Iraq veteran and Bergen County resident Colonel Diane Armbruster takes command of New York National Guard's Regional Training Institute

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. (09/17/2018) New York Army National Guard Col. Diane Armbruster, a Bergen County resident and Iraq War veteran, assumed command of the 106th Regional Training Institute at the Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill September 9, 2018.

Armbruster assumed command of the unit from Col. David Gagnon, the outgoing commander who led the unit since 2014.

The 106th RTI is based at the New York National Guard's Camp Smith Training Site in Cortlandt Manor, just north of Peekskill on the Hudson River, and provides officer and non-commissioned officer training courses for the National Guard.

Armbruster began her military career with the New Jersey Army National Guard in 1993 as a Cable Systems Installer with C Company, 250th Signal Battalion, 42nd Infantry Division. She graduated from the New Jersey Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Program and earned her commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1995.

Armbruster remained in positions of significant responsibility within the 42nd Division until her last assignment as commander of the 101 Expeditionary Signal Battalion from September 2013 until March 2017. She attended the United States Army War College as a Resident Student in Academic Year 2018. Her key assignments include: Commander, B Company, 250th Signal Battalion; Personnel Operations Officer, 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters; Commander, Division Signal Company, 42nd Infantry Division; Signal officer, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Signal Officer, 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters.

Armbruster deployed with the 42nd Division to Tikrit, Iraq in 2005 as part of Task Force Liberty supporting approximately 23,000 Soldiers. She also deployed to Camp Buehring, Kuwait in 2012 as part of the 27th Military Engagement Team.

Her awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and several other federal and state military awards.

She is a graduate of Rutgers University earning dual degrees in Journalism and Administration of Justice. She is also a graduate of the United States Army War College and earned a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies.

In her civilian career, she is a Detective First Grade with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey and is experienced in Special Victims, Narcotics, Arson, Major Crimes and Internal Investigations.

The 106th Regiment traces its lineage back to back to the 23rd New York State Militia, a unit that mobilized in 1862 and served in the Civil War. Some 50 years later, the regiment was called up in 1916 for the Mexican Expedition before muster and reorganization as the 106th Infantry Regiment for service in WWI with the New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Division.

Reorganization of the unit in led to elements of the regiment deployed across the globe for WWII while the unit continued to remain with the 27th Division for service in the Pacific and returned to its National Guard service in 1946 and served until deactivation in 1983.

The unit designation returned in March 2003 with National Guard Bureau authorization for the 106th Regiment, RTI (Regional Training Institute).

The unit trains officers through the Officer Candidate School, conducts military occupational specialty qualifications for military police, infantry, truck drivers and re-certification for medics.

In 2008, the 106th Regiment deployed forward in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Kabul, Afghanistan. The unit, also known as the Training Assistance Group, provided mentors and assisted Afghan counterparts in learning to run day to day operations in the Basic Training, NCO Education, Officer training and Military Police programs to the Afghan National Army Training Command and Kabul Military Training Center.