New York Army National Guard MP Company Gets New Commander

LATHAM, NY (07/08/2013)-- The New York Army National Guard's 206th Military Police Company-a unit which has served in Iraq and responded to Hurricane Sandy in 2012-- gets a new leader on Tuesday, July 9, as Capt. Carlos Nazario, a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, takes command of the unit from Capt. Kevin Jusza.

WHO: Capt. Carlos Nazario, the incoming commander, Capt. Kevin Jusza, the outgoing commander, and Soldiers of the 206th Military Police Company.

WHAT: Traditional Change of Command Ceremony in which the outgoing commander passes the guidon (flag) of the company to the incoming commander, symbolizing the transition of authority for the unit. Traditionally the ceremony allows the Soldiers to see who they will follow on the battlefield as the symbol of their unit goes from the old commander to the new one.

WHEN: 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, 2013

WHERE: New York National Guard Headquarters, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, 12110.

Coverage Opportunities:

Video and still imagery of the soldiers in formation and the traditional passing of the unit colors. There will be opportunities to interview the incoming and outgoing commanders.

For access to this secure military facility members of the press must contact 1st Lt. Katie Kurtz, 518-424-2814.

BACKGROUND:

Captain Carlos Nazario:

Captain Carlos M. Nazario enlisted into the military service as an infantry Marine in 1994. He served for 9 years becoming a Non-Commissioned Officer and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Nazario joined the New York Army National Guard in January 2004 and received his Commission on June 26, 2005 through the State Officer Candidate School Program. Nazario was assigned as a Military Police Platoon Leader with Detachment One, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Schenectady, New York.

In July 2007 he became the unit's executive officer and served in that role during the 206th MP Company's deployment to Iraq in 2009. His last assignment was as logistics office in Joint Force Headquarters.

His military schools include the Quartermaster Captains Career Course (2013), Military Police Captains Career Course (2012), Military Police Officer Basic Course (2006), State Officer Candidate School Program (2005), US Marine Corps School of Infantry (1995), and US Marine Corps Boot Camp (1994).

Captain Kevin A. Jusza:

Capt. Kevin Jusza received his Commission in the Military Police Corps on May 15th 2005 through the Norwich University ROTC program. Jusza was assigned as a Military Police Platoon Leader with the 204th MP CO, 519th MP BN in Fort Polk, LA and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in December 2005.

In 2006, Jusza was assigned to 4th Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division where he served as a Platoon Leader for the Brigade Military Police Platoon. Jusza deployed to East Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Feb 2007. In 2009 Jusza transferred to the New York National Guard serving as a Provost Marshal Operations Officer in the 42nd Infantry Division. In 2011 Captain Jusza was selected to take command of the 206th MP CO. While serving as Commander, the company was mobilized in support of Hurricane Irene and Sandy relief operations.

Jusza's military schools include the Military Police Captains Career Course (2013), US Army Pathfinder School (2013), Law Enforcement Senior Leaders Course (2012), Military Police Officer Basic Course (2005), and the US Army Airborne School (2003).

206th Military Police Company

The 206th Military Police Company was initially activated in June 1921 in Buffalo, New York as Headquarters Detachment and Combat Train, 3rd Battalion, 106th Field Artillery and assigned to the 27th Division of the New York National Guard. The company was inducted into Federal service on October 15th, 1940. The Company earned campaign credits in 1944 for service in the Philippines and Pacific Theater receiving the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

After World War Two, the Company was reorganized in December 1947 as the 27th Military Police Company. The following decades the Company was reorganized several times. In August 1990 they were activated for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. At last, on October 1st, 2005, the MPs of the 27th Infantry Brigade were reorganized as the 206th Military Police Company under the 104th Military Police Battalion. Years later the 206th was transferred to the 102nd Military Police Battalion where they maintain today.

On August 10th, 2009, the 206th Military Police Company deployed from Fort Dix, NJ in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. While in Iraq the Company's primary mission as a Police Transition Team was to train, assist, and advise their Iraqi Police counterparts in full spectrum police operations. In May of 2010 the Company conducted a relief in place in preparation to return from the deployment. In March 2011 the 206th was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citations by the Department of the Army for their service during Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11.

In October of 2012 the company deployed to Long Island as the initial response force for the New York National Guard's Hurricane Sandy disaster response mission.