CONTACT: Mr. Eric Durr (518)786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Monday, Mar 24, 2008

WHO:

Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General, and members of the New York National Guard staff.

WHAT:

An opportunity to visit the New York National Guard’s newest armory and speak about its advantages with the commander of the New York National Guard and with Army National Guard Soldiers

WHEN:

1:30 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2008

WHERE:

The Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters Bldg at 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham NY.

The New York National Guard is inviting members of the Capital Region press corps to walk through the new addition to its Latham Armory. The new building is a typical example of the kind of 21st Century training facilities the National Guard is now building. Videographers and photographers will have an opportunity to see Soldiers of the 206th MP Company and Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Joint Forces Headquarters working in their brand new offices, and tour the building. The addition to the Latham Armory cost $ 6.4 million. The bulk of that money, $6.09 million was provided by the federal government as part of the 2005-2009 Future Year Defense Plan. New York State paid $328,000. The Armory will house the 206th Military Police Company, with 170 Soldiers, and the Headquarters Detachment of Joint Forces Headquarters --New York, which has about 400 Soldiers. The 206th MP Company has just moved into the building. It was formerly housed in the Schenectady Armory at 125 Washington Avenue. The 206th MP Company is a new unit which was created to answer the Army’s demand for more military police. This unit required additional space and more modern facilities to operate in and house its new equipment. The building's 29,651 Square Feet include three classrooms and one conference room with state-of-the art audiovisual systems and two unit administrative headquarters suites. The building includes two arms vaults, two company supply complexes and men’s and women’s locker rooms. The building was constructed in accordance with the New York Office of General Service's sustainable building standards. The building incorporates a number of energy efficiency measures, including high-efficiency heating, electrical and air conditioning systems. Construction on the building began in December 2006 and finished two weeks ago. Bunkoff General Contracts, Inc. of Latham was the construction contractor, and earned $4.58 million for the project. Electrical work costing $637,818 was done by Clifford R. Gray, Inc. of Schenectady, and the heating and air conditioning contractor was General Mechanical Services, Inc. a Latham company awarded an $897,390 contract. The plumbing contractor was John V. Warren, Inc. of Rensselaer, which was paid $328,800. In order to gain admittance to this secure facility members of the media should contact the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs Office at 786-4581 No Later than noon on March 24.