CONTACT: Scott Sandman, 786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Jan 20, 2007

WHO:

Lt. Col. Albert J. Ricci assumes command from outgoing commander Lt. Col. James P. Coan.

WHAT:

Change of Command ceremony for the Citizen Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd General Support Aviation Battalion.

WHEN:

Saturday, January 20, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:

N.Y. State Army Aviation Support Facility, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

BACKGROUND:

WHO:

Lt. Col. Albert J. Ricci assumes command from outgoing commander Lt. Col. James P. Coan.

WHAT:

Change of Command ceremony for the Citizen Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd General Support Aviation Battalion.

WHEN:

Saturday, January 20, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:

N.Y. State Army Aviation Support Facility, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

BACKGROUND:

Approximately 100 Citizen Soldiers of the 3-142nd Assault Aviation Battalion welcome their new commander in a change of command ceremony at their battalion headquarters at the Ronkonkoma Army Aviation Flight Facility. The battalion headquarters provides command and control for more than 350 assigned Citizen Soldiers in armories in Ronkonkoma, Brooklyn and Latham. Soldiers from the 142nd Aviation provided support to the National Guard’s response and recovery in lower Manhattan following the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001. The unit deployed a task force to Bosnia as part of the NATO Stabilization Force in June, 2002 and deployed crews and aircraft to the Gulf Coast in September, 2005 as part of the National Guard’s response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Aircraft and crews deployed for missions supporting engineer work in Honduras in the spring of 2006. Aircrews of the battalion also provided critical support during numerous state emergencies, including the early summer flooding along New York’s Southern Tier in June 2006. Other elements of the unit deployed to Arizona in July, 2006 to support Operation Jump Start, the National Guard’s support to the Department of Customs and Border Enforcement. For more information, call the DMNA Public Affairs Office @ (518) 786-4581.