency Management and Garrison Ambulance Corps. The exercise tested the ability of Camp Smith personnel to work with local first responders.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh - Chief Master Sgts’ William Eason and Charles Hamlett, from the United States Air Force Reserve visit the 105th Airlift Wing for a firsthand look at reconditioning progress on the first production C-5M Super Galaxy. This Total Force effort consisting of Air Guard, Reserves, Active Duty and contractors will result in interior standardization and a new look for this aircraft and eventually for the entire C-5 fleet.

NEW YORK - The Wounded Warrior Project has have been fortunate enough to be contacted by the New York Mets. They have asked the New York National Guard to help them with their amazing program," Welcome Back Veterans". The Mets would like to honor Soldiers and their family members that have served in the United States Military. Pictured are Sgt. Donald Leinfelder, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, his wife Megan and children Patrick(7) and Joseph(3).

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE-- New York Army National Guard Spec Casey Monahan, a member of A Troop 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry, grapples with Isac Chavez, a Brown Belt Assistant Instructor at the Cutting Edge Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School, during the Army Basic Combatives course held here on October 27. Chavez is the 2010 no Gi Pan-American Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and was brought in as a guest instructor for the course. 12 Soldiers from across the New York Army National Guard attended the train-the-trainer course conducted by the 106th Regional Training Insitute. These Soldiers will go back to their home units to pass along the combat survival skills they learned.

AUBURN--Lt. Col. Arthur Zegers receives the colors of the 102nd Military Police Battalion from Col. Reginald Sanders, commander of the 153rd Troop Command during change of command ceremonies at the New York State Armory here on Oct. 16. The battalion is the headquarters for the 206th, 107th, 105th and 222nd Military Police Companies.

ROME--New York Air National Guardsmen and Canadian Forces members from the Eastern Air Defense Sector provide a bi-national honor guard, Nov 3, for the home ice opener of Rome’s new minor league hockey team.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh--Members from the 105th Maintenance Squadron, of the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing tour and receive briefings on capabilities of the reconditioned C-5M Super Galaxy Nov. 5, 2010. A ceremony was held here to mark the completion of reconditioning on the C-5M Super Galaxy. The Joint Air Force effort to recondition the interior of the modernized C-5, lef by the 105th, resulted in a standard pattern that all C-5Ms will follow.

QUEENSBURY--New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt Adam Barber, a member of Recruiting and Retention Command, shows members of the New York Army National Guard’s Recruit Sustainment Program the proper way to move through an obstacle during training here on Saturday, Nov. 6, a recruit Josh Ziter(right) covers him. Army National Guard recruits are enrolled in the Recruit Sustainment Program while they wait to go to basic training.

ROCHESTER -New York Army National Guard Capt, Eric Fritz took command of New York’s heavy lift helicopter from Capt. Christopher Gagliardo on Saturday Nov. 6 during a Change of Command Ceremony at the Patriot Way Armory here. Gagliardo led Detachment 1 Company B of the 3rd Battalion 126th Aviation Regiment for the past four years, which included a deployment to Afghanistan. The unit also won the Army Aviation Association of America Unit of the Year award for the 126th’s success during Operation Enduring Freedom 07-09. Gagliardo led an inexperience unit to Afghanistan, flying CH-47’s in the most demanding conditions in the world and returning all Soldiers home safely. The regiment is headquartered in Maryland.

FORT DRUM--New York National Guard Sgt. Jason Beckwith services a 10 K generator during 27th Brigade Combat Team training on the Standardized Integrated Command Post System conducted at Fort Drum the weekend of Nov. 5-6. Training on the new system required brigade soldiers to learn how to set up new improved DRASH (Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter) tents, and operate new communications systems, computers and support equipment. The brigade is schedule to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012.

WEST POINT--Brig. Gen. Steven Wickstrom, Commanding General of the 42nd Infantry Division, addresses members of the Rainbow Division Veteran’s Memorial Foundation, Soldiers of the Division and West Point Cadets after laying the Division’s "Rainbow" wreath at the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Memorial here Nov. 12, 2010. Wickstrom and retired Command Sgt. Major Martin Allen placed the wreath during the time-honored tradition that paid tribute to one of America’s most historic military leaders.

CAMP SMITH--New York Army National Guard Pvt. Daiamy Osario, a New York City resident and a member of the 204th Engineer Battalion’s mess section, prepares vegetables to accompany a turkey dinner the cooks made on Saturday. Nov. 13, as they competed to earn the Philip A. Connelly Award of Excellence in Army Food Service. The mess team from the Binghamton-based battalion, prepared a dinner with all the trimmings for the battalion’s Soldiers conducting weekend training here. They were graded on their ability to produce a hot, tasty meal to the Army standard in field conditions. The New York Army National Guard Soldiers are competing against five other mess sections to be the best in the Army National Guard.

Potchefstroom,South Africa--Five members of the New York National Guard’s Company C 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, who represented the United States Army at the South African National Military Skills Competition here pose with South African Col William Alberts, (center) the director of the event. The New York Soldiers are (from left) Sgt . David Hansen, from Melrose, NY;Staff Sgt Jeffery Dorvee from Queensbury, NY; Pvt. 1st Class Michael Ellsworth, from Hudson Falls, NY; Sgt 1st Class Troy Mechanick from Hudson Falls, NY; and Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Orabona from Ballston Lake, NY. The Americans finished in 5th place out of 22 teams at the annual event.

FORT RUCKER, Ala. - Warrant Officers John Hermanson and Chris Seeger represented the New York Army National Guard with distinction on Nov. 9, both receiving the distinguished honor graduate certificate for the Initial Entry Rotary Wing course. They attended flight school for the past 12-16 months and have put countless hours of hard work and sacrifice into this accomplishment. The class consisted of 34 officers, both commissioned and warrant and only four officers were awarded distinguished honor graduate. Hermanson is assigned to Detachment 1, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment (Kongs) and will be flying a CH-47D (Chinook). Seeger is assigned to Co. F, 1st Bn., 169th Air Ambulance and will be flying a UH-6 (Blackhawk). Also in this graduating class was 1st Lt. James M. Hasan who is assigned to Co. B, 3rd Bn., 142nd Assualt Helicopter Battalion and will also be flying a UH-60.

Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and New York Guard members familiar with the New York National Guard website can easily spot links for the New York National Guard on social media such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or Flickr. Those icons are right along the top of the agency’s website at www.dmna.state.ny.us. But what’s with that little red envelope?

SCHOHARIE-- A WTEN Channel 10 news team films members of the New York Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation as they conduct sling load training here on Thursday, November 18. The helicopter crew trained using a 5700 lb. block of concrete to simulate as a load.

POMONA-- New York National Guardsmen practice evacuating the victim of a terrorist attack from a contaminated environment at the Rockland County Fire Training Center here on Saturday, Nov. 20. Almost 500 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard, along with volunteers of the New York Guard, the state defense force participated in the weekend exercise along with civilian first responders. The training event tested the skills of the Guard force that is specially trained to rescue victims from contaminated buildings, decontaminate them, and provide medical treatment, and also exercised New York National Guard command and control systems and logistics.

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Major James Gonyo II accepts the colors of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry from Col. Geoffrey Slack (right), commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, during Change of Command ceremonies at the Lexington Avenue Armory on Saturday, Nov. 20. Gonyo accepted command of the battalion from Lt. Col. John Andonie. Gonyo who received his commission in Fort Benning, Ga., also received his Bronze Star in Iraq. During his 19-year military career, he has served in a variety of assignments, including tactical officer for the NYNG’s Officer Candidate School and commander of the NYNG Counterdrug Task Force, among others.

NEW YORK CITY--New York City--Pvt. Stephen Perez, a New York Army National Guard member assigned to Joint Task Foce Empire Shield patrols at Penn Station during start of Thanksgiving travel on November 23, 2010. Joint Task Force Empire Shield augments the security work of New York Police Department and other civilian law enforcement agencies in the city. The more than 200 members of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the New York National Guard’s standing security force in New York City, will be joining the New York Police Department, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police and other law enforcement agencies in security arrangements aimed at protecting holiday travelers.

BUFFALO--The six newest members of the New York Air National Guard take the oath of enlistment Sunday morning during a pre-game ceremony at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the home-base of the Buffalo Bills. The ceremony for the new recruits of the 107th Airlift Wing was played during halftime on the Jumbotron for the fans to see. Lt. Col. James Hoch swore in( from left to right) Airmen 1st class Daniel Tremblett, Cara Sturdivant, Keith McArthur, Christina Swanson, Joshua Velez and Joanna Vail.

WAKELY MOUNTAIN, N.Y. -- Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Army Aviation Support Facility 3 based in Latham airlift pre-constructed platforms for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on Nov. 29 at this remote area of the Adirondack Mountains. The airlifted platforms will allow the DEC to eventually construct a heli-pad as well as a repeater radio station on top of the mountain that will be used by the DEC and other state agencies. Each platform section weighed more than 2000 pounds and were constructed in Colorado and flatbed delivered to the Adirondacks.

ROCHESTER--Kentucky National Guard members, Capt. Cliff Flanagan, 63rd Theatre Aviation Brigade, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gustavo Grande, of Bravo Company 2 Battalion, 147 Aviation Regiment, pre-flight a New York National Guard CH-47D Chinook during training conducted in Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 18, 2010.

GLENVILLE--Sgt. 1st Class Michael Horner a member of the 1108th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) is all smiles after greeting his family after returning from Operation New Dawn.Bases in Kuwait the 1108th mobilized lastDedcember and supervised eight EOD Teams that were spread between three countries in the region.

WEST POINT-- A New York Guard Honor Guard prepares to open the festivities on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the state volunteer defense force’s annual Holiday Dinner. The New York Guard is an all-volunteer force that augments and assists the New York Army and Air National Guard at the direction of the Adjutant General.

LATHAM -- Sergeant Major David Bimber, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade retired after 42 long and faithful years of service to the New York Army National Guard on Sunday, Dec. 5 at the state headquarters in Latham. His retirement acknowledgment preceded the CAB’s annual holiday party held on the drill shed floor. For these and other holiday party photos, go to the CAB’s Facebook photo section.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--New York Air National Guard Master Sgt Kerri Booth, a Loadmaster with the 109th Airlift Wing,explains duties onboard her units LC130 Hercules aircraft to members of a South African National Defence Force Reserves delegation on Sunday, Dec.5. The South Africans toured the base and the unit’s LC130 ski equipped Hercules aircraft. The 109th Airlift Wing supports the National Science Foundation by deploying every year to Antarctica bringing important cargo 11,000 miles to the bottom of the world. Pictured are (from left) South African Rear Admiral Earnst Penzhorn, Director of Naval Reserves; Booth; South African Major Gen. Roy Andersen, Chief of Defence Force Reserves; Brig. Gen. Isaac Osborne, Deputy Commander of U.S. Army Africa; and Brig. Gen.Gen Susan Molefe,Director of Defence Reserves.

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. -- Specialist Jeremy Southcott, Pfc. Timothy Strong and Sgt. Glen Follett check and refill oil in a "Shadow" aircraft during routine maintenance. The Soldiers are New York Army National Guard members of Detachment 1 (Unmanned Aerial Surveillance), Company B (Military Intelligence), 27th Special Troops Battalion. The UAS Detachment was organized in 2009 and was at Camp Shelby for the past two months to train on and acquire the new surviallance aircraft. Currently, Det. 1 is at more than 75 percent trained and ready to take on a war fighter mission according to Chief Warrant Officer Ronny Blatchford.

CORNWALL, N.Y. -“ New York Air National Guard 1st Sgt. Jasmin Roman of the 105th Logistics Readiness Squadron grabs a tree for the Troops at Farmside Acres tree farm Dec. 3. The program helps provide Christmas trees to families of activated service members. Airmen from the 105th Airlift Wing helped load the trees for shipment.

ROME--Workers put a a restored F-4 Phantom II jet onto its pedestal Dec. 10 at the Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome. Perched on a pedestal 15 feet above a small pond at the facility’s southwest edge, the imposing 47-year-old F-4 Phantom jet demands attention.“The elevated pedestal is a fitting place of honor for an aircraft that served its country for more than four decades,� said Col. John Bartholf, EADS Commander. “The display adds to our facility’s visual appeal, while reminding the public and our staff of the Air Force’s proud history.�

TROY, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Steven Wickstrom, left and Pvt. 1st Class Kevin Adams mark the Dec. 13, 1636 birthday of the National Guard with a ceremonial cake in front of Soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters here during a unit drill Dec. 11. The two Soldiers represent the most senior and most junior representatives of the command to honor the anniversary of the National Guard’s creation. The National Guard celebrates 374 years of service to state and nation on Monday, Dec. 13. Photo by Sgt. John Smith, 42nd Infantry Division.

LATHAM-- New York Army National Guard PFC George Wade, at 19-years old the youngest Soldier present, and 92-year old John Sidur, a New York Army National Guard veteran of the World War II battles of Okinawa and Saipan, cut the National Guard Birthday Cake on Monday, Dec. 13, during a ceremony at Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters here. Traditionally the oldest Soldier and youngest Soldier join in cutting the birthday cake. Wade, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade joined the National Guard in 2009. Sidur enlisted in 1940 shortly before the National Guard was mobilized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served for five years.

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Airman 1st Class Brian Alfano (right) a member of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing and Staff Sgt. Andrew Dunn, a member of the Air Force Reserve, display the unit insignia of the 22nd Training Squadron’s survival, evasion, resistance and escape course following their graduation here Dec. 2. The course was specially tailored so Guard and Reserve SERE specialists could receive training comparable to their active duty counterparts. Dunn is from the Air Force Reserve Command’s 514th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

LATHAM -- Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, presents the Honor Guard of the Year Award to Spec. Jarad Fatigate, a member of the 1569th Transportation Company who lives in Sherman, Conn. The award, dedicated to the memory of Sgt. David Rostum, an Honor Guard member who was killed in action while serving in Iraq with the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, requires members to demonstrate proficiency in funeral detail duties, the manual of arms, and physical fitness, and to pass a board exam on general military and military funeral procedures. Honor Guard members from across the state compete for the honor. Spec. Alisha Somma, a member of the 466th Area Support Medical Company from Waterford, NY was the first runner-up while Spec. Robert Jayne, a member of the 204th Engineer Battalion from Maine, NY was the second runner-up. The New York Military Forces Honor Guard provides funeral services at almost 10,000 funerals for eligible veterans annually and a New York Honor Guard Team won first place at this year’s National Guard honor guard competition.

LATHAM--Allan Attwell, President of the Capital District Chapter of the Battle of the Bulge Veterans thanks Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General, for speaking to his group on Thursday, Dec. 16, the 66th anniversary of the start of that major World War II battle. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle in the history of the U.S. Army and several New York National Guard units including the 258th, 991st, 186th and 187th and the 955th Field Artillery Battalions and the 801st and 802nd Tank Destroyer Battalions fought in the Ardennes Campaign in world War II. Mr. Attwell served as an infantryman with the 28th Infantry Division’s 109th Infantry Regiment.

New York City-- New York Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Michael Lalonde, a member of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, keeps an eye out for anything out of the ordinary at Pennsylvania Station here on Dec.22. Members of the New York National Guard’s security task force in New York City will be on duty over the Christmas weekend to assist law enforcement and other security agencies.

QUEENSBURY,NY--More than 320 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, veterans, military family members and friends from the community pour from the Queensbury Guard Armory on Christmas Eve Morning for an Annual Road March in remembrance of deployed military members over the holidays. It was the largest turn out since the effort began in 2003 and included one area member of the New York Army National Guard home on leave from Iraq -- Specialist Ashley Towers from Corinth.

NEW YORK - New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Michael Hoblin, left, commander of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery in Jamaica, presents the Saint Barbara Order of the Field Artillery to Marisol DeJesus, mother of Sgt. Dayana Portela here Dec. 11. Portela posthumously received the Saint Barbara award after passing away suddenly from a rare form of cancer at the age of 27 on Oct. 26, 2010. Portela distinguished herself as a Supply Clerk and Armorer assigned to Company G, 427th Forward Support Battalion in support of the field artillery battalion. She demonstrated exemplary performance of her duties by recently completing over 15 lateral transfers, moving over 1 million dollars worth of equipment, relaying and recording all logistical operations that was vital to the success of the unit. Portela was also a serving Soldier with Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the New York National Guard’s standing security task force in New York City. Portela served in a key position as a Force Protection Specialist to support the unit mission to detect, deter, and prevent potential terrorist operations. The 258th Field Artillery family assistance center in the unit armory was also dedicated in Portela’s honor during the award presentation. Photo by 1st Lt. Mark Getman, 1-258th Field Artillery.

LATHAM,NY--The 130 members of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard provided military honors at the funerals of more than 10,000 New York veterans and Soldiers in 2010. A team of New York Military Forces Honor Guard members also took first place in the National Guard’s annual honor guard competition held in September 2010 at Fort Snelling, Minn. In this picture a New York Military Forces Honor Guard team carries the casket of New York Army National Guard 1st Lt. Joseph Theinert, who was killed in action in Afghanistan while serving with the 10th Mountain Division.

NEW YORK--New York Air National Guard Senior Airman Holly Niro, a member of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, watches for suspicious activity at Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, on New Year’s Eve. Members of the New York National Guard’s security task force in New York City will be on duty throughout New Year’s celebrations to assist law enforcement and other security agencies protect New York State citizens and interests.

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Spec. Ahmed Cuffee, from Harlem, keeps watch in Pennsylvania Station on New Year’s Eve 2010 as part of the stepped up security precautions in New York City. Cuffee is a member of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the New York National Guard’s standing security augmentation force in New York City.

LATHAM-- Bobsledder Justin Olsen, who won a Gold Medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics as a member of a four-man bobsled team, takes the oath of enlistment into the New York Army National Guard at Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters here on Thursday, January 6. Lt. Col. Steve Rowe, Commander of the New York Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command administered the oath. Olsen will serve as a human resources specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of Joint Forces Headquarters--New York. Following Basic and Advanced Individual Training he plans to apply to participate in the Army World Class Athlete Program which allows Soldiers to train and compete in the Olympics while serving.

NEW YORK--Joint Task Force Empire Shield Soldier of the Year Spec Michael Boncales(center left), and Joint Task Force Empire Shield Noncommisioned Officer of the Year, Sgt. Neftali Perez (center right), pose with their awards during the Task Force’s Dining Out on Friday, Jan. 7. They are flanked by Task Force Command Sergeant Major Basilo Colon (far left), New York State Command Sergeant Major Robert Van Pelt, (left), Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, Adjutant General of New York (right) and Task Force Commander, Lt. Col. Greg Driesbach,(far right).

LATHAM - In anticipation of going to the firing range during warmer weather, members of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade were busy familiarizing themselves with one of their crew-served weapons, the MK19-40mm Grenade Machine Gun during drill on Jan. 9 at the Latham Headquarters. Pictured are (from left) Sgt. 1st Class Melchiorre Chiarenza, 1st Sgt. Joseph Marino, Pfc. Jeffery Hicks and Staff Sgt. David Dargan.

