SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq -- Col. Fred Cheney (left) the 447th Air Expeditionary Group commander, passes the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's guide on to New York Air National Guardsman Lt. Col. Carey Merritt, the 447 ECES commander, during a change of command ceremony held on May 10. Merritt is deployed from the 174th Mission Support Group, New York Air National Guard, where he commands the 174th's Civil Engineering Squadron.
Sather Air Base, located alongside Baghdad International Airport is named after Staff Sgt. SCott Sather, the first Airman to die during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
DMNA Press Releases
NY National Guard In the News
The Arctic Today -- Mon, 06 Oct 2025 Under the radar, Americas Arctic diplomacy is gaining traction: Commentary It would be easy to feel discouraged about Americas standing in the diplomatic world. Statements from Washington about Greenland and two Arctic partners, Canada and Denmark, have been anything... (more)
Spectrum News -- Fri, 03 Oct 2025 Family of helicopter pilot killed in crash create foundation to help others The family of John Grassia III, the New York Army National Guard helicopter pilot who died in a crash while on active duty last year, hosted the second annual golf tournament Friday morning... (more)
Times Union -- Mon, 29 Sep 2025 Duty Calls: Air National Guard airman advances to colonel James Vendetti, a Rotterdam resident who began his military career as an Army private, has been promoted to colonel while serving with the New York Air National Guards 109th Airlift Wing at... (more)