1st Sgt. Paul Troccia, an Iraq War veteran, becomes top enlisted leader in 102 MP Battalion Sunday, Nov. 4

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1st Sgt. Paul Troccia

SKANEATELES, NY (11/02/2018) (readMedia)-- New York National Guard 1st Sgt. Paul Troccia, a Beaver Dams resident and an Iraq War veteran, will become the highest ranking enlisted Soldier in the 102nd Military Police Battalion during a ceremony at the Skaneateles American Legion on Sunday. Nov. 4.

Members of the press are invited to cover the ceremony.

WHO: 1st Sgt. Paul Troccia, the incoming battalion Command Sgt. Major; Command Sgt. Major Mark Duris, the outgoing Command Sgt. Major; and Lt. Col. Matthew Schaffer, the commander of the 102nd Military Police Battalion.

WHAT: A change of responsibility ceremony in which the transfer of the duties of the senior enlisted advisor to the battalion commander will be recognized. The battalion command sergeant major is the advisor to the battalion commander on issues related to enlisted Soldier training, morale and discipline.

WHEN: 3 p.m., Sunday, November 4, 2018

WHERE: American Legion Post #239, 3808 Jordan Road, Skaneateles NY 13152

Coverage opportunities:

Interviews with the incoming and outgoing command sergeant majors and video and still imagery of troops in formation.

BACKGROUND

1st Sgt. PAUL TROCCIA

1st Sgt. Paul Troccia enlisted in the Army in 1997 and served in the 1st Battalion 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a mortar crewman before transferring to the New York Army National Guard.

Since joining the New York Army National Guard Troccia has served in Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 108th Infantry; the 222nd Military Police Company, the 106th Regional Training Institute and the 105th Military Police Company.

Troccia deployed to the Sinai in 1998 as part of the Multinational Force and Observers which separate Israeli and Egyptian military forces. He served in Iraq from June 2006 to October 2007.

He is a graduate of several military schools to include the Total Army Instructor Training Course, Cultural Intelligence Training; the Counter Threat Finance Course, and the Criminal Analyst Train-the-Trainer Course.

His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal; the Parachutist Badge; and the Combat Action Badge.

Troccia and his wife Kelley have a son, Joseph.

COMMAND SGT. MAJOR PAUL DURKIS

Command Sgt. Major Paul Durkis enlisted in the Army in 1984 as a military policeman and served in Texas and Germany before transferring to the New York Army National Guard.

His assignments in the New York Army National Guard have included Company A 427th Brigade Support Battalion, the 106th Regional Training Institute, and Headquarters Company, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Duris deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from January 2008 to December 2008 as a member of the Police Mentor Team in Paktika Province Afghanistan. He returned to Afghanistan from January 2012 to January 2013 as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Joint Board Coordination Center in Kandahar Province.

He has attended a number of military schools to include the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Augmented Advisor Training, Military Transition Team Training, the Battlefield Forensics Course, the Tactical Site Exploitation Course and the Internment/ Resettlement Course.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NATO Medal; the Driver and Mechanic Badge ; the Combat Action Badge; and two awards of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Duris lives in West Henrietta, NY with his wife Jennifer and sons Zachary and Tyler.