CONTACT:

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Jan 12, 2013

ITHACA, NY (01/11/2013)-- The Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s Company C 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry will be honored for their service in Afghanistan, while Captain Dermot Gavin, a combat veteran, takes command of the company on Sunday January 13. WHO: Capt. Dermot Gavin, the incoming commander, Capt. Shawn Tabankin, the outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Joseph L. Biehler, commander of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, and the Soldiers and families of Company C WHAT: National Guard "Freedom Salute" recognition ceremony and company change of command ceremony featuring the traditional passing of the guidon from the outgoing to the incoming commander. During the Freedom Salute ceremony Guard Soldiers will receive awards and tokens of recognition for their service. WHEN: 11 a.m., Sunday January 13, 2013 WHERE: Gloversville High School auditorium, 199 Lincoln Street, Gloversville, NY 12078 Coverage opportunities: Members of the press will be able to interview both the incoming and the outgoing commanders and speak to Soldiers about their service in Afghanistan. Video and still imagery opportunities include Soldiers in formation, Soldiers receiving their awards, and the change of command ceremony. For access to the event reporters should contact 1LT Patrick Halpin 518-773-8704 x 3758. BACKGROUND: Freedom Salute: In December 2003, National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., launched the Freedom Salute Campaign nationwide as a way to recognize members of the Army National Guard for service during Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom and thank their spouses, children, and employers for the support they have shown to their Soldier. The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. Each eligible Soldier will receive an encased American flag, a lapel insignia, a commemorative coin and a certificate of appreciation from the Army National Guard. The Soldier’s spouse/significant other will receive a lapel insignia. Change of Command Ceremony: In A traditional military change of command the company’s guidon, a small flag, is passed from the outgoing commander to the battalion commander, who in turn passes the guidon to the incoming company commander. This signifies the change in responsibility for the company’s Soldiers and its mission. The incoming commander then passes the guidon to the company first sergeant, the non-commissioned officer who is responsible for the training and management of the company. He/she represents the Soldiers of the company. Traditionally the guidon indicated the unit’s location on the battlefield and the location of the commander. The military ritual was designed to allow the Soldiers to see who they would follow in to the fight. Captain Dermot Gavin: Captain Dermot Gavin joined the New York Army National guard in 2006 and has served as an Infantry platoon leader, Infantry Company Executive Officer, and Infantry Battalion Logistics Officer. Gavin deployed to eastern Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM in 2009, where he served as an Infantry Platoon Leader with the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry in Ghazni Province. Following his tour in Afghanistan, he deployed to Thailand in support of OPERATION COBRA GOLD, a multi-national training exercise Gavin deployed to Afghanistan a second time in 2012, where he served as the logistics officer for the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Heart and Farah Provinces. Gavin is a U.S. History and Government teacher at Steinmentz Career and Leadership Academy, Schenectady High School, Schenectady City School District. He has been a full time teacher since 2006. In addition, he works as a manager at Gavin’s Irish Country Inn and as a Ski Patroller at Windham Mountain Gavin earned his commission in 2007 through Officer Candidate School. He earned a BA in History from the Virginia Military Institute in 2003 and a Masters in Social Studies from Russell Sage Graduate School in 2006. He is a graduate of the Army’s Infantry Officer Basic Course, AIRBORNE School, and Support Operations Schools. Gavin’s awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Two Bronze Star Medals, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Overseas Training Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. He resides in East Durham, NY, with his wife Tara and their two children. Captain Shawn Tabankin: Captain Shawn Tabankin’s next assignment will be as the Force Integration & Readiness Officer for the New York National Guard . He commissioned into the New York Army National Guard in 2002 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Florida International University ROTC. Prior to that he enlisted in the Army in 1997 and served two years as a Combat Medic in the 2/325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. As a commissioned Officer, he has served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Asst. BN Operations Officer, Asst. G-3 for the 53rd Troop Command, and as Company Commander. Tabankin served as a Rifle Platoon Leader during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM II (2004), including participation in the Battle for Samarra. CPT Tabankin also served as a Company Commander for OPERATION COBRA GOLD 2008, a three-week training exercise in Thailand with the Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Marines. CPT Tabankin assumed his current duties in 2010 at the start of the battalion’s pre-deployment training program for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Tabankin is currently an Active Guard Reservist and has served on active duty with the New York Army National Guard intermittently since 2005. CPT Tabankin is an attorney admitted to the New York State and Federal bars, and was an associate in a New York City law firm prior to assuming his current duties. Tabankin earned his commission in 2002 through the ROTC at Florida International University, earning a BA in Political Science. CPT Tabankin later graduated New York Law School in 2006, earning a Juris Doctorate. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. Tabankin’s awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M2" Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Training Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. Tabankin resides in Clifton Park, NY, with his wife Jennifer and their two children. 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry: The 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry has units located across upstate New York in Ithaca, Utica, Glenville, Gloversville, Leeds, Ogdensburg, and Morrisonville. During its deployment to Afghanistan the battalion formed the core of Task Force Iron where it was responsible for enhancing the capability of the Afghan National Security Forces to secure Highway One in from Herat City to Nimroz Province in western Afghanistan. In 100 days of combat operations during the critical 2012 fighting season, the Task Force conducted 572 combat missions, including 20 air assault operations. It found and cleared dozens of IEDs and assisted the Afghan Army in establishing security along 200 miles of Highway One, one of the most strategic pieces of terrain in Afghanistan. In addition to these accomplishments, Task Force Iron enhanced the concept of Afghan-led inter-agency coordination centers, developed a targeting methodology for Security Force Assistance Teams and developed an innovative air assault counter IED team that neutralized the IED threat on Highway One. The 500-Soldier Task Force was augmented with an infantry company and dozens of individuals from the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, "The Fighting 69th," and a Ground Collection Platoon from the Syracuse-based 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Specific units assigned to the Task Force are: Task Force Iron arrived in Afghanistan in May 2012 and began combat operations to set the conditions for the final phase of security transition to Afghan forces in RC-West. From its headquarters at Shindand Air Base, the Task Force conducted security force assistance from four locations in Heart and Farah Provinces. Task Force Iron also exercised tactical control and limited administrative control of U.S. liaison teams to the Slovenian Military Advisory Team in Farah Province and the Lithuanian Police Advisory Team in Ghor Province. Beginning on July 7, 2012, TF Iron was committed in its entirety to the RC-West Main Effort, OPERATION SHRIMP NET. During the operation, the Task Force served as the primary security force for the retrograde of a Combined Afghan-Italian Task Force from the Gulistan Valley in Farah Province. The Italians were occupying two isolated combat outposts that could only be reached safely by air due to an influx of insurgents into the valley. TF Iron’s mission was to clear and secure a 25 mile-long route into the valley in order to ensure the safe movement of the combined Afghan-Italian force. The 9-day operation was a major success and aided substantially to the transition of security to Afghan Forces. Task Force Iron was the last major US ground maneuver force in RC-West and played an essential role in the transition of security from international forces to the Afghan Army and Police. As part of this transition, Task Force Iron closed several outposts and prepared thousands of pieces of equipment for its eventual retrograde from the country. The last Task Force Iron combat elements came off mission on August 22, 2012. The majority of the Soldiers returned to the United States in late September 2012.