CONTACT: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning at (518) 786-4518

FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009

ON SITE: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning (518) 441-4106 (cell)

WHO:

185 Soldiers of the 206th Military Police Company, their family and friends.

WHAT:

ALBANY, NY (06/22/2009)-- The Latham-based 206th Military Police Company of the New York Army National Guard will hold a Farewell Ceremony at the Empire State Plaza on Wednesday, June 24 before the unit departs for training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and deployment to Iraq in the fall. A formal farewell ceremony to mark the units mobilization for federal active duty and departure from home for the next 12 months. Thanks to the New York State Office of General Services the company has been allowed to use the Empire State Plaza as a venue for this event.

WHEN:

10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24.

WHERE:

South end of the Empire State Plaza on the South end stage.

Coverage Opportunities: Visuals include military vehicles at the venue, a color guard composed of members of the New York State Police, the Albany County Sheriff's Department and the City of Troy Police Department as well as Soldiers, and Soldiers in formation. Opportunities to interview Soldiers and their families and National Guard leaders will include Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey, an Albany-area resident and commander of the 53rd Troop Command.

BACKGROUND:

206th Military Police Company: The Latham-based 206th Military Police Company has been preparing for its ucoming Iraq deployment since the middle of 2008. Last year the unit was equipped with the latest equipment for Military Police units, the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle, or ASV which is employed as a convoy escort vehicle by Military Police units, and M1151 up armored humvees with improved turret systems and crew survivability features, and began training on those vehicles. The Soldiers have spent two extended annual training periods of three weeks getting ready to deploy. This year the company spent three weeks at Fort Dix in April training for their upcoming mission, and began preparing to deploy last yet. The company is comprised of 185 MP Soldiers from across the state and will train for approximately two months before deploying to Iraq to carry out security duties.

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