ROCHESTER--New York Naval Militia Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Stacy (in yellow hardhat) works on a project with a member of the Navy Reserve’s Mobile Construction Battalion 21 at the Rochester Veterans Outreach Center. This was a joint project with the Seabee Veterans of America, the New York Naval Militia and Construction Battalion 21

FORT SILL, Ok. - The New York Army National Guard welcomed five new field artillery officers following graduation of the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader"s Course here Jan. 11. Pictured from left are Brig. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, Commandant of the Field Artillery School, 2nd Lt. Chad Teger, 2nd Lt. Elite Won and Lt. Col. Michael Hoblin, commander of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery from Jamaica, N.Y. The course provides new officers with in-depth knowledge in the area of fire support, observed fire, fire direction and platoon leadership as it pertains to the Field Artillery Branch. The 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery"s newest lieutenants achieved high marks in the course, including 2nd Lts. Elite Won from Lansdale, Penn. as Honor Graduate and both Anthony Scollante from Brooklyn, N.Y. and Eric Staufenberg from New York, N.Y. achieving Commandant"s List. Second Lieutenants Chad Teger and Christopher Wallace, both from from the Bronx, N.Y., rounded out the new artillery officer graduates.

BASRA, Iraq--Lt. Col. Robert Mitchell, the commander of the Scotia-based 501st Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) poses next to the battalion’s headquarters sign here. The New York National Guard battalion is responsible for counter IED operations and training Iraqi Police counter-explosives teams as the headquarters of Task Force Troy-South. The 38 members of the units have a wide range of skills ranging from explosives experts to intelligence analysis and supply management.

NEW YORK -- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Lewis Swartz from Company A, Recruiting and Retention Command, removes snow at the Bedford Avenue Armory here in Brooklyn after the Nor’easter storm Jan. 12. The snow storm is the second in recent weeks, prompting the mayor’s office to declare a snow emergency to expedite the clearing of city streets. “Snow or no snow, the mission continues," said Swartz. “New York is a city that never stops, so if there is someone out there who wants to join, we make sure our doors are open, along with a clear path,� he added with a smile.

LATHAM - An annual check on combat gear is always essential to unit readiness. Pictured here, Spc. Matt Whalen (left), performs a fit test on Pfc. George Wade’s M-40 Protective Mask using the Protection Assessment Test Instrument on Sunday, Jan. 9 on the drill shed floor at the Latham headquarters. A typical fit test checks the air seal of an individuals mask through a series of head movements.

GLOVERSVILLE--New York Army National Guard Recruits prepare conduct a room-clearing exercise in the third floor attic of the New York State Armory here as Staff Sgt. Zachary Flewelling gives them final instructions. New recruits to the Army National Guard conduct monthly training as members of the Recruit Sustainment Program until they can go to Basic Training. The recruits learn basic military skills during the program.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION--Col. Jim McCready accepts the colors of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing from the Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, during change-of-command ceremonies here on Saturday, Jan. 22 as the outgoing commander, Col. Patrick Ginavan, looks on. The 800-member Wing operates C-130 aircraft in a partnership with the Air Force Reserve’s 914th Airlift Wing.

NEW YORK--New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Norberto Carrasquillo explains the history of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry to New York City residents taking part in the annual "Tour New York " program. The event allows residents to visit historic buildings they would not otherwise get a chance to see; in this case the Lexington Avenue Armory where the 1-69th is headquartered. Volunteers from the unit and former members who are part of the units Regimental staff and Veterans Corps served as greeters and presenters for the visitors on the armory’s history collections and displays which date back to the unit’s founding and service in the civil War.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh-- Crews from the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing clear snow from the runway and de-ice a giant C-5A Galaxy so that a mission can be launched as a snowstorm hits the Hudson Valley on Tuesday Feb. 1.

QUEENS--Members of the New York Guard’s 88th Brigade take part in a ceremony commemorating members of the Irish Brigade who died during the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg, which took place from Dec. 11-15 in 1862. During the Dec. 11, 2010 ceremony New York Guard members were joined by members of the New York National Guard’s 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, and the Veterans Corps of Artillery, an historic military unit, in placing a wreath at a memorial to the Irish Brigade in First Calvary Cemetery.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH-- Fog envelops the tarmac at Francis S. Gabreski Airport, the home of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing, on Wednesday Feb. 2. While the Hudson Valley and Upstate New York got hit with snow and sleet, warmer temperatures converted snowfall into fog on Long Island, where the wing is located. The 106th Rescue Wing operates HC-130 search and rescue aircraft and HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopters.

MCMURDO BASE, Antarctica--Major General Patrick Murphy (left) the Adjutant General of New York, speaks with members of the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing at McMurdo Base in Antarctica prior to boarding an LC-130 for a flight to the South Pole on January 31. Murphy visited the Antarctic to get a first-hand look at the vital mission the Schenectady-based 109th handles each year when it flies supplies and people around the continent in support of National Science Foundations Missions. Every component of the Amundsen-Scott Station the United States maintains at the bottom of the world was flown in by a New York Air National Guard aircraft.

FRANKFORT, KY-- A CH-47 belonging to the New York Army National Guard’s B Company, 3rd Battalion 126th Aviation, is seen between the blades of a UH-60 assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard at the flight facility on Jan. 27. The New York helicopter was in Kentucky so that three Kentucky aviators assigned to the Chemical Biological Radiological and High-Yield Explosive Consequence Management Response Force can maintain their proficiency at flying the heavy lift helicopter. œThis is a great partnership,� said Capt. Eric Fritz, commander of 1st Detachment, Bravo Co., 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, New York National Guard. �We enjoy coming down to Kentucky to train with these guys, especially in the colder months.�

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General (Center) meets with Representative Chris Gibson, a newly elected Congressman from the Capital Region and former Army Colonel, on Wednesday, Feb. 9 during a breakfast reception the Military Association of New York (MANY) held for members of Congress here.With Gibson and Murphy is Retired Air National Guard Major General Robert Knauff, President of MANY

PITTSBURGH, NH-- Para rescue "Guardian Angles" from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing practice transporting an injured victim through deep snow during snow rescue training conducted with local volunteer firemen here on Friday, February 4. Based at Westhampton Beach, NY, the members of the 103rd Rescue Squadron are trained to extract aircrew downed behind enemy lines and conduct rescue operations in all terrain and weather situations. Eight Airmen participated in the unique training opportunity, which also involved snowmobile operations training.

TROY -- New York Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Steven N. Wickstrom receives his two-star rank from his wife Collette during a promotion ceremony here Feb. 12. Wickstrom, commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, has commanded the division since the spring of 2009. Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the New York State Adjutant General presided over the general officer promotion. Wickstrom was promoted in front of about 200 Soldiers of the 42nd Divison Headquarters, leaders of the division’s aligned-for-training brigades and directors of the Joint Force Headquarters staff of the New York National Guard.

LATHAM - Members of 42nd Combat Aviation Brigades Headquarters and Headquarters Company received training on how to properly extinguish a Class A fire using the PASS method (Pull the pin; Aim the nozzle; Squeeze the handle and Sweep from side to side) during drill on Feb. 12 behind Army Aviation Support Facility 3 in Latham. Operating the fire extinguisher is Sgt. Christopher Grieco as Sgt. Daniel Tucker and Spc. Amelia Dingman look on. Fireman from the Albany Airport were on hand to give the training.

LATHAM - The 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade conducted its annual Soldier/NCO of the Year Board at their Latham headquarters on Sunday, Feb. 13. Selected Soldiers came from all associated Army Aviation units throughout New York. Pictured are: Front Row (L-R) Sgt. Yi Jin Huang, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Spc. Harley Jelis, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Sgt. Christina Lennon, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, Spc. Stephen Wrobel, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion. Back Row (L-R) Spc. Christopher Smalls, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Spc. Andrew Mehmel, 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, Sgt. James Broglie, 642nd Aviation Support Battalion and Spc. Mike Gondek, 642nd Aviation Support Battalion

HORSEHEADS-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 827th Engineer Company arrive at the airport here on Wednesday, Feb. 16 to be greeted by the Adjutant General, Major General Patrick Murphy, and other Army Guard leaders following a 10-month mission in Afghanistan. The Soldiers, based at armories in Walton, Horseheads and Buffalo were reunited with their families shortly afterwards.

BASRA, Iraq-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 501st Ordnance Battalion ( Explosive Ordnance Disposal) help Texas Army National Guard Major General Eddy Spurgin, the commander of the 36 Division and Task Force Troy, don the the suit EOD technicians wear when they are on a mission. The general was visiting the battalion, which provides support for his task force, on Feb. 3.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION--Lt. Col. Kenneth Anderson (on right) takes command of the 107th Airlift Wing&rsquot;s Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) in a ceremony held here on Feb. 13. The colonel previously held the position as LRS operations officer and replaces outgoing LRS Commander Lt. Col. Steven Hefferon, who now holds the position of 107th Comptroller Flight Commander. Passing the LRS guidon is 107th Mission Support Group Commander Col. Timothy Vaughan.

QUEENSBURY-- New York Army National Guard Major Patrick Chaisson, dressed as a World War II Airborne Trooper, explains weapons a World War II paratrooper would have used, including the Browning .30 caliber M1919 machine gun, to visitors at a weapons display held on Saturday, Feb 19, at the Queensbury Readiness Center. Chaisson, the operations officer for the New York Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command, is a collector of historic uniforms and equipment. About 75 people attended the event at which they got a chance to see modern weapons systems used by Army National Guard Soldiers, as well as the historic weapons. Visitors also got to fire "Airsoft" replica weapons of actual M-4 carbines, used to train recruits.

ALBANY--New York Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sgt. Hardy Pierce displays his certificate after being recognized for his military accomplishments during a Black History Month event held at the Empire State Plaza on Thursday. Feb. 23. With Pierce are Joseph Rabito (right)the First Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services and Alphonso B. David (left) Deputy Secretary for Civil Rights. The Thursday event, organized by the Office of General Services and the New York State Museum also recognized Col. Stephanie Dawson, commander of the 369th Sustainment Brigade, Retired Brigadier General Rosetta Burke, the New York National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program, and the family of Sgt. Deon Taylor, a New York Army National Guard Soldier killed in Afghanistan in 2008. Pierce retires from his position as the top enlisted Airman in the New York Air National Guard in March and will be replaced by Command Chief Master Sgt. Richard King.

A video produced for the top chaplain in the National Guard, Air National Guard Major General John Ellington, uses the story of Father Francis P. Duffy, the famous chaplain of the 69th Infantry during World War I, to tell the story of the National Guard’s chaplains. Duffy, at right in the photo above with Col. William "Wild Bill" Donovan, the commander of the 69th Infantry during World War I. As the chaplain of the 69th Infantry, Father Francis P. Duffy inspired a generation of New York National Guardsmen who fought in World War I. The video will be shown to chaplains, leaders, and anybody else who wants to know about the National Guard chaplaincy, Ellington said. The essence of the chaplaincy is being present with the troops and for the troops at all times, and nobody lived that more than Lt. Col. Francis Duffy, Ellington said. "He was present not only in World War I, but also on the border (in 1916) when he was called to Mexico," Ellington said. "He did his drills, he was called up, and he came back, just like we do today." Duffy was a featured character in the 1940 movie "The Fighting 69th" and is memoralized with a statue in Times Square.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh--Retiring New York Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sgt. Hardy Pierce (right) displays the retirement gift just presented to him by New York Air National Guard Commander Major General James W. Kwiatkowski, during a retirement ceremony on Sunday, March 6. He was presented with a National Guard Historic Painting "Runway Alert" commemorating the 138th Fighter Squadron of the New York Air National Guard shortly after World War II. Pierce joined the Air Force in 1970 and served as top enlisted Airman in the 6,000 member New York Air National Guard. His replacement is Command Chief Master Sgt. Richard King.

Stewart ANGB, NY " Airman 1st Class James Segretti, describes operating powered winches to support cargo loads onto C-5A Galaxy strategic airlifters to Brig Gen Daniel Bader, Assistant Adjutant General for Air, for the New York Air National Guard, during a tour of the 105th Airlift Wing here Mar. 7, 2010.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. James Freehart, left, a veteran of Afghanistan, receives the unit colors from Lt. Col. Jim Pabis to take command of the 204th Engineer battalion here March 5. He replaces Major Andrew Hutz who has been serving as commander. The battalion headquarters company and forward support companies are based at the Binghamton Armory. The battalion has subordinate companies in Kingston in the Hudson Valley, Walton, Horseheads and Buffalo.

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA--BOLLING, Maryland--Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York administers the oath of enlistment to the newest members of the New York Air National Guard during a ceremony held at the all ranks club here on Tuesday, March 8. Twenty Airmen who serve as part of the Joint Air Defense Operations Center here, took the oath as the members of the former 24th Expeditionary Air Defense Squadron became part of Detachments 1 and 2 of the Rome, NY-based Eastern Air Defense Sector. The Eastern Air Defense Sector is a New York Air National Guard organization responsible for air defense of the United States east of the Mississippi.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 105th Military Police Company and almost 700 guests and well-wishers listen as Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, addresses the 110 Soldiers who are deploying to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn during a deployment ceremony here on Wednesday, March 9. The Buffalo-based Military Police Company deployed to Iraq in 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom I.

FORT HAMILTON, BROOKLYN--Major Jody Lupo, the new commander of the 24th Civil Support Team, stands in front of the members of his specialized unit after taking command from Lt. Col. Kaarlo Hietala during Change of Command ceremonies here on Wednesday, March 9. The 21-member team of New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen is specially trained to detect the presence of chemical, biological, and radiological agents and works with civilian first responders and other agencies in the New York City metropolitan area.

GUILDERLAND - Sgt. Daniel Tucker tactically leads two squads of 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers as they perform room clearing techniques during urban operations at the Guilderland Rifle Range on Saturday, March 12. To see more photos of this training weekend go to the 42nd CAB Facebook.

QUEENSBURY--New York Army National Guard recruits assigned to the Recruit Sustainment Program get a mission brief from Sgt. Raymond Fiederer, a member of Company C 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, prior to heading out on a training exercise on Saturday, March 12 during a training exercise at the Readiness Center here. The new Soldiers were conducting training on moving as part of a fire team using Air Soft simulated weapons.

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - Two medavac Soldiers remove a litter from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying a manikin "patient" that was airlifted from a nearby airfield by Detachment 1, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th General Support Aviation Battalion during aviation support for CBRNE Consequent Management Response Forces (CCMRF) field training exercises at Camp Atterbury on March 16. Each manikin received is tagged with a card listing the injuries so that medics on the ground can apply medical attention. Assisting the medical Soldiers is Sgt. Chris Warr, crew member, 126th GSAB. Other New York Aviation units included in this joint force exercise include 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion and Company F, 169th Medical Company (Air Ambulance).

BASRA, IRAQ- Members of the New York Army National Guard’s 501st Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) get together with members of the Texas Army National Guard’s 36th Division to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Contingency Operating Base Basra. The New York Soldiers celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Iraq while their colleagues in the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry marched in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. The 501st is serving as the headquarters for Task Force Troy-South, with a mission of clearing improvised explosive devices from critical routes and infrastructure.

NEW YORK CITY--With the Chrysler Building in the background, the Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion 69th Infantry marches down Lexington Avenue as they return from the 250th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The "Fighting 69th" traditionally leads the parade each year following a special Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This year marks the 160th time the 1st 69th has lead the Parade which begins when the commander of the 69th Infantry responds " The 69th is always ready" when the head of the parade asks if he is ready to go.

Spc. Thomas Rinaldi and Spc. Edward Hernandez, snipers with the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, pose with their weapons during training at the New York State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany, N.Y. on March 18. The New York State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), located at the former Oneida County Airport in Oneida County, is managed and operated by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The center includes 723 acres, an educational and administration building (the former airport terminal), hangars and runways which have been transformed into a centralized training facility for New York State agency and local first responders from all disciplines.

RONKONKOMA--Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michelle Roxby (right), a pilot-in-command, and 2nd Lt. Amy Bonilla, (left) a pilot, conduct pre-flight checks before flying a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter around Manhattan Island March 12, 2011. The Soldiers belong to Company B, 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation (Assault Helicopter Battalion). They are two of the 1,500 women who serve in the New York Army National Guard force of 10,500. March is Women’s History Month and recognizes the accomplishments of American Women.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION--Dignitaries and VIPs gather for a ground breaking ceremony for the Small Arms Range slated to be built at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on March 22. Left to right: William Ross, Niagara County Legislator; Robert Burke, Contractor; Lt. Col Michael Clancy, Army Corp of Engineers; Vince Sandonato,Representing Mark Grisanti: Capt James Birk, Buffalo Military Entrance Process Station: Col. Mark Murphy, 914th Airlift Wing Commander; Congresswoman Louise Slaughter; Col. Jim McCready, 107th Airlift Wing Commander; Major. Gen. James Kwiatkowski, New York Air National Guard Commander; Melissa Fratello, Representing Senator Gilliband; Walt Koch, Representing Brian Higgins; LtCol Gregory Ottoman, HQ AFRC/A7P; and Mr. Merrell Lane, President, Niagara Military Affairs Council. Estimated to be completed in early 2012, this 28,300 square foot, fully enclosed facility will house 21 firing lanes enabling the United States military, Department of Defense, federal and local law enforcement agencies the opportunity to weapons quality their members in a state-of-the-art training environment year-round, saving thousands of dollars in range fees and manpower requirements. Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is home to the 107th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard and the 914th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force Reserve. The base also houses an Armed Forces Reserve Center where Headquarters Troop of the New York Army National Guard’s 101st Cavalry is located.

CAMP RAMADI, IRAQ-- Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 442nd Military Police Company, based at the Jamaica, Queens Armory, train in stretcher bearing skills on February 16. The company has been assigned to the 4th Advise and Assist Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division while deployed. The company is expected to return to the United States in early April.

ORISKANY--New York Army National Guard Soldiers hook cargo to a hovering UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter during sling-load operations training at the New York State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany, N.Y. on March 18. The 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry conducted sling-load and air assault training here in conjunction with the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation to prepare for its 2012 deployment to Afghanistan.

Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station--Posing next to a C-130 on the flightline New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stands between 914th Airlift Wing Vice Commander Col. Mark P. Murphy (left) and Col. Jim McCready, commander of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing during a visit to the base on March 25. Also pictured is Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, March 25, 2010, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, NY. During her visit Gillibrand was given a tour of the base and answered questions from the media. The 107th shares the facility with the 914th Airlift Wing, a United States Air Force Reserve unit.

GOGOMA, Ontario -- New York Army National Guard Pfc. Joey Delancey(center), a Soldier with the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, displays the rabbit he caught in a snare during winter warfare training here on March 15. Delancey was one of nine Soldiers from the 1-69th, and 450 members of the Canadian Forces to participate in Operation Wolf Pack Endeavour 2011, a winter warfare training exercise held by the 33rd Canadian Brigade Group of the Canadian Army Reserve held March 7 to March 21, 2011.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Col. Kevin Bradley, Commander of the New York Air National Guard’s 174the Fighter Wing, field questions from the Syracuse-area press following a visit to the base by Gillibrand on March 25. The Senator received a briefing on the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft and got a first hand look at operations.

NYS PREPAREDNESS TRAINING CENTER, Oriskany-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers Spc. Jessica Garrison (left), Spc. Tryone Desheers (middle) and Spc. Christian Provoncha (right), from the 1156th Engineer Company, lift a mock victim from a crashed bus during a defense support to civil authorities exercise conducted here April 2. The exercise involved almost 400 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard and 100 civilian first responders.

