CONTACT: Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Friday, May 06, 2011

ON SITE: Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581

LATHAM, NY (05/05/2011)-- The Adjutant General for the State of New York, Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy presides over a transfer of responsibility ceremony tomorrow between the two senior noncommissioned officers at the Joint Force Headquarters. Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Wicks replaces Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt, who retires after more than ten years in the position. Both Soldiers are combat veterans with more than 70 years of combined military service. As the state command sergeant major, Wicks will be the top enlisted Soldier in the 10,500- member New York Army National Guard and will serve as the adjutant general’s personal advisor for all enlisted-related issues, particularly those affecting training and quality of life. He travels throughout the state observing training and talking to Soldiers and their families. WHAT: Change of Responsibility Ceremony for the incoming New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Wicks. WHO: Command Sgts. Maj. Frank Wicks and Robert Van Pelt. WHEN: Friday, May 6 at 2 p.m. WHERE: Joint Force Headquarters, New York National Guard, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham N.Y. Media Opportunity: Video and still imagery of the passing of the colors between the outgoing Command Sgt. Maj., Robert Van Pelt, and the incoming Command Sgt. Maj., Frank Wicks. Interviews with the two senior NCOs regarding their perspectives on their careers and their lifetime of service on behalf of Soldiers. BACKGROUND The change of responsibility is a simple traditional event that is rich with symbolism and Heritage. Key to the ceremony is the changing of position of responsibility between the outgoing and incoming command sergeants major. Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt Command Sergeant Major Robert Van Pelt has served in the military for over 42 years. He was drafted into the Army in March 1969 while living in Brooklyn, New York where he grew up. During Basic Training at Fort Jackson, S.C., he re-enlisted and attended the US Army Signal School at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey and trained as a Fixed Station Autodin Technical Controller. His overseas tours included the First Signal Brigade in Phu Lam, Republic of Vietnam and the United States Army Strategic Communications Command at Camp Darby, Coltano, Italy. He was discharged from active duty in December 1971 and was placed into the Inactive Reserve to complete his 6 year obligation. In October 1974, he left the Inactive Reserve when he joined the 187th Signal Brigade of the New York Army National Guard. In 1978, then Sgt. 1st Class Van Pelt accepted a civilian position and moved to Tennessee. While living there he served as the communications chief for Company A, 3/109 Armor, Tennessee Army National Guard and later served as a Construction Chief with the 416th Facility Engineer Ft. Campbell Survey Team, US Army Reserve until he returned to New York in 1981 and rejoined the New York Army National Guard. Van Pelt was promoted to his current rank in March 1987 when he was selected as the Operations Sergeant Major of the 187th Signal Brigade. He received his present appointment as a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) in October 1991. Since his appointment as a Command Sgt. Major, he has held appointments to the 242nd Signal Bn., 1-101st Cavalry (Tank), 187th Signal Brigade, 53rd Troop Command, 42nd Infantry Division and also managed the NYNG Signal School in Farmingdale, Long Island. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 2 bronze oak leaf cluster), Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), Vietnam Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (3rd Award), Global War on Terror Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (gold hourglass), the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Van Pelt is a 1991 graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1992 from the University of the State of New York. He is normally employed in the electrical industry as an Instrumentation and Controls supervisor. He is a member of IBEW Local Union #25 and has put his civilian career on hold while serving in his current position with the National Guard. Van Pelt and his wife, the former Deborah Castorino of Brooklyn, have been married since April 1971. They have two adult daughters. Their daughter Sandra Van Pelt is a 3rd Grade teacher in the Gloversville School District and their daughter Warrant Officer Mandy Spanton and her husband Sgt. 1st Class Ron Spanton both currently serve in the New York Army National Guard and have an 8 month old son, Robert. Command Sgt. Major Frank Wicks In his 29-year career, Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Wicks has served in every noncommissioned officer leadership position from company to brigade to troop command. He has also served as an instructor at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. Wicks mobilized and deployed as the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry and Task Force Hunter Command Sergeant Major in October 2003 to the Sunni Triangle in Iraq, serving as the senior noncommissioned officer in the conduct of combat and stability operations of the Task Force during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster), Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 4 bronze oak leaf clusters), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal ("M" device 4th award, bronze hourglass), the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. In the civilian sector, Wicks is employed by the New York State Police as a Manager of Information Services in Albany, N.Y. He is married to the former Beth Johnson from Clifton Park, N.Y. They have two children and reside in West Sand Lake. He will take military leave from his civilian job in order to serve full-time as the New York State Sergeant Major.