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.
DMNA Press Releases
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NationalGuard.mil -- Fri, 04 Sep 2026 New York Guardsmen Earn Danish Military March Ribbon CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Two hundred and eleven New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen tackled the rugged trails of the Hudson Highlands Aug. 28 to earn the Royal... (more)
NationalGuard.mil -- Tue, 01 Sep 2026 New York Guard Shares Air Assault Techniques With Swedish Partners LINKOPING, Sweden Four New York Army National Guard aviators shared information on U.S. Army air assault doctrine with members of the Swedish Air Forces 2nd Helicopter Battalion during an... (more)
Staten Island Live -- Tue, 01 Sep 2026 Gov. Hochul, Mayor Mamdani call on President Trump to release $87M in counterterrorism funding STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to release $87... (more)