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FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Jan 17, 2013

LATHAM, NY (01/17/2013)-- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Sihoon Chung, a Ridgefield resident, will be one of four New York Army National Guard members attending one of President Barack Obama's two inaugural balls on Monday, Jan. 21. Chung and his wife Eunkyung Chung will attend the Commander --in-Chief's Ball. The Commander-in-Chief's Ball is one of two inaugural balls which the president sponsors. It is open to members of the military and their guests. President George W. Bush organized the first Commander-in-Chief's Ball in 2005 and President Obama has continued the tradition to honor Active Duty and Reserve service members. He is one of 230 members of the Army and Air National Guard attending at the invitation of the president. President and Mrs. Obama are expected to make an appearance at the ball and deployed troops in Afghanistan will be able to observe the festivities via video. Chung, a Leonia, N.J. Police Officer and a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the top Non-commissioned Officer of the Year for 2012 for the 10,500-member New York Army National Guard. He currently serves as an instructor in infantry skills with the 106th Regiment Regional Training Institute based at Camp Smith Training Center in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Since joining the unit in late 2005 he has trained and mentored over 300 Soldiers. Chung served in Iraq in 2002/03 and in 2004 as a Scout Sniper and then Squad Leader with 82nd Airborne Division, and as an instructor training the Afghan Army in Kabul Afghanistan with the New York Army National Guard's 27th Brigade Combat Team in 2008. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Commendation Medal (three awards) the NATO Medal and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross. Chung is a graduate of Army Airborne School, Army Airborne Jump Master School, Air Assault Course, The Army Pre-Ranger Basic Instructor Course, the Army Small Group Instructor Course, the Army Primary Leadership Development Course, and Infantry Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course