LATHAM - The Army Physical Fitness Test came a little early this year as Aviation Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, conducted their annual test at the Siena College field house on Saturday, April 2. Taking the test is Master Sgt. Ramon Granados, motor pool supervisor. Holding his feet during the sit-up event is Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence Langley, personnel technician. Counting each sit-up is Staff Sgt. David Dargan, fires section.

BUFFALO-- New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Jim Pabis (left) receives the colors of the 153rd Troop Command from Command Sgt. Major Joy O’Neil during a Change of Command Ceremony held at the Connecticut Street Armory on Saturday, April 2. Pabis takes over from Col. Reginald Sanders who is taking command of the 369th Sustainment Brigade in New York City.

BUFFALO--Jessica Bacon, a New York Army National Guard family member from Horseheads, NY proudly displays a sweatshirt bearing the name of her husband Ron’s unit during a Yellow Ribbon Re-integration Program Event held for the 827th Engineer Company at the Buffalo Hyatt Hotel and Conference Center on Saturday, April 2, 2011. The event allowed Soldiers who returned from Afghanistan last month, and their families, to explore the benefits they are entitled to and the support systems that are available for them.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE UNION, Baghdad--New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Isabel Smith (left) and Lt. Col. Deborah Foley (center) stand with female members of the Iraqi National Police following a lunch meeting here. The women were among the first graduating female class of the Iraqi Police Academy and took a trip to the United States to observe the role women play in American police forces. The Iraqi women are, from left, LT Media Jassim, LT Noor Al Rubaye,LT Israa Kamil Fakhir and LT Israa Al Rubaye. Smith is serving as an advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Interior while Foley, a Massachusetts State Police Officer, is working with the Iraqi Army.

QUEENSBURY--New York Army National Guard recruits assigned to the Recruit Sustainment Program head out on a physical training run at the Queensbury Armory during their drill on April 3. The New York Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command works with new Guard recruits to get them ready for basic training before they join their units.

ALBANY--New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 501st Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) say hi to their families and fans of the Albany Devils hockey team on Sunday April 3 via a live TV feed from Iraq. The Soldiers, based at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Scotia, are supporting explosive ordnance disposal operations in southern Iraq as part of operation New Dawn. The Albany Devils hosted the families of the Deployed Guardsmen for the special military appreciation night.

FORT DRUM--Soldiers of the 101st Signal Battalion train to use state-of-the-art Satellite Transportable Terminals that are a component of the WIN-T--Warfighter Information Network- Tactical at Fort Drum, N.Y., March 16, 2011. The signal Soldiers will use the system in Afghanistan when they deploy in 2012.

NEW YORK CITY-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 442nd Military Police Company stand in formation Friday, April 8, at the Harlem Armory here during a ceremony welcoming them home from a 10-month deployment in Iraq. The unit arrived at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Saturday, April 2, and ere bused to the Harlem Armory to be reunited with families following out processing.

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Col. Reginald Sanders (left)accepts the colors of the 369th Sustainment Brigade during Change of Command Ceremonies on Sunday, April 10 at the Harlem Armory. Sanders, a North Country resident who also oversees the National Guard’s Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site at Fort Drum, replaces Col. Stephanie Dawson who will now serve as deputy commander of the 53rd Troop Command

LATHAM - New York Army National Guard Spc. Christina Sammons and Staff Sgt. Eduardo Ortiz, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade get some hints from Daniel Aldrich, a field system engineer for General Dynamics on the best way to use the Army Command Post of the Future (CPOF)system. The use of 3-D mapping gives the user the ability to operate the CPOF in a tactical operations center environment by creating and displaying and playing out different battlefield scenarios. According to Aldrich, the 3-D mapping benefits aviation to a large extent because of the availability of 3-D aerial graphics. See more photos on the 42nd CAB Facebook

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY-- New York Air National Guard Col. Jim McCready, commander of the 107th Airlift Wing, drops the puck to start a charity hockey game between members of the 107th Airlift Wing and the United States Air Force Reserve’s 914th Airlift and alumni of the Buffalo Sabers professional hockey team on Sunday, April 10 at Dwyer Arena here. On the left is Danny Gare a Buffalo Sabres Alumni, while on the right is 914th maintenance technican John Rettig. More than 400 spectators crowded into the arena and $5000 from the ticket sales benefited the family support groups of both units.

NEW YORK -- New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Renwick Payne, left, Director of the Joint Staff, passes the guidon of Joint Task Force Empire Shield to Maj. Peter Riley during a change of command ceremony here at Fort Hamilton April 13. Standing at far left is Lt. Col. Greg Dreisbach, the outgoing task force commander. The ceremony marks new leadership for JTF Empire Shield, the standing New York National Guard security task force that supports New York City law enforcement and first responders at critical locations across the city. Approximately 250 Soldiers, Airmen, New York Guard volunteers and members of the New York Naval Militia serve in the task force. Photo by Sgt. Tamara Gabbard, 42nd Infantry Division.

WATERVLIET-- Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 1427 Transportation Company work with employees of the Watervliet Arsenal to unload an experimental cannon at the Arsenal’s museum on Wednesday, April 13. The one-of-a-kind light weight 155 millimeter howitzer had been designed by the Arsenal as part of a 1995 crash program to put a lighter-weight towed weapon in troop’s hands. The gun never went into production but the prototype has been stored in Vermont where the National Guard Soldiers picked it up for transport to the Arsenal.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers of Detachment 1, Company B, 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion perform preflight checks on the RQ-7 Shadow here at Wheeler Sack Army Airfield. The training at Fort Drum this week completes the unit’s new equipment fielding of the RQ-7, providing maintenance and operations Soldiers with experience in launching and recovering the aircraft and providing communications direct to the ground control station in the brigade command post. The unit is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan early next year.

Greg Stevens (right), 4-H Community Educator for Saratoga County helps Dokota Mattern, age 8 from Lockport, NY build a bluebird house during a natural resource lab as part of the NY National Guard Family and Youth Training Workshop, April 16. The NY National Guard Youth program provides support and skills training in leadership, mentoring and resource coordination that reflect the unique needs of military youth. The program provides safe activities and a place to meet, talk and have fun with other military youth while addressing deployment issues, such as separation anxiety, increased responsibility and reintegration when a loved one returns home.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, right, the Adjutant General for the New York National Guard, thanks Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, DIrector of the Air National Guard, for his remarks during the Adjutant General’s professional development weekend here April 16. The theme of the weekend’s discussion with more than 300 National Guard leaders was "New York state’s military forces...an Indispendible Force." Wyatt spoke of the National Guard of 2025 and of the adapability of Airmen and Soldiers meeting the challenges of change. Photo by Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 42nd Infantry Division (RELEASED).

Penn Station -- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Kehinde Ayeni, a member of the New York City based Joint Task Force Empire Shield patrols common areas at Penn Station alongside Department of Homeland Security Police Officer John Rapuano and Amtrak Police Officer James Rusbarsky here April 21. Task Force Empire is the New York State standing task force to augment law enforcement and security operations in New York City. Photo by Warrant Officer Ubon Mendie, New York Guard.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE-- Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General (left); Nan Hayworth, Congresswoman from the 19th District;Elizabeth Glazer, New York State Deputy Secretary of Public Safety; Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey, commander of the 53rd Troop Command; and Donald Bennett Jr., Deputy Mayor of Peekskill, NY, perform the ribbon cutting dedicating the new Camp Smith Readiness Center, Camp Smith, NY, April 21, 2011. A formal opening ceremony for the $30 million Readiness Center at Camp Smith which will serve as the home for approximately 350 National Guard soldiers assigned to Headquarters, 53rd Troop Command; Company C, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry; the 42nd Infantry Division Band; the 727th Military Police Detachment and elements of the 1156th Engineer Company, as well as an Army National Guard recruiting office.

ROME, NY--Ten Air National Guardsmen from the Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome, N.Y. ignored the rain last Saturday, April 23, and cleaned a local highway in support of the sector’s Clean and Green initiative. Pictured from left to right, are Technical Sgt. Rob Kryczkowski, Airman 1st Class Billy Young, Staff Sgt. Shane Hastings, Staff Sgt. Derek Miceli, Staff Sgt. Eric Lewis, Airman 1st Class Marie Coar, Technical Sgt. John Coar and Staff Sgt. Tom Caracane. Not pictured were Staff Sgt. Jean Warner and Airman 1st Class Kaytlin Jones.

The family of Staff Sgt. Shawn Nethaway, his wife Amy and sons Logan, age 8, and Noah, age 4; receive gifts from Robert Harris and Kathleen Van Iderstyne, representatives of The Retired Enlisted Association, Chapter 120 of Schenectady, April 26. The veterans organization held a "Just for You" recognition for families of deployed Soldiers assigned to the 501st Ordnance Battalion, Glenville, N.Y.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, right, the Adjutant General for the New York National Guard, speaks with Canadian Brig. Gen. G.J.P. O’Brien, the Director General of the Canadian Land Reserves and Maj. Gen. Jon Miller, the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Reserve Command. The three leaders attended a Canadian / U.S. general officer training session with leaders from the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, U.S. Army North, U.S. Northern Command and the Canadian Land Reserves. The group discussed methods to improve interoperability and joint training opportunities between the two countries. Photo by Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 42nd Infantry Division.

NEW YORK -- Pfc. Russell Simplice, from the New York Guard&rsquot;s 14th Brigade in NYC, a volunteer of the New York Guard state defense force, sprang into action to rescue an infant and family members following a vehicle crash near his home in Queens April 3. Photo by Warrant Officer Ubon Mendie.

NEW YORK -- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Neftali Perez, a member of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, stands guard near the ground zero subway station at the World Trade Center May 2. Perez and other members of the state’s security task force augmented law enforcement as the crowds gathered at the World Trade Center to note the death of Osama Bin Laden. Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda terrorist network attacked the city on September 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 innocent civilians. Photo by Warrant Officer Ubon Mendie, NY Guard.

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. -- Sleepy Hollow Mayor Kenneth Wray gives remarks in remembrance of 32 members of the New York Guard who gave their lives in 1918 while in the service of the state protecting the water supplies of New York. The 92rd Annual remembrance ceremony of the 1st Provisional Regiment here remembers the NY Guard members who died of influenza while on duty. To mark their sacrifice a boulder from Bonticou Crag in Ulster County’s Shawangunk Mountains, lay in memoriam " a small piece from the vast area of the aqueduct the Guardsmen protected.

NEW YORK -- Members of the Taylor family dedicate the baseball field at Fort Hamilton here in Brooklyn May 2. New York Army National Guard Sgt. Deon Taylor was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2008. Taylor was honored by the NYPD where he had served as a police officer and by his former unit, the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery. From left, Col. Michael Gould, garrison commander of Fort Hamilton, Pamela Taylor, mother, Officer Damarr McBean, Taylor’s brother, Darue Taylor, his son, Leon Taylor, his father and Family Morale Welfare and Recreation Director Sarah Johnson. In the background are Lt. Col. Michael Hoblin, commander of the 258th Field Artillery and NYPD Brooklyn Narcotics Deputy Inspector Frank Cangiarella.

FORT DRUM--New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team practice evacuating a wounded man during pre-mobilization training here on May 7. More than 2,200 members of the unit are slated to deploy to Afghanistan in 2012.

FORT DRUM-- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Katrina Stellakis, gives a lift to Sgt. William Preston during training in casualty evacuation techniques here on May 7. More than 2,200 members of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are slated to deploy to Afghanistan in 2012 and are training at Fort Drum in May. SGT William Preston, training and operations NCO (standing) and SGT Katrina Stellakis, a personnel NCO, pr actice carrying techniques during pre-mobilization training here on May 7. More than 2,200 members of the unit are slated to deploy to Afghanistan in 2012.

SARATOGA SPRINGS-- The last draftee Soldier on active duty, United States Army Material Command Sgt. Major Jeffery Mellinger (left), presents a United States Flag to outgoing New York State Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt during his retirement dinner here on May 6. Mellinger was drafted into the Army in 1972. He and Van Pelt,also a draftee, were in the same class in the Sergeants Major Academy. Van Pelt retired from the New York Army National Guard after serving as New York State Command Sergeant Major for ten years. Van Pelt, a veteran of the Vietnam War served in the Active Army, Army Reserve and New York Army National Guard for 42 years.

NEW YORK CITY -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen greets New York Army National Guard Capt. Sean O’Donnell, a member of Headquarters Detachment 104th Military Police Battalion, at the Robin Hood Foundation Dinner here on May 9. The Foundation, which targets poverty in New York City, is launching an initiative to aid veterans in New York City. Mullen was a featured speaker at the event, and members of the Army and Army National Guard were invited to the dinner. The dinner included a performance by pop singer Lady Gaga.

FORT DRUM--New York Army National Guard Sgt 1st Class Victor Lopez, the retention NCO for Company G 427th Brigade Support Battalion tosses a practice grenade during pre-mobilization training being conducted here on May 9. More than 2,200 members of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are slated to deploy to Afghanistan in 2012 and are training at Fort Drum in May and June.

FORT DRUM-- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Sergio Casanas, a human resources NCO for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Sgt. David Nieves, also of the 27th BCT prepare to negotiate the land navigation course on May 11. More than 2,200 members of the 27th BCT are training at Fort Drum in May and June to prepare for a 2012 deployment to Afghanistan.

CAMP SMITH-- New York Army National Guard SGT Shawn S. Chapple of the Utica based 107th Military Police Company, recites all the steps to evaluating a casualty under combat conditions to task tester SGT Cory Goodspeed of Joint Force Headquarters- New York here on Wednesday May, 11. The evaluate a casualty task was just one of eight warrior tasks required during the Warrior Task testing conducted as part of the 2011 National Guard Bureau’s Region 1 Best Warrior Competition held at Camp Smith Training Area, Cortlandt, NY, May 10-12. Region 1 encompasses the northeastern states and 14 enlisted Soldiers and Non-Commissioned Officers took part in the event.

FORT DRUM--New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team negotiate a concertina wire obstacle during premobilization training here on Friday, May 13. More than 2,200 Soldiers of the 27th IBCT are slated to deploy to Afghanistan in 2012 and are training at Fort Drum in May and June.

BASRA, Iraq-- New York Army National Guard Major James Wood, Operations Officer for the 501st Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) reads the names and biographies of EOD Soldiers who gave their lives during operations in 2010 during a memorial service held at the chapel here on May 7. The 501st, based in Scotia, NY is in command of EOD Soldiers operating in Southern Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

WHITE PLAINS-- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jason Diaz, his wife Nisha (left) and daughter Thalia, 4 of Peekskill, discuss scheduled activities during the 442nd Military Police Company 30-day Yellow Ribbon Reintegration event, May 14 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, White Plains, NY. The event helps Soldiers and families work through the issues that arise when a Citizen Soldier returns from a combat deployment. The 442nd Military Police Company returned from a deployment in Iraq in April.

BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA-- New York National Guardsmen visit with a tame cheetah at a South African game preserve during their recent trip there for the South African National Defense Force 2011 Regional Combat Rifle Competition. Top row, left to right: Spc. Jason Grossman of Airmont, N.Y.; Spc. Masami Yamakado, of New York City; Sgt. Justin Vonderheyde, of Middletown, N.Y.; Staff Sgt. Dennis Rick, of Staten Island, N.Y. Bottom row, left to right: Cpl. Jonathan Patton, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Staff Sgt. David Cartwright, of Buffalo; Spc. Matthew Melendez, of New York City; Sgt. First Class Arthur Evans, of Saugerties, N.Y.; Maj. Scott Williams, of Long Island. Williams, who is in the Air National Guard, is the bilateral affairs officer for the New York and Republic of South Africa State Partnership Program.

FORT DRUM-- Lt. Col. James Gonyo, commander of the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion 69th Infantry displays the crucifix carried by Sgt. Joyce Kilmer, a famous poet and member of the 69th Infantry’s intelligence section who was killed in action in World War I. Kilmer’s crucifix has been handed down from commander to commander since then and carried on a daily basis. Kilmer, who wrote the poem "Trees" penned the poem "Rouge Bouquet" about death on the battlefield shortly before his own death.

CAMP SMITH--New York Naval Militia Petty Officer Frank Gavin conducts training on how to tow one of the Military Emergency Boat Service patrol craft during training here on May 18. The Naval Militia’s Military Emergency Boat Service (MEBS) operates nine watercraft that support security and law enforcement missions. Naval Militia members belong to the Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, and Marine Corps Reserve and agree to make themselves available for state duty when called upon. A small number of Naval Militia members are retired servicemembers not affiliated with the federal reserve forces.

LATHAM -- Staff Sgt. Elmore Stallworth from the Army Aviation Support Facility #3, refuels a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet at the State headquarters flight facility on May 20. The plane was piloted by Rear Admiral Dennis FitzPatrick, the commander of Strike Force Training Atlantic in Norfolk, Va., and Lt. Jason Duffie, a training squad certified instructor with Strike Fighter Squadron 106, stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. The two pilots were on a familiarization flight. Landing at the Latham facility offered training that included instrument approach and landing in unfamiliar locations. Once FitzPatrick completes his re-certification he will be qualified to land on an aircraft carrier.

CAMP SMITH-- Christina DeLeon, the reigning Miss Westchester County, signs an autograph for a Soldier from Company C 1st Battalion 69th Infantry who is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan during a visit to the Camp Smith Readiness Center on Wednesday, May 18. DeLeon and Miss Westchester Teen, Samantha Gold, stopped by the Readiness Center on their way up to Albany for an event at the New York State Capital. The two young women met with Soldiers from the 69th who were preparing to move to Fort Drum for pre-mobilization training as well as members of the 53rd Troop Command headquarters who are based at the center,

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Specialist Jade Cola adjusts the coat of her son, New York Army National Guard Specialist Miami Cola, prior to the start of the 369th Sustainment Brigade’s annual parade in in Manhattan on May 15. The two serve in the 145th Maintenance Company on Staten Island.

KERHONKSON -- Spec. Nancy Daniels from Endwell, a member of 827th Engineer Company shows her daughter Mathilda, age 9, lapel pins she received during her units Freedom Salute ceremony, here May 22.

SARATOGA SPRINGS-- New York State Military Museum Director Michael Aikey speaks to fifth graders from the Abraham Wing Elementary School in Glens Falls while a TV film crew looks on during the student’s May 23 visit to the museum here. Aikey talked to the students, and reporters, about Col. Elmer Ellsworth, the first Union officer killed in the Civil War,a Mechanicsville native, and a friend of Abraham Lincoln’s, who death was a major event after he was shot on May 24, 1861. The museum is the owner of the coat Ellsworth was wearing when he was killed; seen in the display case here.

LATHAM- Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Al Moon sounds Taps as members of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard present arms during a Memorial Day service held May 26th at Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters here. The event, presided over by Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General and New York National Guard Command Sgt. Major Frank Wick, recognized the 32 members of the New York Army National Guard, and one Marine Corps Reservist who was also a member of the New York Naval Militia who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Members of the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct small-unit individual and collective training here May 13 as part of the brigade’s premobilization training cycle. Nearly 2,000 Soldiers are involved in the month-long training event, running from May 3 until early June to prepare individual Soldiers from the brigade for mobilization in the fall and deployment to Afghanistan in early 2012.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team clear their weapons before entering the mess hall here May 29. To prepare for their upcoming deployment, a the New York National Guard replicated the sort of forward operating base they would likely see overseas, complete with clearing barrels at every entrance.

