CONTACT: For more information contact: Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Mar 09, 2008

ON SITE: SGT Sanchez, 718-302-7219

WHO:

Approx. 130 Citizen Soldiers and family members of the National Guard's 133rd Quartermaster Company

WHAT:

Members of the New York Army National Guard's 133rd Quartermaster Company will hold a family sendoff ceremony for the unit's mobilization and deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

WHEN:

11 a.m., Sunday, 9 March 2008

WHERE:

Fort Hamilton, Fort Hamilton Theatre, General Lee Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11252

Soldiers from the N.Y. Army National Guard continue their support of Operation Iraqi Freedom this weekend with the mobilization of the 133rd Quartermaster Company. The unit conducted individual Soldier training at Fort Dix from late January through February in preparation of the unit's mobilization. Members of the 133rd Quartermaster Company will provide logistical support for Coalition Forces in Iraq with approximately one-third of the unit personnel trained as petroleum supply or water treatment specialists. The Quartermaster Supply Company establishes and operates general support supply facilities to receive, store and issue general supplies for military forces. These supplies consist of subsistance or foodstuffs, individual Soldier clothing and equipment, packaged petroleum products and construction or barrier materials for engineering projects. The unit will complete its predeployment training at Fort Bliss, Texas before arriving overseas for operations in Iraq. The mobilization and deployment of the 133rd Quartermaster Company Soldiers is expected to last twelve months. Currently, the New York Army National Guard has about 2,000 Soldiers mobilized on active duty, with nearly 400 already serving overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan. The largest contingent of troops, nearly 1,400 members, is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan from training bases at Fort Bragg, N.C. and Fort Riley, Kansas. More than 6,000 Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard have mobilized since September 11, 2001 in support of Army operations across the nation and across the globe. For news media access to the Fort Hamilton military installation, media must report to the main entrance gate at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 9. Be prepared to show photo identification, vehicle registration and a copy of this media advisory for access onto Fort Hamilton.