Afghan Combat Veteran from Fayette Takes Command of National Guard's 427th Forward Support Battalion Friday

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SYRACUSE, NY (08/08/2013)(readMedia)-- Major Scott Jessop, a combat veteran from Fayette, Seneca County, takes command of the New York Army National Guard's 427th Brigade Support Battalion on Friday at the Thompson Road Armory on Hancock Field Air National Guard Base.

He replaces Lt. Col. Stephen M. Bousquet who has led the battalion since 2009.

WHO: Major Scott Jessop, the incoming commander; Lt. Co. Stephen Bousquet, the outgoing commander; Lt. Col. Joseph Bieler, commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; and the men and women of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

WHAT: Traditional Change-of-Command ceremony in which Bieler , the brigade commander, transfers the flag or "colors' of the battalion from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander, signifying the transition of authority for the battalion and the Soldiers who serve in it.

WHEN: 1 p.m. Friday, August 9, 2013. Members of the press who wish to cover the event must be at the East Malloy Road Gate of Hancock Field Air National Guard Base no later than 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Thompson Road Armory, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse.

Members of the press seeking access to this secure military facility must contact Lt. Col. Roberta Comerford by calling the New York National Guard Public Affairs Officer at 518-786-4581 no later than noon on Friday, August 9.

Coverage Opportunities:

Videographers and photographers can capture imagery of the traditional colors ceremony. Interviews can be arranged with Major Scott Jessop, the incoming commander, Lt. Col. Stephen Bousquet, the outgoing commander, and Lt. Col. Joseph Bieler, the commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

BACKGROUND:

Major Scott Jessop

Major Scott Jessop joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1995 after graduating from the Cornell University Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He has held a variety of positions in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard to include: platoon leader of a support platoon and maintenance platoon; engineer company executive officer, support company commander, personnel officer, materiel officer, aerial delivery officer, brigade logistics officer, support battalion operations officer, and most recently logistics officer for the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Troop Command.

In 2008 Jessop deployed to Afghanistan as the supply officer for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Joint Task Force Phoenix, which was responsible for training the Afghan National Army and police.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal , Afghan Service Medal , Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Jessop is a graduate of the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Ordnance Officer Advance Course ,Combined Arms Staff Support School, Aerial Delivery and Material Officers Course, Simulation Officer Course and the Army's Intermediate Level Education program for officer. He holds an Executive MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Executive MBA and a BS from Cornell University

Jessop and his wife Rebecca have one son Benjamin and one daughter Carolyn.

LTC Stephen M. Bousquet

A resident of Lakeview, Erie County, Major Bousquet is employed by the Army Corps of Engineers in his civilian life as a health physicist. He has led the 427th Brigade Support Battalion since 2009.

He enlisted in the United States Army Reserve as a combat medic in February 1992 and in 1996 received a commission as a Medical Service Corps Officer in the Active Army. He left Active Duty in 2000 and joined the New York Army National Guard. His assignments have included Chief of the Environmental Health Section at the United States Army Medical Facility at Fort Drum, Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 127th Armor, and Medical Company Commander for the 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

He deployed to Afghanistan in 2008, and also served in support of Operation Noble Eagle, the defense of locations in the United States after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

He is a graduate of Canisius College and is working on a Masters in Environmental Management at the University of Maryland. He is also a graduate of the Medical Service Advanced Course, Tank Commanders Course and the Combined Arms Exercise Course and Army Intermediate Level Education Course.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

He and his wife Tracey have three sons, Matthew, Nathan and Alexander, and a daughter, Olivia.

427th Brigade Support Battalion:

The Soldiers of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion provide medical, supply, and maintenance support to the 3,5 00 Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The battalion consists of a medical company, a maintenance company and a supply and transportation company along with support companies assigned to each of the brigade's maneuver battalions . The battalion's mission is to keep the brigades three or more combat battalions in the fight.

The battalion deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and to Kuwait and Afghanistan again in 2012 .