FORT DRUM-- Members of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Female Engagement Team learn how to dine politely during an Afghan meal during pre-mobilization training May 31 in Fort Drum. The 10-person FET will act as cultural mediators when deployed to Iraq, which means they will go on combat missions with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, march and fight as they do, and then talk to Afghan women in an effort to understand their concerns.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 369th Sustainment Brigade share a prayer during a Memorial Day service at Fort Drum. Memorial Day stood poignant this year, as it fell as the 369th SB was busy supporting their brethren in the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team prepare for a deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. J.p. Lawrence.)

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION--Tech. Sgt. Antony Re, a 107th Airlift Wing crew chief gives his daughter one last hug prior on Memorial Day to boarding a C-130 that left Niagara Air Reserve Station for a four day journey that will eventually land him in Afghanistan for the start of his 90 day tour of duty. Family members and loved ones gather to bid farewell to members of the 107th Airlift Wing as they departed on May 30.

FORT DRUM--New York Army National Guard Soldier Staff Sgt. Matthew Swisher (center) and his squad of Charlie company, 2nd Battalion, 108 Infantry, celebrate finishing their fight lane training here May 29, 2011. More than 2,200 members of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are expected to deploy to Afghanistan in 2012.

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers Staff Sgt. Donald Leinfelder (left) Sergeant Timothy Gould (Center) and SPC Ismael E. Diaz (right) stand with Navy Engineman Second Class Timothy Carlton and Marine First Lieutenant Matthew A. Krempel during a recognition ceremony at Citi Field during the Mets home game against Pittsburgh on Memorial Day. The servicemembers were honored during the game’s Seventh Inning Stretch. Leinfelder received a Purple Heart when he was injured in combat in Iraq; Gould holds the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster due to injuries he sustained fighting in Afghanistan; and Diaz was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with V device for leading Afghan National Army Soldiers in a counterattack during an ambush.

CAMP SMITH-- New York Army National Guard Col.Michel Natali accepts the colors of the 106th Regional Training Institute from Brig. Gen. Paul Genereaux during change-of-command ceremonies here Sunday. Natali took over command of the training unit from Col. Mark Warnecke who is retiring after more than 35 years in the Army and Army National Guard. Warnecke will continue to serve in his civilian job as director of Camp Smith.

FORT DRUM--Soldiers from the New York National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team engage the enemy during training exercises here on June 3. More than 2,200 Soldiers from the brigade have been training at Fort Drum since the beginning of May to prepare for deployment to Afghanistan in 2012.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - 2nd Lt. Austin Luckenbach, an intelligence officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, watches his peers crawl through mud and jagged wires during a mock village assault here June 3. Luckenbach, a Yonkers, N.Y., native, was participating in training meant to prepare Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team for combat and counter-insurgency while deployed to Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. J.P. Lawrence).

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Chaplain (1st. Lt). Raziel Amar of the 369th Sustainment Brigade covers his ears during dismounted infantry training here June 3. While the New York, N.Y., resident cannot, in accordance with military non-combatant law carry a weapon, he participates in training to gain an understanding of his Soldiers’ lives. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. J.P. Lawrence)

LATHAM -- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Michele Van Ness helps Daisy Girl Scout Paige Grimmick, age 6, plant flowers at Divison of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters here, June 4. Paige, along with a half dozen local kindergarten students from Girl Scout Daisy Troop 1552, refurbished the Memorial Garden to honor fallen National Guard Soldiers, to earn their community service badge.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh--Nose wheels lift off the runway as the second C-5M Super Galaxy to be reconditioned by New York Air National Guard’s 105 Airlift Wing aircraft maintainers takes-off for a flight back to Dover AFB, June 8, 2011. Airmen at the 105th is redoing the interiors of these modernized C-5 aircraft.

SARATOGA NATIONAL CEMETERY--New York Army National Guard Sgt. Robert Benson, a member of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard, stands with Marine Corporal Nicholas Hawkyard and members of the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard during a memorial service here Friday, June 10, for unclaimed veterans remains. The New York National Guard Soldiers joined with representatives of the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force in interring the ashes of veterans which had gone unclaimed in funeral homes across the region.

COLONIE - New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Shannon Pingatore from Fort Edward, N.Y. approaches the finish line at the New York National Guard’s Family Readiness Council "Hometown Heroes" five-kilomter run here June 12. More than 220 runners participated in the race, a fundraiser to support National Guard families. Pingatore is a runner with the New York National Guard’s Marathon Team, racing with the National Guard throughout the year. This is her second year competing and her second win in the female runner’s category. Photo by Sgt. Chris Connelly, 42nd Infantry Division.

LATHAM - Retiring Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Rentz, Command Sergeant Major for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade passes the unit colors to Col. Mark Stryker, 42nd commander, so that command will be transferred to the incoming Command Sergeant Major, John Houck on June 12. After the exchange of colors, Rentz retired from the New York Army National Guard after serving as a Sergeant Major for 13 years.

BALDWINSVILLE, NY-- New York Naval Militia Chief Petty Officer Michael Porter and Petty Officer Matt MacDowell prepare the side of the Naval Militia’s PB 281 as it enters Lock 24 of the Erie Canal in Baldwinsville, NY during a training mission on June 11. The New York Naval Militia’s Military Emergency Boat Service maintains a fleet of nine vessels to assist local law enforcement and the Coast Guard as required.

LATHAM - Chief Warrant Officer Steven Derry,the last Vietnam era helicopter pilot in the New York Army National Guard, is congratulated by friends and co-workers following his last official flight as an Army aviation pilot on June 14. Derry, a Corinth, N.Y. resident and member of 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion started training as a pilot in 1969 and served in Veitnam in 1970-71.

NEW YORK CITY-- New York Army National Guard Brigadier General Paul C. Genereaux,(center) deputy commander of the New York Army National Guard joins United States Military Academy Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Mahoney and other Soldiers in sounding the closing bell at the NASDAQ exchange here on June 14. The general was representing the Army at a closing ceremony marking the Army’s 236th birthday.

ALBANY, NY-- The New York National Guard’s Color Guard participates in ceremonies opening the New York State Senate’s session on June 14, the Army’s Birthday.

FORT DRUM, NY--FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Dawn Hersey trains as a vehicle gunner during premobiization training here June 4 with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

COHOES - Engineer Soldiers from Detachment 1, 1st Platoon, 1156th Engineer Company (Vertical) based in Kingston and some members of the 152nd Eng. Co. clear brush and debris from around Lock 15 on the outskirts of Cohoes on June 15. The City of Cohoes requested the assistance of the N.Y. National Guard to assist in restoring and renovating this historic area in order to transform it into a bike and walking trail for the city residents. The area was once an extension of the Erie Canal.

Spc. Cola Jade, left, and her son Spc. Miami Jade pose near Central Park in Manhattan before marching in a Memorial Day parade on May 15. (Story by Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Drumsta; photo by Sgt. Michael Davis, 369th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs)

TROY--New York Army National Guard Soldiers 1st Sgt. Joseph Landy (left), and his son Pfc. Joseph Landy (right), both of Speigletown, NY, throw the opening pitches in the Tri-City Valley Cats minor league baseball game at Joe Bruno Stadium here on July 5. 1st Sgt. Landy, of the 501st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, is home on leave from Iraq and Pfc. Landy is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2012.

UTICA -- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 107th Military Police Company stand in formation during their deployment ceremony Friday, June 18 at SUNY Institute of Technology. The unit is heading to Fort Bliss, Texas to train before deploying to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to provide security at the detention facility there.

NIAGARA FALLS--A New York Army National Guard CH-47 based a the Army Aviation Support Facility in Rochester hoists a New York State Park Police out of the Niagara River on Sunday, June 19. The Chinook assigned to Det. 1 Co. B 3rd Battalion 126th Aviation and commanded by Capt. Eric Fritz retrieved the boat after its crew was forced to abandon it just above the falls on Saturday. The State Park Police Crew had rescued stranded boaters when they became disoriented. They anchored their boat and were airlifted to shore by a Canadian rescue helicopter.

ROME--Rep. Richard Hanna talks with Brig. Gen. Anthony P. German, Chief of Staff of the New York Air National Guard, and Col. John Bartholf, the Commander of the Eastern Air Defense Sector, during a tour on Friday, June 17. Hanna spent nearly an hour in the Sector Operations Control Center, which serves as a focal point for the air defense of the eastern U.S. The Congressman was also briefed on Sector activities and toured EADS headquarters facility.

FORT DRUM--New York Army National Guard Pvt. Danielle C. Powe, an artilleryman with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery, yanks the lanyard of a M-198 howitzer, blasting 100 lbs. of high explosives down range during the battalion&rsquot;s certification at Fort Drum, NY June 20, 2011. The battalion is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and will be deploying to Afghanistan early 2012.

GREENLAWN, N.Y. - Family and friends of New York Army National Guard Sgt. Anthony L. Mangano stand outside of his mother Constance Mangano’s house for a moment of silence during a street dedication memorial here June 21. This date is the third anniversary of his death in 2008 when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device killing him and four other Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Photo by Sgt. Tamara Gabbard, 42nd Infantry Division.

Officers of the New York Naval Militia’s 1st Battalion Naval Reserve Artillery pose for a photograph in 1891, the year the first unit of 15 officers and 190 enlisted Sailors was accepted for duty as part of New York’s Military Forces. The Legislature officially recognized the force on June 23, 1891. Today the Naval Militia comprises more then 2,500 members of the United States Navy Reserve, United States Marine Corps Reserve, United States Coast Guard Reserve who agree to perform state active duty when called and a small core of retired military volunteers. The unique force provides New York with skills learned through their military training and also man a fleet of nine patrol boats that can be employed in support of law enforcement.

AFGHANISTAN--A C-130 Hercules from the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing flies over mountainous Afghan terrain on its way to deliver much-needed supplies to a forward operating base in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, June 22. The New York ANG C-130 flew the airdrop mission in conjunction with another C-130 from the Alaska ANG. Airdrops help mitigate the danger of transporting supplies via convoy.

BASRA, Iraq-- New York Army National Guard Specialist Jorge Alvarez, a member of the 501st Ordnance Battalion who lives in the Bronx, receives a coin from Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler during a visit to Contingency Operating Base Basrah on June 25. The Soldiers of the 501st Ordnance Battalion are overseeing Explosive Ordnance Disposal units in southern Iraq as part of Task Force Troy. The unit is based in Scotia, New York.

SCHYULERVILLE-- A New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter lifts a Bambi Bucket filled with 660 gallons of water out of the Hudson River during fire bucket training on June 28. Two Blackhawks based at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 took part in the annual training exercise that prepares aircrews to battle wildfires and forest fires in support of other state agencies during the summer months.

LATHAM-- Major General Patrick Murphy (left) the Adjutant General, speaks with New York Air National Guard chaplains during a training session conducted at Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters here on Thursday, July 7. Murphy discussed the role of the chaplains in the New York National Guard and the missions of the New York Military Forces.

FORT DRUM-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers negotiate a mud obstacle during tactical training at Fort Drum in June. Members of the 27th Brigade Combat Team are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in 2012.

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Florida-- Rescue and medical personnel from NASA and the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing study the astronaut flight suit at Patrick Air Force Base on July 7 as members of the wing prepare to provide rescue support for the final Space Shuttle launch on July 8. The men and women of the 106th supported more than 100 Space Shuttle launches.

GREENLAWN, N.Y. - A New York Army National Guard Color Guard joins family and friends of New York Army National Guard Sgt. Anthony L. Mangano during a ceremony in which a street here was named for him on June 21, 2011. The date was the third anniversary of his death in 2008 when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device killing him and four other Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH-- Members of the Security Force Squadron for the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing conduct combat training at F. S. Gabreski Field Air National Guard Base on May 4.

FORT DRUM - Members of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade labor in hot temperatures to get the main tent of the Standardized Integrated Command Post System (SICPS) set up at Fort Drum on Wednesday, July 13. The 42nd CAB is receiving the new equipment in anticipation of a future deployment. Civilian contractors are on hand to guide the Soldiers through the set up and functions of the massive system.

ROUSES POINT, N.Y. - New York Naval Militia Petty Officers Jeff Alexander, left, and Robert Hill maneuver Patrol Boat PB 221 near the historic site of Fort Montgomery on Lake Champlain July 16. The Naval Militia conducted security missions on the lake in support of the Border Patrol, helping to direct boaters to the Customs and Border Protection inspection station.

LATHAM- Civil War re-enactor Howard Young, from Rotterdam, and Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Weidlich, a member of the New York Army National Guard’s 206th Military Police Company discuss combat gear from era’s 150 years apart during a media event conducted at Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters on July 20. The event, held to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Bull Run, compared and contrasted the equipment worn and used by New York Soldiers then with New York Soldiers now.

NEW YORK--Elizabeth Glazer, New York Deputy Secretary for Public Safety, speaks with a police officer during a visit to the New York National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield and its local law enforcement agency partners during the Multi-Agency Super Surge exercise, here July 21. Glazer was briefed on the task force’s day-to-day mission detailing how the task forces helps protect the citizens of New York.

CAMP SMITH--New York Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Fergal Foley and New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Renwick Payne, Director of Joint Staff for the New York State Department of Military and Naval Affairs, salute soldiers during the review of troops at the closing ceremony for the New York Guard Annual Training, here, June 23. The ceremony closed out a week long training period, where the group of all volunteer soldiers conducted various exercises and qualifications to enrich their skills in augmenting and supporting National Guard assets in the state of New York.

NEW YORK - Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 369th Sustainment Brigade secure a piece of World Trade Center steel in the bed of a military vehicle here at the Port Authority warehouse in Brooklyn July 26. The Soldiers ( from left) Staff Sgt. Nicholas Pelliccio from the brigade headquarters company, Spec. Sebastian Rothwyn from the 719th Transportation Company, Staff Sgt. Anthony Marshall of the 369th Early Entry Element, Capt. J.C. Bravo of the brigade headquarters company and Spc. Diego Castro of the Early Entry Element, helped transport the WTC artifact for shipment via FedEx to Athens Ga. The artifact, a 923-pound piece of steel some six and a half feet long, is destined for display at the Oconee Veterans Park near Athens, Ga. The Georgia Army National Guard provided the U.S. Colors for the honors at the artifact pickup. Members of the Georgia Army National Guard will assist in the final movement and placement of the WTC steel. Photo by Paul Fanning, New York National Guard.

FORT DRUM - Pfc. Timothy White, a member of Headquarters and headquarters Company of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, keeps an eye on the giant air bladder that is used to raise the main command tent so that the huge tent can be collapsed slowly and with minimal personnel on July 28 as the unit prepares to return to home station. The main command tent is the anchor for half a dozen medium tents that connect other 42nd staff sections. The 42nd recently validated on the Army’s latest command post of the future which comprises high tech communications that allow a commander full view of the battlefield. To view more than 100 photos of this event, click on the 42nd CAB Facebook.

FORT DRUM - Staff Sgt. Eduardo Ortiz, transportation sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Avaition Brigade, tightens a tall pallete of bike track flooring in preparation for returning to home station on July 28. The 42nd recently validated on the Army’s latest command post of the future which comprises high tech communications that allow a commander full view of the battlefield. To view more than 100 photos of this event, click on the 42nd CAB Facebook.

BROOKLYN-- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Jennifer Lucas, a member of the 42nd Infantry Division Band, sings the Star Spangled Banner before the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. Oneonta Tigers game at the Municipal Credit Union Stadium, here, July 29. The 42nd Infantry Division Band is currently touring the state of New York, showcasing their skills and promoting Army values.

NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS, LATHAM, N.Y. -- New York Naval Militia officers meet in the Joint Operations Center here on Aug. 2 to evaluate lessons learned from a recall mission conducted in conjunction with Trojan Horse 2011. An annual maritime security training exercise sponsored by the State University of New York Maritime College, Trojan Horse joins New York Naval Militia personnel with state, federal and law enforcement agencies while assessing homeland security threats and testing security plans. The exercise mimics major maritime incidents directly impacting port security. The officers are, from left: Capt. Trip Powell, of Coeymans, N.Y.; Cmdr. Anthony Buanno, of Gloversville, N.Y.; and Cmdr. David Hawley, of Troy, N.Y.

ROCHESTER-- Members of the New York Naval Militia tie up Naval Militia Patrol Boat 281 during boat handling training on the Genesee River on Tuesday August 2. The Naval Militia’s Military Emergency Boat Service operates nine boats on bodies of water across the state to assist local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

BROOKLYN-- 42nd Infantry Division Band Soldiers Spc. Billy Pardue ( on guitar) and Spc. Lindsay Haughton are seen singing and playing their instruments during a performance at Coney Island’s Municipal Credit Union Stadium on July 29.The 42nd Infantry Division Band performs at venues across New York as part of its annual training program.

GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Steven Wickstrom, left, commander of Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division, meets Col. Thomas Owens II, commander of the 106th Rescue Wing here at the wing headquarters Aug. 4. Wickstrom deployed to Gabreski with about 370 Soldiers of the division headquarters to rehearse hurricane response missions to better prepare New York National Guard forces for hurricane response in New York. Photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Miller, 106th Rescue Wing. Find video of the training at the DVIDS hub: http://www.dvidshub.net/video/122315/army-troops-joint-rescue-wing-hurricane-response-exercise.

FORT DRUM -- Soldiers of Co. A, 3rd Bn, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion prepare to enter and clear a building during the premobilization training here Sept. 16, 2011.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Newburgh, N.Y.--Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing stand in formation before one of the wing’s new C-17s during a ceremony held on Saturday August 6 to mark the transition from the C-5A Galaxy to the C-17 Globemaster III. "Time marches on. The C-5As are 43 years old," said Brig. Gen. Verle Johnston, commander of the 105th Airlift Wing. "[The C-17] will be the perfect airplane and our wing will learn to love it."

LATHAM - Before the start of a busy drill day on Friday, Aug. 12, Master Sgt. Jon Schubert, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, was promoted to Sgt. Maj. by his daughter Amanda, son Christian and wife Kathleen. Company commander Daniel Gordon, Bde. Command Sergeant Major John Houck and 1st Sgt. Joseph Marino look on. for this and other August drill photos check the 42nd CAB Facebook page.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1156th Vertical Construction Company replace the roof on a building here during annual training in June, 2011. The engineer company, based in Kingston, recently conducted individual training, weapons qualification and engineering task training during its two-week annual training. Photo by Spc. Robert Polanco, 1156th Vertical Construction Company.

JOINT BASE MAGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 1156th Engineer Company fire the M240B machine gun during Annual Training here. Unit members also repaired buildings at the training location.

FARMINGDALE, NY --Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York is joined by Army Reserve Major General William Waff, commander of the 99th Regional Support Command, Army Reserve Brigadier General John Cornelus,Commander of the 800th Military Police Brigade, and representatives of the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve and local and state political leaders during a ceremony officially opening the new Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center on August 16. The center will provide a training base for more than 1500 members of the New York Army National Guard, the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve and the Marine Corps Reserve and employ more than 150 full-time service members. The New York Army National Guard is the lead agency for the project.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team prepare to enter and clear a house during premobilization training here August 16, 2011.

FORT BENNING, GA-- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Shawn Chapple, a member of the 107th Military Police Company, moves a simulated casualty downrange during the Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition here on August 6. Chapple was one of 14 Army National Guard NCOs and enlisted Soldiers competing for top honors. Chapple, who represented the Northeast in the competition didn’t win but did well, according to New York State Command Sgt. Major Frank Wicks.

Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team set up a traffic control point as part of the Mounted Training Lane August 15, 2011.

LATHAM-- New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the Commander-in-Chief of the New York National Guard meets with members of the New York Army National Guard’s 206th Military Police Company as they prepare to deploy from the Albany Area to New York City in response to the landfall of Hurricane Irene. The governor spoke with members of the unit as well as airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing who are part of the mission. He also received a mission briefing from Major General Patrick Murphy, The Adjutant General of New York.

NEW YORK CITY -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks to the media during a visit to New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen at the Lexington Avenue Armory here Aug. 27. The New York State military forces at the armory are just some of the nearly 2,000 Soldiers and airmen Cuomo mobilized in response to the expected landfall of Hurricane Irene, which has already caused deaths and destruction along the mid-Atlantic coast. Soldiers and Airmen being deployed to Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley will assist with traffic control on bridges and tunnels, sandbagging operations at the World Trade Center site, evacuation shelter operations in New York City, the construction of barriers for railway yards and train tunnels, and other hurricane emergency efforts. "The National Guard will play a vital role in this," Cuomo said.

NEW YORK CITY -- New Army National Guard Soldiers Pfc. Joel Hernandez (left) and Cpl. Kevin Munoz (background, center) direct cars away from the Lexington Avenue Armory here on Aug. 27 to keep the area accessible for emergency and military traffic to the armory. Both Soldiers are from the Bronx and belong to the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry. The troops are just some of the nearly 2,000 Soldiers and airmen New York Governor Andrew Cuomo mobilized in response to the expected landfall of Hurricane Irene, which has already caused deaths and destruction in other states. Soldiers and Airmen deployed to Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley to assist with traffic control on bridges and tunnels, sandbagging operations at the World Trade Center site, evacuation shelter operations in New York City, the construction of barriers for railway yards and train tunnels, and other hurricane emergency efforts. Soldiers and other New York military forces who were staged at the Lexington Avenue Armory on Aug. 27 have been posted at New York City shelters to assist the American Red Cross and emergency personnel with potential storm victims. Other troops staged at the armory used the time to catch up on sleep in order to be ready for other possible missions.

NEW YORK CITY -- New Army National Guard Soldiers Pfc. Joel Hernandez (left) and Cpl. Kevin Munoz (background, center) direct cars away from the Lexington Avenue Armory here on Aug. 27 to keep the area accessible for emergency and military traffic to the armory. Both Soldiers are from the Bronx and belong to the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry. The troops are just some of the nearly 2,000 Soldiers and airmen New York Governor Andrew Cuomo mobilized in response to the expected landfall of Hurricane Irene, which has already caused deaths and destruction in other states. Soldiers and Airmen deployed to Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley to assist with traffic control on bridges and tunnels, sandbagging operations at the World Trade Center site, evacuation shelter operations in New York City, the construction of barriers for railway yards and train tunnels, and other hurricane emergency efforts. Soldiers and other New York military forces who were staged at the Lexington Avenue Armory on Aug. 27 have been posted at New York City shelters to assist the American Red Cross and emergency personnel with potential storm victims. Other troops staged at the armory used the time to catch up on sleep in order to be ready for other possible missions.

NEW YORK CITY -- A convoy of the New York Army National Guard’s 206th Military Police Company heads to Long Island to conduct disaster recovery operations in the wake of Hurricane Irene on Aug. 28. The Latham-based unit is just part of the nearly 2,000 Soldiers and airmen New York Governor Andrew Cuomo mobilized in response to the expected landfall of the hurricane Irene, which caused deaths and destruction in other states. Soldiers and Airmen deployed to Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley to assist with traffic control on bridges and tunnels, sandbagging operations at the World Trade Center site, evacuation shelter operations in New York City, the construction of barriers for railway yards and train tunnels, and other hurricane emergency efforts. Soldiers and other New York military forces who were staged at the Lexington Avenue Armory on Aug. 27 have been posted at New York City shelters to assist the American Red Cross and emergency personnel with potential storm victims.

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- New York Air National Guard personnel arrive at the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center here on Aug. 28 to become part of Task Force Long Island, which is continuing to assist Nassau and Suffolk county civil authorities with clean up and other emergency response efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene. Task Force Long Island is part of the nearly 2,000 Soldiers and airmen New York Governor Andrew Cuomo mobilized in response to the storm, which caused deaths and destruction in other states. Soldiers and Airmen also deployed to New York City and the Hudson Valley to assist civil authorities there. Task Force Long Island’s advanced party deployed to the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center ahead of the storm on Aug. 27, and with the addition of its reserve on Aug. 28, the task force has now grown to about 450 Soldiers and Airmen, said Maj. Michael Fowler, the task force operations officer. Task force members have been helping civil authorities in Nassau and Suffolk counties with a variety of operations, he explained, including assessing damages to roadways to determine where emergency efforts are needed, and using chainsaws to clear downed trees from roads. The storm also created areas of standing water and damaged traffic lights, Fowler said. Task force members are using Humvees -- which have higher axles -- to move firefighters and paramedics through these inaccessible areas, and providing extra transportation to police agencies, which are using patrol cars to control intersections, he explained. Task Force Long Island is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from National Guard units across the state, including military police units, Fowler stressed. Fowler, of Rochester, is also a Monroe County Sheriff. "We’re providing them with resources to accomplish their missions, and putting extra sets of eyes on the roads," Fowler said. "This is a perfect mission for MPs." The task force also has Soldiers and airmen standing by to help with medical evacuations, he added.

PRATTSVILLE, NY-- U.S. Representative Chris Gibson speaks with members of the New York Army National Guard on State Active Duty here in response to Hurricane Irene. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo activated more than 2,500 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard to respond to the storm. Flooding from extensive rainfalls have caused damage in some upstate areas.

SCHOHARIE COUNTY-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 204th Engineer Company work to repair a road damaged in the wake of Hurricane Irene on Tuesday. August 30.

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the Commander-in-Chief of the New York National Guard and Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the SCHOHARIE--Adjutant General of New York greet Soldiers from the 719th Transportation Company, based in the Harlem Armory in New York, during their Hurricane Irene recovery mission in Schoharie, New York, Aug 29.

SCHOHARIE--New York Army National Guard Sgt. Windollyn V. Patino helps a woman from her Schoharie N.Y. home, where mud and debris from Hurricane Irene floodwaters had trapped her for two days. Patino is a motor transport operator with the 719th Transportation Company which is based at the Harlem Armory.

PRATTVILLE--Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano thanks New York Army National Guard Specialist Whitnee McKinney for her service during a visit here on August 31 as Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey, the commander of Joint Task Force Irene, the New York National Guard force which responded to Hurricane Irene looks on. Napolitano visited Prattsville with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Federal Emergency Management Administration head Craig Fulgate to better understand the damage done by flooding in the area. New York Army National Guard UH-60s flew the team to the location.

LATHAM, N.Y. -- Sgt. Larry Sloan (left), Sgt. Jason Dolan (center) and other New York Army National Guard aviation Soldiers load food aboard a UH60 Blackhawk helicopter at Army Aviation Support Facility 3 on Aug. 31. The food was contributed by the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, and the aviation Soldiers flew it to the victims of flooding which occured in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE-- Members of the New York Guard called to State Active Duty as members of Joint Task Force Irene pose with New York National Guard Brig. General Michael Swezey the task force commander. More than 130 members of the New York Guard, New York’s volunteer defense force, served the state in capacity from evacuation shelter workers to staff officers.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--Members of the New York Naval Militia fall in for formation at Stratton Air National Guard Base during the response to Hurricane Irene. More than 100 members ofthe New York Naval Militia served on State Active Duty during the emergency.

SCHENECTADY-- New York Naval Militia members assist in erecting a sandbag wall around the Schenectady sewage treatment plant to prevent flooding from the Mohawk River Monday, August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene swept through New York Sunday leaving many areas devestated by flood. More than 100 members of Naval Militia, who are also members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserves, responded to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s call to report for State Active Duty

PRATTSVILLE, N.Y. -- New York Air National Guard airmen of the 174th Fighter Wing JISCC Team install an antenna mount near the Emergency Operations Center in Prattsville, N.Y. to provide a communications infrastructure to first responders and flood victims in the area. The Airmen are, standing, from left: Tech. Sgt. Brian Matthews, Senior Master Sgt. Greg Baird and Staff Sgt. Michael McRobbie. Staff Sgt. Jim Tarby and Staff Sgt. Jason Hanavan are on the far right, near the base of the mount.

MIDDLEBURGH, N.Y. -- A Soldier from the New York Army National Guard’s 206th Military Police Company, based in Latham, N.Y. assists volunteers at the Middleburgh Central School clearing debris here Sep. 3. New ork National Guard forces across upstate New York are providing response and recovery support to numerous communities devastated by the floods following Hurricane Irene. Photo by Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, New York National Guard.

PRATTSVILLE - New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Frank Rizzi from the 101st Enhanced Signal Battalion briefs volunteers before heading out for cleanup missions in Prattsville, N.Y. Sep. 4. Some 200 volunteers were supported by the National Guard at this one site as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s "Labor for your Neighbor" Labor Day Weekend service initiative. Troops assisted efforts in Greene, Delaware and Essex Counties. Photo by Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, NY Army National Guard.

COBLESKILL, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Spc. Matthew Greenberg, a truck driver with the 719th Transportation Company, based in Harlem, hands a case of water to Michael Kissinger, a local volunteer to help aid people affected by Hurricane Irene here during the National Guard’s recovery efforts across the Catskills and upstate New York. More than 2,500 Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard were called up by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for the storm’s response and recovery missions.

Middleburgh, N.Y.-- New York Air National Guard Master Sgt Mike Rogers from the 109th Logistics Readiness Squadron uses a chain saw to help break apart a large tree stump which blocks the track at the Middleburg High school. The Airman was one of 55 members of the 109th Airlift Wing, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, N.Y. who assisted in a project to clean up flood damage at the Middleburgh High School. The Airmen cleaned the school’s gym, basketball court, bus garage, boiler room, track, sewage treatment plant, and hallways during the first day of a two-day operation.

MIDDLEBURGH--Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, left, the Adjutant General for the New York National Guard speaks with Capt. Bryan Reed of the 204th Engineer Battalion regarding recovery missions in the Town of Middleburgh, N.Y. Sep. 3. Soldiers and Airmen of the New York National Guard are providing disaster support to recovery efforts in Delaware, Greene and Essex Counties following the floods of Hurricane Irene.

BINGHAMTON--The result of rising waters in the Susquehanna River on the City of Binghamton is clearly evident from a New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter as aviators moved into position to provide assistance to local officials and residents on Thursday, Sept. 8.

NICHOLS--New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Charles Rodda helps residents of Nichols unload supplies for an evacuation shelter from a UH-60 on Thursday night. The Town of Nichols was cut off by flood waters preventing vehicular traffic from reaching its inhabitants. The Guard helicopters airlifted in 11,000 pounds of food, water, and blankets for residents.

NEW YORK, N.Y.--Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard joint with Soldiers of the Army Reserve and the New Jersey National Guard to put in place on of 3,000 American Flags placed in Battery Park at the tip of Manhattan on Sept. 7 to commemorate the Americans killed in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

NEW YORK -- New York National Guard members Staff Sgt. Johnny Noguera, at right, and Spc. Michael Sloan, assigned to Company C from Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the standing homeland security force based at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, provide additional security patrols at JFK International Airport September 11. More than 250 troops provided assistance to the Transportation Security Agency, Port Authority, New York City Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in advance of the city and nation’s commemoration of the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

MALTA-- The 42nd Infantry Division Band marches down Main Street in the Town of Malta on Sunday, Sept. 11, during a parade held to commemorate the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and the emergency responders who rushed to help those in need. The 42nd Special Troops Battalion, the 206th Military Police Company, and the 1108th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) also participated in the event.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Sgt. Mark Keisecker, a premobilization trainer from the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, explains how to search a suspect vehicle to Soldiers of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Assault Battalion during premobilization training for elements of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade here September 14, 2011. The training encompasses a number of traffic control point techniques Soldiers might utliize during deployments overseas. Photo by Master Sgt. Peter Towse, 42nd Infantry Division.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia-- Members of the Navy Reserve welcome the ship’s bell of the USS Schenectady here on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The bell,which has been in storage since the landing ship tank was decommissioned in 1993, will be displayed on the "quarterdeck" of the United States Navy Operational Support Center in the Glenville Armed Forces Reserve Center. The bell was flown from the storage site to the Capital Region on a C-130 assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing.

FORT DRUM -- Sgt. Mark Keisecker, a premobilization trainer from Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, explains how to search a suspect vehicle to Soldiers of Co. A, 3rd Bn, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion during the brigade’s premobilization training here Sept. 14.

FORT DRUM-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion practice the proper way to cross concertina wire during training here on Friday, Sept. 16. The unit is slated to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse New York Air National Guard members of the 174th Fighter Wing and their families watch a 9/11 memorial video to start off family day at Hancock Field in Syracuse NY on Sept 11, 2011. Family Day has been a tradition of the 174th Fighter Wing for many years.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE -- A Soldier from the 369th Sustainment Brigade performs life saving measures during the medical portion of the 2011 53rd Troop Command Squad Stakes competition held at Camp Smith Training area, Cortlandt Manor, NY, September 10, 2011.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Soldiers of Detachment 1, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, prepare a wounded pilot for transport during the mounted execution training lane September 17, 2011. The premobilization training encompasses a number of individual and team tasks required for deployment overseas. The unit is part of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade and is slated to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

WRIGHT-PATERSON AIR FORCE BASE,Dayton, Ohio--Some of the New York Air National Guard members who took part in the Air Force Marathon and Air Force Half-Marathon races held at the Air Force Museum here on Sept. 17. Pictured are: SMSgt Jerard Roper (109 AMXS); SMSgt Donna Roper (JFHQ); MSgt Linda Mies (174 FSS),MSgt Christopher Moore (109 CF); and SrA Brian Alexander (109 CF). Not pictured but participating were: MAJ Aaron Lancaster (139 AS);TSgt Geoff Cerrone (139 AS; Sgt Sanning Pingitore (JFHQ); and Capt Michelle Buonome (JFHQ).

FORT DRUM-- A Maine Army Guard Soldier training with the New York Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion scans for the enemy as he goes through the combat course here on Sept. 24. The unit is training for a potential deployment to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE--New York Army National Guard Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-108th Infantry Battalion board a plane here September 30, 2011. More than 2000 New York Army National Guard troops are headed for the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, California for premobilization training as they prepare for a deployment to Afghanistan. The training area at NTC is located in the Mojave Desert, just south of Death Valley where temperatures reach over 100 degrees

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse-- Italian Air Force Chief Warrant Officer Lorenzo Scafuto and Staff Sgt. Marco Redavide along with classmates U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. James Davison and Staff Sgt. Scott Koor work together on an MQ-9 while receiving instructions from their instructor Master Sgt. Scott Simpson at the Field Training Detachment (FTD) in Syracuse NY, on 20 Sept 2011. Scafuto and Redavide are the first Italian Air Force members to receive formal training on the MQ-9.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Pfc. Jacob Weitzel from Company D 3rd Battalion 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion vaults a wall to secure a village during the dismounted execution fight lane September 20, 2011 during premobilization training here. The premobilization training encompasses a number of individual and team tasks required for deployment overseas. The unit is part of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade and is slated to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

The New York National Guard was on hand commemorating the 182nd ceremony to honor the birthday of the 21st President of the United States, Chester A. Arthur on Oct. 5. Brig. Gen. Anthony German and State Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Wicks render salutes while taps are played by a member of the color guard. Before becoming President, Arthur was a practicing attorney in New York City. He also served in and was instrumental in reorganizing the New York State militia. Eventually, he would be promoted to the rank of brigadier general by then, New York Governor, Edwin Morgan. Arthur became president after the assassination of President James Garfield in 1881 and remained in office until 1865 and dying in New York City in 1886. Arthur and his wife are buried in Rural Cemetery, Albany, N.Y.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. -- New York Air National Guard Staff Sgt Christopher Culver assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing’s Electrical Environmental Systems sections meets Chief Master Sergeant Christopher E. Muncy the tenth Command Chief Master Sergeant to the Director of the Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC. Chief Munci spent the day touring the 109th Airlift Wing meeting the unit members and learning about their mission.

NEW YORK CITY-- New York Naval Militia Petty Officer Ken Stefandel, a crewman on Naval Militia Patrol Boat 440, watches while efforts are made to rescue the passengers of a Bell Jet Ranger tourist helicopter which crashed in the East River on October 4. PB 440 was on patrol that afternoon and was one of many watercraft which responded to lend assistance if necessary. PB 440 conducts regular patrols of New York City’s waterways in coordination with the United States Coast Guard as part of Joint Task Force Empire Shield.

FORT DRUM, NY New York Air National Guard Colonel Charles Dorsey, 174th Fighter Wing vice Commander, briefs the media at Wheeler Sack Army-Air Field on Ft. Drum NY on 5 Oct 2011. The press conference was relaying the message of the joint effort to stand up MQ-9 flying ops and the realistic training that will help keep Ft. Drum soldiers safe on the battlefield.

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, CA -- Pvt. 2 Geoff Eastman of Mastic, N.Y. and other New York Army National Guard Soldiers of Company C, 2-108th Infantry provide security while conducting a react-to-contact drill here Oct. 3. The unit, based in Gloversville, N.Y., is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is training here as part of its preparations for mobilization and deployment to Afghanistan in early 2012. About 1,500 of the Soldiers are currently scheduled to deploy.

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. - New York Army National Guard Soldiers Sgt. Luke Zuercher (left) and Spc. Ryan Blount from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team use maps, rocks and sand to create a sand table so brigade leaders can conduct briefings on the unit’s planned actions during its movement through the Fort Irwin’s National Training Center Exercise area. The unit arrived at Fort Irwin late in September, and is conducting simulated combat missions and stability operations in preparation for its deployment to Afghanistan in early 2012.

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. " New York Army National Guard Soldiers from C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry maneuver through a mock village here Oct. 9 during training. The NTC training rotation, through late October, provides Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team with a realistic, demanding training environment. The exercise stresses leaders, Soldiers and staffs in a simulated combat environment. The unit, based in Buffalo, N.Y., is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, training here as part of its preparations for mobilization and deployment to Afghanistan in early 2012. About 1,500 of the Soldiers are currently scheduled to deploy. U.S. Army photo by

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. " New York Army National Guard Private Christopher Hennings from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 108th infantry secure a good firing position on a mock insurgent compound here Oct. 8 during training. The Soldiers are training here as part of the unit’s preparations for mobilization and deployment to Afghanistan with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in early 2012. About 1,500 of the Soldiers are currently scheduled to deploy.

FORT IRWIN, Calif. " Geospatial engineers (from left) Sgt. 1st Class Vince Tomasello of Rochester, N.Y., Spc. Ryan Blount of Medina, N.Y. and Sgt. Luke Zeurcher of Mattydale, N.Y., of the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team construct a sandtable as the unit prepares for the headquarters Combined Arms Rehearsal here Oct. 3. The brigade leadership and staff are preparing for their rotation at the National Training Center as part of the unit&rsquot;s upcoming mobilization and deployment to Afghanistan in early 2012. The exercise will include more than 2,000 Soldiers from the brigade, along with a battalion from the South Carolina Army National Guard, with a realistic, demanding training environment.

