CONTACT: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581, (cell) 518-429-5186 or Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-727-7314

FOR RELEASE: Friday, Nov 11, 2011

ON SITE: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581, (cell) 518-429-5186 or Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-727-7314

SYRACUSE, NY (11/11/2011)(readMedia)-- The Secretary of Defense has decided that the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will now deploy to Kuwait where it will conduct a security force mission. The brigade, which is headquartered in Syracuse but has units in locations around the state, has been training for a combat mission in Afghanistan since 2010 and was due to mobilize for deployment just after Thanksgiving. The brigade had been planning to mobilize about 1,500 Soldiers in December 2011 for a mission in Afghanistan later in 2012. The new directive means that up to 2,100 members of the brigade will now mobilize in January 2012 and undertake a new security mission in Kuwait by mid-2012. The final number of Soldiers deploying may be less than 2,100. "Our Soldiers are well prepared for any and all missions they are assigned," said Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York. "The men and women of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have been training hard for deployment and are well prepared for this mission change." The brigade’s Soldiers will train for their new mission following their mobilization. The Soldiers will be on federal active duty for up to 12 months. Current plans call for the New York Army National Guard to mobilize and deploy Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, which is headquartered in Utica and has elements in Gloversville, Glenville, Geneseo, Ithaca, and Leeds. The 427th Forward Support Battalion, with companies located in Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester will be called up. The 427th Forward Support Battalion provides logistics support-maintenance, supply, and medical support-to the brigade. The 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, which is headquartered in Buffalo and has elements in Lockport and Syracuse will be mobilized. The 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion includes intelligence, engineering, signal, and other specialized support units. The brigade will be supported by the 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry from the South Carolina Army National Guard and a composite battalion from several other states. Under current rules, Soldiers deploying with the brigade to Kuwait will be eligible for hazardous duty pay of $225 monthly. They will also pay no federal or New York State income taxes on money earned while deployed up to a level specified by law. Also under current rules, brigade members will also be eligible to wear a "combat patch" following their deployment to Kuwait. Soldiers are entitled to wear the patches of units they served in a combat zone with for the entirety of their Army career. In October, almost 2,000 New York Army National Guard Soldiers participated in three weeks of realistic training at Fort Irwin, California to prepare the 27th IBCT for its planned deployment to Afghanistan. There are 10,500 Soldiers in the New York Army National Guard. Imagery of the New York Army National Guard Soldiers training recently at Fort Irwin is available for publication at our Flickr website, www.flickr.com/photos/nyng/collections/72157627834292482/ News media interested in broadcast quality video footage of Maj. Gen. Murphy’s remarks can download his message at dmna.ny.gov/video/NY TAG 27th BCT Message 4 Nov 2011