CONTACT: Mr. Eric Durr (518) 429-5186

FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Dec 02, 2007

ON SITE: Sgt. Benjamin Munn (518)725-8941X10

WHO:

40 Infantry Soldiers belonging to C Co. 2-108th Infantry, family members, and Lt. Col. Dennis Deeley, commander of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry.

WHAT:

C Company, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry changes commander from 1st Lt. Rich Redmond, of Utica, to Captain Robert Stealey, a Whitesboro resident.

WHEN:

11 a.m. on Sunday December 2.

WHERE:

State Armory, 87 Washington Street Gloversville, NY 12078-3952

1st Lt. Rick Redmond, the current commander of C Company will relinquish command to Capt. Robert Stealey during a ceremony held at the Gloversville Armory. Redmond is giving up command of the infantry company because he will be deploying to Afghanistan in 2008 with the 27th Brigade Combat Team, which is headquartered in Syracuse. Redmond will be one of 1,400 New York National Guard members who will be involved in training the Afghan National Army. Other members of the company have already moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where they are training to become security platoons. In the Army’s traditional Change of Command ceremony the outgoing company commander hands the unit’s guidon (flag) to the battalion commander, who then turns it over to the incoming company commander. The unit will also be holding its annual Family Day events on Dec. 2, so family members of the soldiers will be attending. For more information and access to the armory call Sargeant Munn, the company administration NCO at 518-725-8941 extension 10.