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. " New York Army National Guard Deputy Commander Brig. General Brian Balfe (far right) observes Company B, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry as they prepare to begin their assault on a mock insurgent compound here Oct. 8 during training. The Soldiers are training here as part of the unit’s preparations for mobilization and deployment to Afghanistan with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in early 2012. About 1,500 of the Soldiers are currently scheduled to deploy.

LATHAM - Spc. Alex Dukharan, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, takes a crack at collapsing the Standard Integrated Command Post System (SICPS) tent that the 42nd CAB pulled out of storage on Oct. 15 to allow Soldiers to gain more experience assembling and disassembling. The 42nd CAB received the SICPS equipment during a new equipment fielding exercise last July at Fort Drum. For 29 more photos of this training event, go to CAB Facebook photos under MORE SICPS.

GLENVILLE-- Lt. Col. Rob Mitchell, commander of the 501st Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) hugs a family member after the unit returned from its deployment in Iraq on Saturday, Oct. 15. The 501st Soldiers spent 10 months in Basra, Iraq, overseeing counter-IED operations in southern Iraq.

TROY, NY-- Capt. Nathaniel King and Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Volcheck, commander and command sergeant major of Headquarters and Services Company, 42nd Infantry Division (-), stand at the head of their section during the standup of the newly designated 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion on Sunday October 16 at the Glenmore Road Armory.

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. " New York Army National Guard Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry man an entry control point at Forward Operating Base Miami here Oct. 12. The unit, based in Niagara Falls, N.Y., is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), training here as part of the brigade&rsquot;s preparations for mobilization and deployment to Afghanistan in early 2012. The training provides brigade Soldiers with a realistic, demanding, simulated combat environment. About 1,500 of the Soldiers are currently scheduled to deploy.

KINGSTON-- A New York Army National Guard Soldier from the 204th Engineer Battalion works to take down the Kings Inn, an abandoned building on Broadway here, on Wednesday, October 18. Twenty-five members of the 827th Engineer Company and the 1156th Engineer company are taking down the building so that the site can be used for a joint New York National Guard/civilian first responder exercise on Nov. 5. The partially demolished motel will replicate a building hit by a terrorist attack.

FORT DRUM-- An MQ-9 assigned to the 174th Fighter Wing takes to the air for the first time at Fort Drum’s Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield. Working out of its launch and recovery site at Wheeler-Sack the 174th flew its own MQ-9 Reaper for the first time on Tuesday Oct. 18. The 174th has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to receive permission to fly and just last week was approved for flying. The fighter wing will fly the remotely piloted aircraft in restricted airspace around Fort Drum to train pilots and sensor operators working from Syracuse’s Hancock Field.

EASTERN AIR DEFENSE SECTOR, Rome--Col. Dawne Deskins, the deputy commander of the Eastern Air Defense Sector, briefs Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand during her tour of the unit on Friday, Oct. 21. Brig. Gen. Anthony P. German, Chief of Staff New York Air National Guard, and Col. John Bartholf, EADS Commander, are pictured to Gillibrand&rsquot;s right. In addition to the short presentation, the Senator receive a classified tour of EADS operations floor.

ROCHESTER-- Rochester area employers learn about New York Army National Guard aviation units based at Army Aviation Support Facility #2 here during an Employer Support to the Guard and Reserve lunch here on on Friday, Oct. 21. The employers got to meet with unit leaders and Soldiers, got a briefing on the unit missions and a ride in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- New York Army National Guard Col. Geoffrey Slack hosts Civil War Reenactor Neil Morrison, a member of the Southern California Civil War reenactors of the 69th Infantry Regiment and curator of the Fort Irwin Museum. The Civil War reenactors met with their contemporary peers of the Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry and talked about the differences in the lives of 69th Soldiers over the past 150 years. Col. Slack is the former battalion commander of the 69th Infantry and now commands the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The brigade is completing its redeployment home from the NTC training Oct. 22.

MCARTHUR AIRPORT,Ronkonkoma, NY-- New York Air National Guard Airmen assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing Security Forces Squadron meet their family members here following their return from a six month deployment to Afghanistan on October 21.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. --105th Security Force troops practice Tactical ATV driving skills on a course set up by the unit trainers during the 105th Airlift Wing’s Unit Training Assembly on Sept. 17, 2011.

SARATOGA SPRNGS-- Participants in the "Theater of War" performance held at the New York State Military Museum on Monday Oct 24 pose in front of the Museum’s "Today’s Guard" exhibit prior to the show. They are, from left, Museum manager Michael Aikey; Friends of the New York State Military Museum President Lance Ingmire; actors John Doman, Glen Davis, Chinasa Ogbuago, and Jesse Eisenberg; and director Brian Doeries. Eisenberg is best known for his starring role in the film "The Social Network" where he portrayed Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.The performance uses readings of Greek plays to relate to today’s Soldiers.

ROME--Gen. Charles Jacoby Jr., commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and Northern Command presents an excellent coin to New York Air National Guard Capt. Chris Combs, assistant chief of operations for the Eastern Air Defense Sector, during a visit to the EADS facility on Thursday, Oct. 27. Crum was recognized for planning and coordinating the activities that keep EADS functioning during planned power outages. Looking on is Col. Wade Dewey, EADS Director of Operations. EADS is responsible for air defense command and control over the Eastern United States

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor--New York Army National Guard Specialist Lawrence Stayton, a member of Company C 1st Battalion 69th Infantry visits with his daughter, two and a half-year old Selena Stayton, during a Build-A-Bike event the USO and New York National Guard Family Programs sponored in conjunction with the units return from the National Training Center in California on Oct. 22. The bikes were donated and put together by employees of Endurance Services Ltd, a White Plains company and then given to the USO to be distributed to children of militry families in the Hudson Valley.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION--Major General Patrick Murphy (center) the Adjutant General of New York cuts the ribbon officially opening the Niagara Falls Armed Forces Reserve Center which the New York Army National Guard’s Headquarters Troop of the 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry shares with United States Army Reserve units. Murphy is joined by (from left to right) a representative of the Niagara Military Affairs Council; Army Reserve Ambassador Norbert Rappl; Col. Andrew Burns, Inspector General of the 99th Army Reserve Command;and Col. Allan Swartzmiller; Commander of the Air Force Reserve’s 914th Airlift Wing. The Armed Forces Reserve Center is located on Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station which is also the home of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING CENTER, Cortlandt Manor-- New York Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Calvin Hicklin, a 105th Security Forces Squadron fire team leader, leads a foot patrol around the training site in search for improvise explosive devices at Camp Smith, N.Y., Oct. 27, 2011. The Active Air Force 823rd Base Defense Squadron, based at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. and the 105th Security Forces Squadron, a part of the 105th Airlift Wing were integrated together to standardize training between the two squadrons. The 105th Security Forces Squadron deploys Airmen in support of the 823rd when that Active Air Force element sends troops overseas.

LATHAM-- Members of the Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters federal and state staff members who raised money and collected goods for Unity House Domestic Violence Shelter in the Capital Region pose for the camera. The group brought in baked goods. Guard members and civilian employees donated cash or goods in return for the items.The group raised $400 and collected a load of diapers, healthcare products and clothing.

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- New York National Guard Soldiers from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or High Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package bring a simulated casualty to the decontamination site here during a domestic operation training exercise Nov. 5. The National Guard members trained alongside city, county and state first responders for a simulated radiological dispersion device, known as a dirty bomb in downtown Kingston.

ROCHESTER - Col. Mark Stryker (right) presents the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion colors to in-coming commander Lt. Col. Jack James during a change of command ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility 2 on Nov. 5 as out-going 642nd commander Lt. Col. Scott Norcutt relinquishes command. Norcutt, who took command in 2008, is an Iraq War veteran and former Deputy Director of Aviation and Safety for Joint Force Headquarters-NY. James is a West Point graduate who has held leadership roles in the 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion and 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade. He started his aviation career as a pilot with the 25th Infantry Division.

ORCHARD PARK, Buffalo-- One hundred New York Army National Guardsmen reaffirm their oath of service and later participated in a flag unfurling at the start of a Buffalo Bills National Football League game here Nov. 6 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the Bills hosted the New York Jets. Soldiers with the 42nd Infantry Division, 53rd Troop Command and 204th Engineer Battalion Forward Support Co. took part in the ceremony, which was taped and played during the games half-time in front of a sold-out crowd of 70,000 spectators. The Jets went on to defeat the Bills 27-11. Photo by Spc. Jimmy Bedgood, 42nd Infantry Division.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY - A member of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing’s Security Forces Squadron takes part in "active shooter" training on November 6th, 2011 at F.S. Gabreski (ANG) in Long Island. In this scenerio, an element of Security Forces airmen move in a tactical formation towards Building 345, where there have been reports of shots fired.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- A team of 105th Airlift Wing maintainers hone their skills by participating in a Crash, Damaged, Disabled, Aircraft, Recovery exercise during the Unit Training Assembly Nov. 6, 2011. The exercise is an annual requirement for CCDAR team proficiency which also lets Airmen use the palletized equipment and ensures it is ready for use. Recover kits are made up of inflatable air bags, protective mats, air manifolds, hoses and air compressors. Recovery of a damaged or disabled aircraft is not as simple as just inflating some bags under the plane. CCDAR teams use instructions called Technical Orders which instruct them on locating the proper lift points, how to prepare the ground under the lift points, maximum bag height, bag inflation order and air pressures to name a few of the requirements.

ALBANY, NY- New York Naval Militia Patrol Board PB221, with Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Gauci, a Whitehall resident, and Petty Officer Garrett Aldershoff, of Scotia, at the helm passes the U.S.S. Slater, a World War II destroyer/ museum ship docked in downtown Albany, during boat handling training on Nov. 9.

ALBANY (Nov. 10, 2011)-- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, shown here visting New York Army National Guard Soldiers in August, today anmnounced his "Experience Counts" campaign which will facilitate the transfer of military skills to the public and private sectors by returning veterans. Governor Cuomo also announced the expansion of the state&rsquot;s Council on Returning Veterans and Their Families and tasked the Council with finding more ways to properly credit military experience in the civilian workforce.

NEW YORK--New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 369th Sustainment Brigade, led by deputy commander Lt. Col. Brian Marshall, stand at attention as they wait to step-off down Fifth Avenue during New York City’s Annual Veteran’s Day Parade on Nov. 11.

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Chaplain (1st Lt.) Raziel Amar recites the Veterans Prayer during the Veterans Day Service and Reception held at the Times Square Church on Nov. 11. New York Army National Guard chaplains, chaplains candidates and chaplains assistants from the 369th Special Troops Battalion, the 369th Sustainment Brigade, the 101st Enhanced Signal Battalion, the 3rd Battalion 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, and Joint Forces Headquarters participated in the event.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse--Italian Air Force Chief Warrant Officer Lorenzo Scafuto and Staff Sgt. Marco Redavide work together on a MQ-9, while receiving feedback from their instructor Master Sgt. Scott Simpson at the Field Training Detachment (FTD) in Syracuse NY, on 20 Sept 2011. Scafuto and Redavide are the first Italian Air Force members to receive formal maintenance training on the MQ-9. They are part of the 100th graduating class from the 174 FW FTD, which is the sole formal MQ-9 maintenance training facility in the U.S. Air Force.

ALBANY-- Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General, speaks to a group of employers and veterans at the "Hire Our Heroes" Career Fair sponsored by the New York State Department of Labor at the Zaloga American Legion Post. Murphy urged the employers to hire veterans for jobs at their companies.

LATHAM-- New York Army National Guard Private (E-2)Rodrigo Sanchez, a member of Detachment 1, Company A, 1-224th Aviation Security & Support Battalion, is congratulated on his promotion on Saturday, Nov. 19, by Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Teichner, the detachment commander, following a flight in one of the detachment’s OH-58 helicopters. Sanchez was rewarded for his hard work in the unit with an incentive flight in the back seat of an OH-58 on a training mission.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Robert Giordano, left, receives the colors of the 1st Battalion, 106th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) during his assumption of command ceremony here Nov. 20. Giordano, an Iraq war veteran from Rexford, N.Y., took command from Lt. Col. Michael McGurty, an Afghan war veteran from Montgomery, N.Y. The 106th RTI provides leadership and Soldier training for New York and other northeastern state Army National Guard forces. Handing command to Giordano is the 106th RTI Commander Col. Michel Natali. Photo by Spc. James Roa, New York Army National Guard.

NEW YORK--New York Army National Guard Specialist Brittany Holly,a member of Joint Task Force Empire Shield assists law enforcement during Operation Safe Rail at Grand Central Station here on Nov. 23, the heaviest travel day of the year. The 250 members of the task force assisted law enforcement agencies throughout the day at train stations and airports in New York City.

CAMP SMITH, Peekskill -- Sgt. Joseph Calleja, 727th Military Police (Law and Order) Detachment presents his 2 year old son Joseph Jr. and his wife Yahaira, with a "Soldier" Build-A-Bear during a departure ceremony, Nov 27. The bears were donated to the unit and each Soldier was able to record a personalized message to their loved ones. The Soldiers departed for overseas deployment training and police certification at Ft. Bliss, Texas and will provide safety and security for operations bases in northern Afghanistan later this year.

CHARLETON, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Jason Wells assists FedEx driver Don Pelletier load Christmas Trees here at Ellms Tree Farms Nov. 28. Wells and another six Soldiers volunteered to assist in the annual "Trees for Troops" loading of about 115 donated trees bound for military installations and families around the country and the globe.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION--Five year-old cancer survivor, Donovan Benzin sits at the controls of a C-130 Hercules during a visit to the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing, on Saturday. Nov. 20. Donovan visited the wing while Special Spaces Buffalo, a non-profit that creates bedrooms for children struggling with serious illnesses turned his room into a military-themed space.

SCOTIA-- New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey thanks members of the New York Naval Militia, who also serve with the United States Navy Reserve for their service during the state response to Tropical Storm Irene during a ceremony at the Scotia Armed Forces Reserve Center on Sunday, Dec. 4. Swezey, who commanded Joint Task Force Irene during the storm response, presented New York State Humanitarian Service Medals to 40 Naval Reserve members during the Sunday morning event.

LATHAM-- New York Air National Guard Commander, Major General James W. Kwiatkowski, known as "General Kiwi" receives a globe as a retirement present from the Air National Guard’s wing commanders during a retirement ceremony held Saturday, Dec. 3 at Joint Forces Headquarters here. Making the presentation were, from left, Brig. Gen. Verle Johnson, commander of the 105th Airlift Wing; Col. Tom Owens, commander of the 106th Rescue Wing; Kwiatkowski; Col. Jim McCready,commander of the 107th Airlift Wing; Col. Tim LaBarge, commander of the 109th Airlift Wing, Col. Kevin Bradly, commander of the 174th Fighter Wing, and Col. Dawn Deskins, vice commander of the Eastern Air Defense Sector.Kwiatowski is slated to retire in January 2012.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONALG GUARD BASE, Syracuse--U.S. Representative Ann Marie Buerkle, 25th District of New York, examines the camera turret of an MQ-9 remotely piloted aircrat with 174th Fighter Wing Commander Col Kevin W. Bradley at Hancock Field on 4 Dec 2011. Mrs. Buerkle took time to visit with airman from the 174th after attending the grand opening of the Joint Health and Wellness Center on Hancock Field.

FORT DRUM--U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt Russell Youngs, the 174th FW Command Chief, and Tech. Sgt. Michael Griepsma work atop an 85 ft. communications tower at Adirondack Range, Ft. Drum NY on 22 Nov 2011. The towers are used to hold cameras to view targets down range.

SYRACUSE-- New York Air National Guard Col. Tim Lunderman, commander of the 222nd Command and Control Squadron, poses with Rick and Lori Schneider after receiving "Real Heroes" awards from the American Red Cross. The three worked together to aid an elderly woman suffering a medical emergency at Hancock Airport on July 10. Only after the emergency was over did they realize they’d met at the funeral of the Schneider’s son, Marine Cpl. Kyle R. Schneider two days earlier. Cpl. Schneider was killed in Action on June 30, 2011.

SCOTIA-- Members of the New York Naval Militia who turned out on State Active Duty during the New York Military Forces response to Tropical Storm Irene gathered at the Armed Forces Reserve Center here on Dec. 3 to receive New York Humanitarian Service medals from New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Swezy, the commander of Joint Task Force Irene.

KINGSTON-- A member of the New York Army National Guard’s 204th Engineer Battalion finishes the demolition of the old King’s Inn motel here on Dec. 6. The 204th Engineer Battalion tore down part of the eyesore so that the location could be used for an emergency response drill on Nov. 5. Battalion Soldiers were on the location this week to finish the demolition. The city plans to redevelop the site.

NEW YORK -- New York Army National Guard Col. Trevor Jackson, commander of the 53rd Army Liaison Team speaks to students from Brooklyn’s Williamsburg High School during an education seminar held at the Park Avenue Armory on Nov. 7-8. The students visiting the event learned about different education and career options, including membership in the Army National Guard.

SARATOGA--New York National Guard Maj. Gen. Steven Wickstrom speaks with Soldiers as they view historic battlefield grounds at the Saratoga National Historic Park on December 10, 2011. Wickstrom, the Commanding General of the 42nd Infantry Division from Upton, MA, along with other leaders of various capacities from across New York state received a guided tour of the Saratoga Battlefield as part of the Fall 2011 Operations, Training and Mobilization Conference held in Saratoga Springs. "It’s important for our leaders to be familiar with military history," Wickstrom said. Conference attendees were able to view the grounds upon which many of the Battles of Saratoga took place, including Freeman and Barber Farms, and the Breymann Redoubt.

LATHAM-- The National Guard of the United States turns 375 Years old today,Dec. 13. On this day in 1636 the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a law establishing formal militia companies in the colony. These companies were made up of all adult males older than 16 and were expected to meet and train in military skills regularly.In New York, the first citizen-soldiers were members of the Burgher Guard, organized by the Dutch East Indian Company in 1640 to help protect New Amsterdam from their English neighbors in Massachusetts and Virginia or from hostile natives. Citizen soldiers of the militia and National Guard have fought in all of America’s wars from King Philips War against Native Americans in the New England Colonies in 1675 to the struggle in Afghanistan today.

HUDSON VALLEY VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CAMPUS, MONTROSE, N.Y. -Nolly Climes on keyboard and retired Chief Master Sgt. Robert Faiano playing acoustic guitar, Kathy Fiano and New York Air National Guard sergeants Dorie Weber, Kate Durkins and Tim McDonough sing carols during an annual holiday party supported by air guardsmen of the 105th Airlift Wing, Dec. 3, 2011.

LATHAM - Five Soldiers and Airmen from the New York National Guard whose birthdays fell on Dec. 13, the same day as the National Guards 375th Birthday cut the birthday cake simultaneously as Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the state adjutant general and Brig. Gen Anthony German, the deputy adjutant general look on. The Soldiers and Airmen are, from left: Spec. Justin Phillips, 1427th Transportation Company; Master Sgt. Ian Tucker, 174th Fighter Wing; Sgt. Major David Smith, Headquarters 42nd Infantry Division; Master Sgt. Brenda Baxter, 152nd Air Operations Group; and Sgt. Joseph Dumas, 827th Engineer Company .

