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FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (12/19/2012)-- Approximately 115 more Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team return home for Christmas this week from demobilization at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The returning Soldiers are part of the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Company A of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion and Company A of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. WHAT: Homecoming reunion for New York Army National Guard Soldiers following their deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. WHO: Approximately 21 Soldiers of 27th Infantry Brigade, along with family and friends will reunite in Syracuse. WHEN: Thursday, December 20 at approx. 1 a.m. (Soldiers may arrive up to an hour earlier, news media should call prior to midnight for updates to arrival times) WHERE: New York State Armory, Thompson Road, Syracuse, N.Y. Media Opportunity: Imagery of the family reunions as Soldiers return home from nearly a year-long absence. Media representatives must contact Col. Tammy Mandwelle at 518-409-0610 for access to the facility or updates to the arrival time. Background: Approximately 115 more Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team return home Dec. 18 to armories in New York City, Newburgh, Latham, Morrisonville, Rochester and Buffalo as families welcome home elements of the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Company A of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion and Company A of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. Most of the Soldiers deployed with this group served in Kuwait. The Soldiers performed logistics, administrative and security missions while deployed. This group follows the return last week of 150 other Soldiers after demobilization. The 27th Brigade mobilized in January 2012 at Camp Shelby. The unit deployed in support of more than 25 different missions and locations throughout the Middle East. Some 400 New York National Guard Soldiers remain at Camp Shelby, conducting demobilization while an additional 270 Soldiers remain deployed overseas, preparing to return to the United States later this month or early January. Demobilization will continue through the holidays, with only Christmas Day set aside as a holiday. Troops will continue to return home into the New Year. The remainder of the brigade’s 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry Battalion, which served in Afghanistan, returned home in October. Posted Wednesday