CONTACT: Mr. Eric Durr, 518-786-4581, cell 429-5186

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Apr 04, 2009

ON SITE: 2nd Lt. Christopher Fobare, 518-786-6070

WHO:

Approximately 180 Soldiers of the Army National Guard's 206th Military Police Company

WHAT:

Military Police Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's 206th Military Police Company based in Latham depart this weekend for three weeks of pre-mobilization training at Fort Dix, N.J. The Army alerted the company for possible mobilization and deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom later this spring.

WHEN:

Saturday, April 4. Media should arrive not later than 8:30 a.m. The first convoy departs at 9 a.m. with humvees departing from the facility for about one hour.

WHERE:

New York Army National Guard Armory, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, N.Y.

Citizen Soldiers and leaders from the military police company will be available during their preparation for departure prior to 9 a.m. The multiple convoys will include uparmored humvees, similar to the combat vehicles currently employed in theater overseas. The company will depart from the Latham Armory in multiple serials. Imagery of Soldier convoy briefings, vehicle loading and convoy departures will be part of the event.

BACKGROUND:

The 206th Military Police Company includes approximately 120 Citizen Soldiers from the Capital District and another 60 members who travel from as far away as Buffalo or New York City. The convoy movement to Fort Dix will itself be part of the unit training. Long distance road movements are large logistical events to move nearly 40 combat vehicles and approximately 180 Soldiers, with all their gear, 240 miles in about six hours. The road movement includes vehicle load planning, safety briefings, convoy plans, maintenance checks and contingency preparations for the entire company. The majority of Soldier training scheduled at Fort Dix is weapons qualification. Due to the nature of the many tasks and functions of the unit, the Military Police Company is one of the most heavily armed organizations in the Army. Weapons training will include individual weapons such as pistols and rifles as well as crew-served weapons such as the M240B and M2 fifty-caliber machine gun. The training will also include tactical scenarios such as convoy operations and reacting to enemy fire. The 206th Military Police Company is expected to mobilize for federal duty in June and will serve one year of active duty, including its predeployment training and boot-on-the-ground time overseas. For more information or access to the secure military facility, news media should contact the DMNA Public Affairs Office and Mr. Eric Durr at 518-786-4581 or 518-429-5186 (cell) before 4 p.m. on Friday, April 3.