LEADVILLE, Colo. - Capt. Eric Fritz, commander of Detachment 1,Company B, 3-126th ’The Kongs’ General Support Aviation Battalion promotes Spc. Andy Macgregor to Sgt. in Leadville on Dec. 5. On Dec. 5, two CH-47s left Rochester, N.Y. for Gypsum, Colo. While in route to the training site, they stopped a Lake County Airport, Leadville, the highest airport in the United States with an elevation of 9,927 feet, to promote Macgregor. The 126th is preparing for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan and the high altitude of Colorado provides an excellent training site. Over the next few months the unit will be rotating its pilots through the course in order to make the unit mission ready.

NEW YORK -- New York Army National Guard Spc. Raymond Guzman, human resource specialist with the 369th Sustainment Brigade poses with his family and Santa at the "Harlem Hellfighter’s" holiday party here at the 5th Avenue Armory on Dec. 11. Photo by Sgt. Michael Davis, 369th Sustainment Brigade.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Spc. David Acevedo, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade is instructed on how to set up his head gear for use in the Virtual Route Clearing Trainer while other 42nd CAB Soldiers look on. The virtual trainer uses animated battle scenarios to train Soldiers to make life-saving decisions and take action while convoying on roads in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more photos, go to the 42nd CAB’s Facebook photo section.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION--Santa arrives on a C-130 flown by Airmen of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing on Dec. 11, 2011. Santa distributed gifts to 15 children from the Niagara Children ETC, a preschool that caters to special education students. The school is just across from the base.

ROME--New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Chad Gerrard points out Santa’s radar track to Staff Sgt. Kristen Smith, who prepares to relay the information during Santa tracking operations at the Eastern Air Defense Sector here. EADS is a part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and supports NORAD’s Santa tracking mission every Christmas Eve.

NIAGARA FALLS--National Guard Airmen from the 107th Airlift Wing along with mission staff unloaded boxes of food, canned goods and frozen turkeys stocking up the food pantry at the Niagara Falls Community Mission. Front row; Master Sgt. Steven Buja, Tech. Sgt. Paul Wiegand, Master Sgt. Mark Lewandowski, Tech. Sgt. Amanda Doherty. Back row; Senior Airman Robert Kurzdorfer, Tech. Sgt. Krystatore Stegner and Airman 1st Class Tony Lewandowski. Front row; Master Sgt. Steven Buja, Tech. Sgt. Paul Wiegand, Master Sgt. Mark Lewandowski, Tech. Sgt. Amanda Doherty. Back row; Senior Airman Robert Kurzdorfer, Tech. Sgt. Krystatore Stegner and Airman 1st Class Tony Lewandowski. on December 21, 2011.

STEWART ANGB, N.Y. "Technician Judy preps A1C Deanna De Laura for her donation of blood at the holiday blood drive, Dec. 23, 2011.

NEW YORK-- A New York Army National Guard Soldier assigned to Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the New York National Guard’s full time security force in New York City, patrols Pennsylvania Station with police officers on Christmas Eve. The members of Joint Task Force Empire Shield supported civilian police agencies in providing a security presence in New York City over the holiday weekend.

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 466th Area Support Medical Company and 1427th Transportation Company step off for the 2011 Christmas Eve road march in Glens Falls, N.Y. Carrying the banner from left are Privates Spencer Thibault from Lake George, Brittany Derocher of Glens Falls and Private 1st Class James Zito of South Glens Falls. More than 500 Soldiers, family members, area veterans and community members participated in the eighth annual event.

NEW YORK -- New York Army National Guard Spec. Melvin Seally, assigned to Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the New York National Guard’s full time security force in New York City, patrols Pennsylvania Station with police officers on Christmas Eve. The members of Joint Task Force Empire Shield will be on duty New Years Eve supporting civilian police agencies.

ALBANY- New York Army National Guard Major Denise Sherman leads the Pledge of Allegiance during ceremonies that kicked off Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo&rsquot;s State-of-The-State at the Empire State Convention Center on Wednesday January 4. A New York Army National Guard Honor Guard also participated in the event and 50 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard, representing the 4,000 Guard members who responded to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, were honored by the governor during his remarks.

ALBANY-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers and Airmen stand as they are recognized by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, along with other responders to the twin disasters of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, during the governor’s State-of-the-State Address on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

LATHAM - Aviation Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade pose after completing the first phase of competition for Soldier of the Year-2012. The Soldiers are from left: Sgt. Nicodeme Esmel, Sgt. Joshua Rosenthal, Spc. Harley Jelis, Staff Sgt. Matthew Sailer, Spc. Alex Dukharan, Sgt. Michelle Early and Spc. Devin Felton. Sailer, Jelis and Early were selected as primary choices to advance to the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade’s Soldier board that will pit them against aviation Soldiers from within the brigade.

KINGSTON, N.Y.-- New York Army National Guard Capt. Dan Colomb, commander of the 1156th Engineer Company, displays the Greene County Proclamation presented by Legislative Chairman Wayne Speenburgh and members of the Greene County Legislature, at left, following a honors ceremony here at the Kingston Armory Jan. 7. About 120 Soldiers from the 1156th Engineers staged with other New York National Guard troops prior to the landfall of Hurricane Irene August 26, 2011 at Camp Smith and Kingston, N.Y. When flooding occurred in Windham and other communities, Soldiers were sent to aid civil authorities., Assigned to rescue trapped civilians in Windham, the Soldiers had to get out of their vehicles, lock arms, enter the sometimes waist-deep water, and use baby steps to find safe fording sites free of drop-offs or other hazards, Colomb said. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brian Godette, 138th Public Affairs Detachment.

LATHAM - Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade undertake guidance in combative maneuvers from 2nd Lt. Dawn Hersey on Jan. 8 at the Latham headquarters. The course was instructed by Sgt. 1st Class Luis Barsallo (not shown). To view all photos of this training, go to the 42nd CAB Facebook.

STEWART ANGB, NEWBURGH N.Y. --Brig. Gen. Verle L. Johnston, Jr. commander of the 105th Airlift Wing and 105th Command Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Rizzo pose with the 2012 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for the wing. They are, (Left to Right) : Master Sgt. Theodore Speiss, Senior NCO, Staff Sgt. Anthony Rivera, NCO, Master Sgt. Brian Reynolds, 1st Sgt and Airman 1st Class Kurtis Holzapfel, Honor Guard. 105Airlift Wing Outstanding Airman of the Year, SrA Michael Derasmo was not available.

CAMP SMITH--New York Army National Guard Major Luis Marquez speaks with Cable Channel News 12 Reporter Chelsea Edmonds during a farewell ceremony for the New York Stability Transition Team held here on Sunday, Jan. 15. The team, composed of 48 Army National Guard Senior officers and non-commissioned officers will work with Afghan National Army and police force units to help prepare for the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces. The team will train at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and deploy to Afghanistan later this year. Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General, and other senior leaders took part in the event, which included a lunch for team members and their families

VERPLANCK--New York Naval Militia Aviation Boatswains Mate Christian Diamante, demonstrates mooring procedures for Patrol Boat 400 to New York Army National Guard Spec. Matthew Mercurio. Both men are assigned to the Joint Task Force Empire Shield mission at the Indian Point Nuclear Power plant.

COHOES, N.Y. - New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Marlene C. Frankovic, a Stay on Track instructor with the New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, speaks to a classroom of children at Cohoes Middle School here Jan. 18. Frankovic, who has worked with the Counterdrug Task Force since 1996, told students various ways to say "no" to drug dealers. The Counterdrug Task Force reached more than 8,000 middle school students (grades 6,7 and 8) in 100 different schools in 2011 as part of its Drug Demand Reduction efforts.

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba-- Major General Patrick Murphy,the Adjutant General of New York, meets with members of the New York Army National Guard’s 107th Military Police Company during a visit to the unit at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base on Jan. 19. The Utica-based MPs are providing security at the detention facility there.

WEST POINT-- New York Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Steven Wickstrom, at right, commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, presents a historic print of the division’s Iraq deployment signed by many of the veterans of the unit as a retirement gift to Brig Gen. Paul Genereux during Genereux’s retirement ceremony here on Saturday, Jan. 14. Genereux is the past commander of the 42nd Infantry Division and former Deputy Commander of the division during the unit’s deployment to Iraq in 2005. Genereux retires with nearly 40 years of military service. U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, New York National Guard.

WATERVLIET ARSENAL - New York Army National Guard Lt. Tracy Pauquette receives her gold bar as a newly commissioned second lieutenant from Capt. John Klimes during a commissioning ceremony here Jan. 19. Pauquette, from Granville, N.Y., recently graduated from the National Guard Accelerated Officer Candidate School. She was previously assigned as a sergeant in the 1427th Transportation Company in Queensbury and will remain in the same company, serving now as an officer in charge of Soldiers. Klimes, from Clifton Park, N.Y., commands the 1427th and was joined by Maj. Michael Alfano, from Guilderland, N.Y., the New York Army National Guard officer accessions team chief. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Petibone, Joint Force Headquarters. (RELEASED)

STEWART ANGB NEWBURGH, N.Y. --Staff Sgt. Jonah Johnson reviews a drill plan during a 105th Honor Guard training session while members of the NY Guard’s 5th Legal Service Detachment 56th Brigade, provide free legal assistance to Marines of MALS49 during a Yellow Ribbon event session in the base dining facility on January 20.

STEWART ANGB NEWBURGH, N.Y. --New York Guard 1Lt Paul Clewell, a member of the 5th Legal Services detachment N.Y. Guard helps Marine Corps Reserve members of MALS49 with free legal assistance at a Yellow Ribbon session held in the base dining facility Jan 20, 2012.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia, NY -- Captain Mark Stetzko, an explosive ordnance officer with the 501st Ordnance Battalion pins a National Guard lapel pin on his fiancée Laura Zadzilka during his unit’s Freedom Salute ceremony here on Jan 21. Stetzko returned from Iraq with his unit on Oct 15.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse-- Soldiers of Headquarters Company 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 27th Special Troops Battalion and the 427th Brigade Support Battalion stand in formation during ceremonies held here on Sunday, Jan. 29 to mark their mobilization. The Soldiers will deploy to Camp Shelby Mississippi for post-mobilization and deployent to Kuwait and other locations.

NEW YORK-- New York Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Fergal Foley is awarded the Old Guard of New York City Medal for long outstanding service to the state of New York at the annual Old Guard Ball, here Jan. 28. During his acceptance speech, Foley explained the mission of the New York Guard and added his vision for the state volunteer force, which augments and supports the New York National Guard as required with manpower and skills. In attendance were various military representatives, both retired and active.

LATHAM - Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Teichner, an OH-58 pilot with Detachment 1, Company A, 1-224th Aviation Service and Support Battalion and a full-time technician at Army Aviation Support Facility 3 in Latham gets promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 4 on Feb. 27. The ceremony was attended by the Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy and Teichner’s mother, Joan Teichner, who did the pinning.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE Syracuse-- Soldiers of Headquarters Company 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 27th Special Troops Battalion and the 427th Brigade Support Battalion stand in formation during ceremonies held here on Sunday, Jan. 29 to mark their mobilization. The Soldiers will deploy to Camp Shelby Mississippi for post-mobilization and deployent to Kuwait and other locations.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--Members of the New York Army National Guard&rsquot;s 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry board a JetBlue Aircraft at Hancock Field in Syracuse, NY on January 31, 2012 beginning their long journey to Kuwait. The battalion is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The Guardsmen will receive conduct a security force mission in Kuwait.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia-- New York State Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Elizabeth Glazer sits at the controls of an New York Army National Guard OH-58 helicopter during a visit to the New York National Guard Counter Drug Task Force on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Glazer also visited the 2nd Civil Support Team, which is located at the air base, and inspected an LC-130 "Ski Bird" aircraft used in the Antarctica and Greenland by the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing, during her base visit.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION-- Representative Kathy Hochul speaks to the media during a visit to the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 914th Airlift Wing here. Hochul discussed the impact that defense spending reductions might have on the base. On Tuesday, Jan 31st, Congresswomen Kathy Hochul representing the 26th District of New York visited the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Michelle Roxby, a helicopter pilot in Company B 3rd Battalion 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion speaks to Jenna Lee, the anchor of the Fox News show Happening Now about jobs for veterans on Monday, Feb. 6. Roxby outlined the skills military members bring to employers and spoke about her own efforts to get a civilian job.

CAMP SHELBY, MS -- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is at Camp Shelby preparing to deploy overseas, took time out Feb. 5 to watch Super Bowl XLVI and root for the New York Giants. Soldiers of the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, above, react as the Patriots fail to score in the final seconds of the game, clinching the Giants’ victory. The battalion’s units are based in Buffalo, Rochester, Lockport and Syracuse, N.Y.

LATHAM - 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander, Col. Mark Stryker, conducts the Headquarters and Headquarters Company change of command ceremony between out going commander Capt. Michael Squires (not shown) and 1st Lt. Brandon Reynolds (at left) on Feb. 11 at the CAB’s headquarters in Latham. Squires had commanded HHC for more than two years. To view all photos of this event, go to the 42nd CAB Facebook.

MANAS, Kyrgyzstan-- New York Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Michal Pietkiewicz, a member of the 105th Airlift Wing, and a child rest after playing at the Belovodosky Orphanage during a Manas Area Benefit Outreach Society visit on Nov. 28, 2011. Pietkiewicz is a member of MABOS, which is a private, nonprofit volunteer organization that works with local charities to support the greater Bishkek area and communities near the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Pietkiewicz is a 376th Logistic Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance supervisor deployed from Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY - A Pararescue Jumpers 103rd Rescue Squadron of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing comes in for a landing during tandem jump training here on February 9, 2012.

FORT HAMILTON, Brooklyn - The 24th Civil Support Team conducts training by identifying agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences here. The 24th CST is based at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. Their mission is to support civil authorities at a domestic Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Enhanced high-yield explosives (CBRNE) incident site with identification and assessment of hazards, advice to civil authorities and facilitating the arrival of follow-on military forces during emergencies and incidents of weapons of mass destruction terrorism, intentional and unintentional release of CBRNE materials and natural or man-made disasters in the United States the result in, or could result in, catastrophic loss of life or property.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY - Airmen from the 103rd Rescue Squadron prepare for a flight aboard an HH-60 Pavehawk at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base here on Feb. 9. The 103rd Rescue Squadron is part of the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse --U. S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, Air Combat Command (ACC) Commander, speaks to the Men and Woman of the 174th Fighter Wing and other New York Air National Guard units at Hancock Field in the Main Hanger on 9 Feb. 2012. The visit by the ACC Commander was an opportunity for Hostage to meet with the unit members on a more basic level. Hostage spoke on the relevance of the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) mission at Hancock Field. All base personnel were invited and encouraged by Gen. Hostage to ask him questions openly.

FARMINGDALE--Retired Command Sgt. Major Bob VanPelt, Program Coordinator of the New York National Guard Job Zone, presents David Rivera, Program Manager of the Suffolk County Veteran’s Service Agency, with a keepsake to thank him for his support of a job fair held for veterans and serving New York National Guard Soldiers at the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center on Feb 10. Looking on is New York Army National Guard 1st Lt. David Myones, supervisor of the Field Maintenance Shop at Farmingdale and commander of Company F 427th Brigade Support Battalion. Eighty employers took part in the event which was visited by 175 Soldiers and Veterans.

LATHAM - Thirteen Soldiers participated in this years Soldier/Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year board at the State headquarters in Latham on Feb. 11-12. The Soldiers represented various units within the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade. Back row: Sgt. Matthew Flower from 69th Infantry, Sgt. James Brogile from 642nd Aviation Support Battalion (ASB), Spc. Harley Jelis from 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), Spc. Michael Domingos from 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB) and Spc. Nathan Archer from 101st Cavalry. Middle Row: Spc. Joshua Lord from 69th Inf., Sgt. Brian Davis from 101st Cav., Sgt. 1st Class Armando Torres-Bonilla from 69th Inf. and Staff Sgt. Edward Rose from 142nd AHB. Front row: Sgt. Susan Carrier from 642nd ASB, Pfc. Steven Smith from 42nd Inf. Div. and Sgt. Michelle Early from 42nd CAB. Not in photo: Spc. Joshua Rosenthal from 42nd CAB. Winners in each of three categories were: Rose-NCO of the Year, Torres-Bonilla-Active Guard and Reserve Soldier of the Year and Jelis-Soldier of the Year. Each winner will receive an Army Commendation medal from the 42 CAB. The winners will participate against more New York Army National Guard Soldiers in the State-level Soldier/NCO of the Year board next month. To view more than 100 photos of this event, go to the 42nd CAB Facebook.

MOPTI, Mali--New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Justin Lenz, a Bellmore, N.Y. native with the 369th Sustainment Brigade and Malian army Lt. Abdrahamane Kone, a native from Mopti, Mali acting as Security Operations for Malian Defense Force, have a discussion after the opening ceremony of Atlas Accord ’12 Feb. 9, at Mopti Airfield. Coordinating operations and exchanging ideas for Atlas Accord ’12, a U.S. Army Africa-sponsored bilateral humanitarian and partnership exercise focusing on aerial resupply to remote areas. The 369th sent 35 Soldiers to participate in the logistics exercise.

FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Westhampton Beach-- New York Air National Guard Airman First Class Luke McNamara, a security forces member, sights an empty rifle during training on February 16th, 2012.

FORT DRUM--Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Fighter Wing place chalks on an MQ-9 returning from a training mission at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield in Fort Drum NY, on 14 Feb 2012. The 174th FW uses the airfield as their launch and recovery site.

ROME-- Col. Dawne L. Deskins receives the Eastern Air Defense Sector guidon Friday morning from Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke, Commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region (CONR)/1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern). The passing of the guidon of the New York Air National Guard unit symbolizes Col. Deskins assumption of command. Also pictured is Command Chief Master Sergeant Richard King, the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the New York Air National Guard.

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. -- Spc. Michael Fornbacher treats a mock casualty, played by Spc. Brent Gorman, during a Combat LifeSaver class here Feb. 9. Combat Lifesavers are non-medical Soldiers who provide lifesaving measures as a secondary mission as their primary and combat missions allow. The Soldiers belong to A Company, 4-118th Infantry Battalion, which is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Brigade troops are here preparing to deploy overseas.

GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI--Members of the New York Army National Guard Stability Transition Team pose with Major General Steven Wickstrom, the commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, at the Army National Guard Readiness Center here prior to departing for Afghanistan on Wednesday, Feb. 29. The team of senior officers and non-commissioned officers will advise and train Afghan National Army and Police units during their nine month deployment. Wickstrom and Col Ray Shields, the chief of staff of the Army National Guard, and Col. Gary Yaple, 42nd Infantry Division Chief of Staff, traveled to Gulfport to wish the Soldiers goodbye. The team has been training at nearby Camp Shelby.

GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Westhampton Beach--Senator Kirsten Gillibrand speaks with members of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing during a visit here on Friday, March 2. Gillibrand and Holly Petraeus, head of the Office of Servicemember Affairs for the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau met with Airmen here for an hour to discuss military budget cutbacks and servicemember financial issues. Rep.Tim Bishop also participated in the visit.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse--New York Air National Guard Col. Greg A. Semmel addresses members of Hancock Field Air National Guard Base as the newly selected 174th Fighter Wing Commander on February 4, 2012. Semmel has served as Assistant Vice Commander and Operations Group Commander for the 174th Fighter Wing, as well as an operational test/evaluation pilot at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida and an instructor at the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He will assume commander during a ceremony held on March 4, 2012.

