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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Springville Journal -- Fri, 05 Jun 2026 Springville resident Eric Emerling retires after 20 years of Army and Army National Guard service Springville resident Eric Emerling, a lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard, was recognized for his 20-year military career during a retirement ceremony on May 16 in New York... (more)
Geophysical Institute (University of Alaska) -- Thu, 04 Jun 2026 Frozen Arctic lakes becoming less capable of supporting cargo aircraft The ability to land a military cargo plane on a frozen Arctic lake is becoming less likely as a warming environment reduces the number of subfreezing days. That puts ice thickness below the... (more)
NNY 360.com -- Sun, 31 May 2026 106th Rescue Wing conducts five-day Combat Readiness Exercise at Fort Drum FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. More than 1,000 Airmen assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing completed a five-day combat readiness exercise, testing every element of the unit's... (more)