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

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Dec 05, 2009

BALLSTON LAKE, NY (12/01/2009)--New York Army National Guard Major Robert Mitchell, who lives in Ballston Lake with his wife Vickie, takes command of the 501st Explosive Ordnance Battalion on Saturday Dec. 5 in a ceremony at Stratton Air National Guard Base. Mitchell, a full-time member of the National Guard, takes over from Lt. Col. James Pabis, also a Ballston Lake resident, who will become the Provost Marshall of the 42nd Infantry Division. Mitchell, who previously served as second-in-command of the battalion, is a trained bomb disposal expert who served in Afghanistan. He has also served as director of training at the Naval Explosive Ordnance School at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, prior to joining the Army National Guard in 2005. Mitchell, his wife Vickie, and their sons Nick, Robbie, Zak and Jeff, have resided in Ballston Lake since then. The 501st EOD Battalion is a headquarters unit responsible for overseeing five explosive ordnance disposal companies. The 501st is the higher headquarters for the New York Army National Guard's 1108th EOD Company, also based at the Scotia Armed Forces Reserve Center, along with EOD companies in Greenville, North Carolina, Camp Edward, Massachusetts, Camp Dawson, West Virginia, and Camp Grayling, Michigan. EOD personnel are trained to neutralize explosive devices and abandoned ammunition. They play critical roles in the counter-IED( Improvised Explosive Device) fight in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact the 1108th EOD Company is due to deploy to Afghanistan next year. Mitchell graduated from SUNY Binghamton in 1995 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army through the Reserve Officers Training Corps as an Ordnance Officer. After graduating from the Ordnance Officer Basic Course in January 1996, he was assigned to the 63rd Ordnance Company as a Platoon Leader at Fort Lewis, WA. He was then reassigned to Ft. Lee, VA in June 1998 where he attended the Captain's Career Course and subsequently graduated in May of 1999. He entered Explosive Ordnance Basic School at Eglin AFB in June of 1999. Graduating in May 2000, he then was assigned to Fort Meade, MD as a Company Commander for the 744th Ordnance Company. There he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Upon completion of company command he was assigned to Eglin AFB, FL as Director of Training at the Naval Explosive Ordnance School. In November 2005 Mitchell transferred to the New York Army National Guard and took over as executive officer of the 501st as well as full-time unit administrator. Mitchell's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Additionally, Major Mitchell has been awarded the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge. Lt. Col Pabis, lives in Ballston Lake with his wife Sandy. As Provost Marshall his job is to oversee law enforcement and military police operations within the divisional area of operations. In civilian life he is the owner of Saratoga Source LLC, an executive recruitment company, specializing in the energy industry. Follow the New York Army National Guard on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube: FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Army-National-Guard/112535293973?ref=search&sid=100000443776901.3155842963..1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/NationalGuardNY YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/nynationalguard

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