FORT POLK, LA -- Stabilization and Transition Team (STT) members Capt. Keun-Wan Park (middle) and Maj. Luis Marquez (right) dine on Afghan dishes with a former Afghan National Army officer during cultural awareness training here in January. The team, which departed here for Afghanistan on Feb. 29, will be mentoring Afghan National Army soldiers and police officers to create local police in areas where the Taliban has influence

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York greets guests and members of the 105th Airlift Wing military community at the conclusion of the 7th Annual Prayer Breakfast. Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, was the featured speaker at Stewart Air National Guard Base’s event on Friday, March 2.Dolan breakfasted with Air National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve and civilian support personnel as well as their family members. In times of trouble and trial; we turn to our faith, or whatever we believe deeply, for reassurance, comfort, and direction, Dolan said. His message emphasized reaffirming the importance of emotional and spiritual well being and faith in our lives.

CAMP SHELBY, --Sgt. Andrew Brechko, left, and Spc. Travis Wood, right, treat a mock casualty at a casualty collection point during combat lifesaver training here on Feb. 11. Brechko belongs to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Wood belongs to A Company of the 2-108th Infantry Battalion. Brechko is from Windsor, N.Y. and Wood is from Bloomingdale, N.Y.

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--Members of the United States Military Academy Football Team board a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing on Thursday, March 8. The members of the Army Team, all cadets at West Point, were flown to Fort Benning, Georgia aboard two of the wing’s C-17s for a training event.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE--Members from the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard load personnel onto a C-130 Hercules aircraft on 9 March 2012 at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, New York. The 109th deployed 30 members to support Operation EDURING FREEDOM. Members of the 109th will be deployed for at least 60 days.

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. -- New York Army National Guard Soldier Sgt. 1st Class Walter Meshenberg poses with some of the 3,600 boxes of cookies the Girl Scout Council of Suffolk County, N.Y. recently delivered to 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers, who are here preparing to deploy overseas. The cookies were delivered under �Operation: Cookie," which allows people to buy boxes of Girl Scout cookies to be donated to members of U.S. Armed Forces. Meshenberg is also here preparing to deploy with a brigade unit, and he organized the donation with his cousin Jonathan Chekin, who works for the Suffolk County Girl Scout Council. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Drumsta, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

VERPLANCK-- New York Naval Militia Chief Mike Porter, from Forestport (top) and Petty Officer Bharath Bhola, from Cohoes, conduct pre-operations checks on the engine of Naval Militia Patrol Boat 400 prior to conducting a security mission in the Hudson River at the Indian Point nuclear power plant facility on March 9.

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. -- Sgt. Tony Shelton (right) speaks with a role player in a mock village during a field training exercise here March 9. Taylor belongs to the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and brigade Soldiers are here preparing to deploy overseas. Soldiers like Shelton learned how to gather information by making friendly conversation with civilians, and the exercise tested the battalion&rsquot;s ability to perform its Afghanistan mission.

FS GABRESKI FIELD,WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY - New York Air National Guard Senior Airman Tara Langella sights a .50 caliber sniper rifle at F.S. Gabreski ANG on March 14, 2012. She recently graduated from the Air Force’s Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Academy and will instruct fellow Airmen in weapons handling.

NEW YORK CITY-- New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. James Gonyo, the commander of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, joins members of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee in ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, March 15. On St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday March 17, the "Fighting 69th" will once again lead the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

CAMP SHELBY, MS-- Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team training on the new AN/PSQ-20 Enhanced Night Vision Googles as they prepare to deploy overseas.The AN/PSQ-20 is a hybrid night sight that utilizes image intensificaiton (like traditional night vision equipment, PVS-7 / 14, etc.) and thermal imaging to create a combined view that provides a Soldier with a hightened situational awareness at night. The system was issued to troops in the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry. A half day block of instruction trained the Soldiers on use of the PSQ-20 and included a simulated patrol to show the capabilities of the new ENVG’s. Soldier reception of the new PSQ-20’s was enthusiastic.

NEW YORK CITY-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion 69th Infantry lead the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on Saturday March 17. The 69th, which was born as a New York Militia regiment of Irish immigrants, has led the annual parade since the 1850s.

CAMP SHELBY MS--New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the Base Defense Operations Cell (BDOC) pose outside the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum here. The Soldiers, who left here for Kuwait on March 17, are the first 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team troops to undertake an overseas mission since the brigade deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. The BDOC’s overall mission will be to oversee other Soldiers and contractors providing force protection at bases in Kuwait. Other brigade Soldiers are here preparing to deploy for overseas missions as well.

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. -- Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team move and treat mock casualties during a mass casualty exercise here March 7. Brigade Soldiers are here preparing to deploy overseas. The casualty exercise and others like it took place during a larger field training exercise which tested the battalion&rsquot;s ability to perform its Afghanistan mission.

NEW YORK CITY-- General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff leads members of the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion 69th Infantry in a chorus of "The Fighting 69th", an Irish folk song about the regiment, at the Lexington Avenue Armory on March 17 during St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. Dempsey joined the Soldiers to recognize the 69ths unique role in leading the St. Patrick’s Day Parade each year.

HATTIESBURG, Miss -- Spc. Matthew Shearer, of Voorheesville, N.Y., inspects the exterior of an airliner following a flight. Shearer belongs to C Company, 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, which used the airport to learn airport security operations March 12 to 14. Airport security is one of several missions C Company may be performing when it deploys to Bahrain. The unit is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and brigade Soldiers are at Camp Shelby, Mississippi preparing to go overseas.

LAKE PLACID-- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Nick Cunningham, a member of the United States Bobsled Team and the 1156th Engineer Company, sets off on a run during competition here February, 17-19. Cunningham placed ninth in the two-man sled races out of 29 sleds and finished at the number 13 spot in the four-man sled race. Cunningham, a member of the Army National Guard for two years was on the last Winter Olympics Team and is expected to compete in the next Winter Olympics.

HANCOCK AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse--Airman 1st Class Jeremy Quesada, of the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron, glances back to friends and family that are seeing him off at Hancock field in Syracuse NY, on 21 March 2012. A1C Quesada along with 30, 174th FW security forces airman are deploying to Afghanistan for six months.

STEWART ANGB NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- 105th Airlift Wing loadmasters, aerial port personnel and members of the New York National Guard’s 2nd Civil Support Team (CST) practice loading their response package vehicles aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, Mar. 21, 2012. The CST is composed of Army and Air National Guard members who are trained to identify chemical, radiological, and biological agents. The 2nd CST, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base, must be able to deploy on any Guard aircraft and the training exercise on March 21 gave 105th Airlift Wing loadmasters the chance to practice the best way to position CST vehicles on the C-17.

New York City and Long Island New York Army National Guard Family Readiness Program volunteers listen to Lt. Col. Gary Hoffman, an Army National Guard lawyer,explain what Family Readiness Groups can and cannot do legally during training at the Lexington Avenue Armory on March 24.

RODMANS NECK, Bronx - Two military police Soldiers assist Staff Sgt. Steven Seidenstein into a Humvee during a simulated training exercise at the ’shoot house’ in Rodman’s Neck, Bronx on March 20 while being evaluated by Tony Cortina of A3 Tactics. Military Police Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 106th Regiment, Regional Training Institute based at Camp Smith conducted specialized training from A3 Tactics, a California-based specialized tactical training company that specializes in high risk, close personal protection techniques for corporation, law enforcement and the military.

SHARABOT, Afghanistan-- New York Army National Guard Col. Alden Saddlemire (Center), a member of the New York Stability Transition Team, drinks chia(tea) with local leaders here during a shura held on March 21. Saddlemire is flanked by the local governor and police chief and was accompanied by Army Col. Gary Johnson, commander of the 504th Battlefield Survelliance Brigade. Saddlemire and two other members of the New York STT are assigned to work with local officials and NATO and US military units to build governance and police capacity.

LATHAM, N.Y.--A Korean-American police officer, a community college student, and a human resources NCO were named as the Best Warriors for the New York Army National Guard following a weekend event March 24-25 at state headquarters. They are, from left: Staff Sgt. Sihoon Chung, the traditional part-time Non-commissioned Officer of the Year; Sgt. David Martinsen,the outstanding Active Guard and Reserve Non-commissioned Officer of the Year and Spc. Brian Lekhmus, the junior enlisted Soldier of the Year.

CAMP SHELBY, Miss-- Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, speaks to New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry during a visit to the Joint Forces Training Center here on April 4. The Soldiers are training to prepare to deploy overseas.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY - Cadets belonging to the Leroy R. Grumman Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol board an HC-130 belonging to the 106th Rescue Wing at F.S. Gabreski ANG on April 6, 2012 for an orientation flight.

TROY, N.Y. -- Aviators from Army Aviation Flight Facility 3 based in Latham spent the morning of Apr. 10 conducting water-bucket training along the Hudson River. Water-bucket training is mandatory for each of the three flight facilities based in New York. Each facility uses a Bambi-bucket that is deployed on the ground near a water source before being immersed and can hold approximately 660 gallons of water.

NEW YORK--Family members and Soldiers of the 727th Military Police Law and Order Detachment, the 369th Sustainment Brigade and 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment gather around Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report after his conversation with first lady Michelle Obama, on the first anniversary promoting Joining Forces, a national initiative led by the first lady and Dr. Jill Biden that mobilizes all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. The New York National Guard families and Soldiers were invited as special guests on the show.

PLUM ISLAND, NY - Pararescue jumpers, combat rescue officers and Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing conduct casualty recovering training at artillery emplacements which were once part of Fort Terry, an old coast defense installation, on April 13. Located east of Long Island’s north fork the U.S. government-owned island is also home to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center.

SARATOGA SPRINGS-- Jerome Hauer,Commissioner of the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services receives a token of thanks from Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, following a talk to the leaders of the New York Army and Air National Guard on Saturday, April 14. More than 300 National Guard Officers, as well as members of the New York Guard and New York Naval Militia participated in the annual Adjutant General’s Professional Day event held April 13 and 14 at the Saratoga Springs Convention Center.

MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY, Greenburgh -- Members of the New York Guard’s 88th Brigade Honor Guard present the colors during the opening of the memorial ceremony here April 14 for a former Soldier lost a century ago aboard the RMS Titanic. The memorial commemorated the service of a New York Guard member who perished while serving in his postal duties on the doomed ship 100 years ago. The troops joined two descendents and a postal service representative with local officials to remember the tragedy of the Titanic and the devotion of duty of New York Guard Pvt. William Logan Gwinn.

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. -- Avaition Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assualt Helicopter Battalion spent the afternoon of Apr. 17 qualifying the units enlisted Soldiers on their annual door gunnery training. The qualification consists of hitting stationary and moving targets with an M-240 machine gun mounted to the side of a UH-60 Blackhawk.

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. -- Aviation Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion spent the afternoon of Apr. 17 qualifying the units enlisted Soldiers on their annual door gunnery training. The qualification consists of hitting stationary and moving targets with an M-240 machine gun mounted to the side of a UH-60 Blackhawk.

FORT AP HILL-- Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion engage targets from a hovering UH-60 during aerial gunnery training here on Apr. 17. The unit enlisted gunners qualified by hitting stationary and moving targets with an M-240 machine gun mounted to the side of a UH-60 Blackhawk.

HALFMOON, N.Y. -- Matt Murray, a Boy Scout from Brunswick, helps 9-year olds, Kristen Rossler of Scotia and Katie Hibbard of Binghamton build a project during the 2012 New York National Guard Family and Volunteer Training Workshop at the Edge, an outdoor climbing gym, April 14. Murray volunteered as a youth mentor for the day focusing on team building activities.

RONKONKOMA -- The leadership of Company B, 642nd Aviation Support Battalion held a change of command ceremony on Apr. 15 at Army Aviation Support Facility located in Ronkonkoma. During the ceremony, 642nd commander Lt. Col. Jack James, who recently took command of the 642nd, was on hand to pass the Co. B colors between out-going commander Maj. Jason Lefton (at left) and in-coming commander, Maj. Shawn Hatch. 1st Sgt. Michael Burrow (at right) received the colors for safe keeping at the end of the ceremony. The 642nd is the aviation support unit for the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. - New York Army National Guard 1st Lt. Amy Bonilla (right), Sgt. Keith Burd and Spc. Matt Cordaro from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, orient themselves in the woods before trekking to a clear landing area for a UH-60 Blackhawk during Personal and Recovery training on Apr.18. The training is one of their Mission Essential Task List and they took the opportunity to conduct it after completing their annual aerial door gunnery training.on UH-60 Blackhawks.

NEW YORK, NY - Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing Security Forces Squadron volunteered their time to help move in furniture to an apartment bought through the Wounded Warrior Project for an Iraq War veteran. The team also helped clean up on April 15

VERPLANCK--New York Naval Militia Member Steelworker First Class Jeff Alexander, from Berne, NY, coils a rope on board Naval Militia Patrol Board PB 400, whileconducting qualifications on the Hudson River at Verplanck on April 17, 2012.

BUFFALO-- Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler poses with New York Army National Guard Soldiers during a Freedom Salute event for the 105th Military Police Company held April 22 at the Connecticut Avenue Armory here. The Soldiers are, from left, Staff Sgt. Joseph Belmonte, a member of the 105th Military Police Company from Rochester; Sgt. Angie Mariano, a member of Company B 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion from the Bronx; and Staff Sgt. Amanda Wheeler, a member of the 105th Military Police Company from East Aurora. The 105th Soldiers were recognized for service in Iraq in 2011.

MASTIC BEACH--New York Army National Guard Spec. Tyler Faulkner, a Soldier in the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, has been selected to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. Faulkner is one of 15 members of the Army National Guard who will be part of the Academy’s class of 2016. The Military Academy makes 85 slots available annually to Guardsmen and Reservists.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH--Eleanor C Faust, a Womens Air Force Service Pilot (WASP) during World War II visits the 106th Rescue Wing at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Station on April 10, 2012. Faust visited the wing along with members of the Civil Air Patrol. She spoke to the cadets about her experiences. During World War II WASP members acted as test pilots, ferried aircraft around the country and towed aerial gunnery targets.

NEW YORK-- New York Army National Guard Sgt. Leopoldo DeSilva (left) pulls security duty in Pennsylvania Station on Wednesday, May 2 with an Amtrack Police Officer. The Soldiers are members of the New York National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield which provides security augmentation to law enforcement agencies at transportation hubs in the New York metro area. The team was part of a Multi-Agency Super Surge (MASS) in which police saturate key transportation nodes to deter attacks. The May 2 MASS was the 100th time the New York National Guard supported that kind of security operation.

CAMP ROBINSON, ARKANSAS-- Eight Army and Air National Guardsmen from Western New York represented New York at York at the annual Winston P. Wilson National shooting competition in Arkansas the last week in April. The Airmen from the 107th Airlift Wing at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and the Soldiers from the 152nd Engineer Company, headquartered at the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, were among 400 participants in the annual Skill at Arms Match held at Camp Robinson in Little Rock from April 22 to 28. Members of the New York National Guard Winston P. Wilson Match Team are, from left rear row: Air National Guard Master Sgt. Edward Stefik, Army National Guard Sgt. Timothy Jacobson, Army National Guard Sgt. John Row, Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Christopher Doherty, Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Brian Aldinger and New York State Command Sergent Major William Wicks who was not a team member. The members in the front row are, from left to right: Air Natonal Guard Tech Sgt. Warren Jones, Army Guard Staff Sgt. Michael Kapela, and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. William Snyder

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia--Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, passes the unit flag over to Colonel Shawn Clouthier, the incoming commander of the 109th Airlift Wing on Saturday May 5th 2012 at Stratton Air National Guard base, Scotia New York.

CAMP SMITH-- New York Guard Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Lewis, a member of the 102 Engineer Battalion of the 10th Brigade works on a building during a mission at Camp Smith Training Site on May 5. The New York Guard is the state’s all-volunteer, defense force which augments and assists the New York Army and Air National Guard.

CAMP SMITH-- New York Guard Major Douglas Hedwig (left) poses with Maryland Defense Force Major Jari Villanueva who visited New York Guard headquarters here on Saturday, May 5 to honor Hedwig who is retiring from the state’s volunteer defense force. Hedwig has served as the commander of the New York Guard Band, joining after the 9/11 attacks, and provided advice to Villanueva on organizing a Maryland state guard band. Villanueva provided the New Yorker with Maryland Defense Force patches as a token of esteemUnder Hedwig’s leadership the New York Guard band has performed in parades and at public events, as well as for veterans. Hedwig is also the composer of the New York Naval Militia March

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- Senior Airman Jade Nolcox, a member of the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing, assists a buddy in donning protective gear during a base exercise May 4, 2012.

CAMP SMITH--Members of the New York Army National Guard Premobilization Training Assistance Team demonstrate the proper method for evacuating a casualty from the battlefield during the lifesaving measures during pre-mobilization training taking place at Camp Smith Training Area, Cortlandt Manor, NY, May 6-15, 2012. Soldiers assigned to the 138th Public Affairs Detachment, Company B 3-126 Aviation, and 101 Expeditionary Signal Battalion are all taking part in the required training in preparation for upcoming deployments.

WEST HARRISON, N.Y. -Maj Chiu, 5th Legal Detachment 56th Brigade NY Guard, providing free legal assistance to Senior Airman Daniel Catapano, a member of the 105th Airlift Wing, at a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration event held here on May 5, 2012.

ROCHESTER--New York Naval Militia members prepare for missions during a maritime counter terrorist drill conducted on Lake Ontario on May 10. The drill brought together local, state, federal and Canadian agencies to practice locating a terrorist vessel on Lake Ontario. Naval Militia members EO1 Scott Pease,from Macedon; EO1 Matt MacDowell, from Rochester; BU (Builder)1 Adrian Buhaj from Ilion; and EO1 Rick Stacy, from Bergen crewed two boats for the mission.Capt. Mike Tucker served as a liasion officer

NEW YORK STATE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING CENTER, ORISKANY, N.Y. " New York National Guard Lt. Col. Matthew Cooper, Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch Chief, provides an overview of the rubble pile for members of the Homeland Response Force exercise control group here May 14. The National Guard Homeland Response Force for FEMA Region II deploys here today and will validate its ability to respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear incidents using this rubble pile as a training site later this week. More than 700 members of the force will train at the Oriskany site or at the New York National Guard Armory in Utica, N.Y.

NEW YORK STATE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING CENTER, ORISKANY, N.Y. -- Airman 1st Class Kevin Gwinn of the Long Island based ANG 106th Security Forces Squadron checks identification at the initial check point at the NYS Readiness Training Center, here May 15. The all-hands NY State military forces Homeland Response Force training is held in preparation for various disaster scenarios, ensuring the best response in the event of an emergency. The National Guard Homeland Response Force for FEMA Region II deploys here today and will validate its ability to respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear incidents using this rubble pile as a training site later this week. More than 700 members of the force will train at the Oriskany site or at the New York National Guard Armory in Utica, N.Y.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY - Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sergeant Christopher Muncy takes part in a tandem jump training session with Chief Master Sergeant Thomas Houghton over FS Gabreski Air National Guard Base. Muncy, the top enlisted Airman in the National Guard visited the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing on Friday, May 11.