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
Loading Press Releases...NY National Guard In the News
Times Union -- Wed, 29 Oct 2025 Duty Calls : Iraq veterans reunite One hundred New York Army National Guard soldiers who deployed to Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division in 2005 reunited at the Hilton Hotel in Saratoga Springs. The gathering, organized... (more)
WTEN -- Tue, 21 Oct 2025 State Police K-9 honors fallen NY Guardsman LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) A New York State Police Canine (K-9) Officer was praised for his heroic efforts in a recent drug bust. K-9 J has sniffed out nearly 20 pounds of drugs, including fentanyl... (more)
Times Union -- Tue, 21 Oct 2025 New York bill would restrict outside National Guard from entering state ALBANY Democrats in New York introduced a bill Monday that would prohibit other states, territories or districts from sending their National Guard troops to the Empire State without approval... (more)