HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE , NY (01/30/2012)(readMedia)-- More than 1,700 New York Army National Guard Soldiers from across New York will board charter aircraft at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base to fly to Camp Shelby, Mississippi on Tuesday, Jan. 31 for post-mobilization training.

Members of the press are welcome to cover 200 Soldiers of Company A and Company C of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry as they board aircraft at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base. Company A is headquartered at the New York State Armory in Geneseo, while Company C is headquartered at the New York State Armory in Gloversville.

WHO: Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

WHAT: Boarding charter commercial aircraft for the flight to Camp Shelby, Mississippi where they will conduct post-mobilization training prior to deploying to Kuwait. The battalion is to conduct a security force mission for U.S. facilities there.

WHEN: The flight is scheduled to go depart at 11 a.m. on Tuesday Jan. 31. Soldiers are expected to begin boarding after 10 a.m. Media members interested in covering the event must contact 174th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Officer Major Jeff Brown No Later Than 9 a.m. to make arrangements for access to this secure military facility.

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

CONTACT MAJOR JEFF BROWN AT (CELL) (315)663-8734 FOR ACCESS TO THIS SECURE MILITARY FACILITY.

Coverage Opportunities:

Imagery of Soldiers boarding aircraft and opportunities for quick interviews with Soldiers.

BACKGROUND:

The New York Army National Guard mobilized almost 1,800 Soldiers this weekend across the state as members of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team prepared to depart for training at Camp Shelby, Miss.

Due to changing needs for forces within Central Command, the Army has remissioned the mobilization of the New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

The Army will continue to deploy some Soldiers to Kuwait as a security force and will review force needs for potential missions for other Soldiers.

The Soldiers going to Kuwait are expected to deploy in April.

The Soldiers expect to be on federal active duty for up to 12 months, but the Army continues to review and reduce forces needed overseas. Some Soldiers may be released sooner than the one-year deployment timeline if the Army makes further changes to the mission.

Current plans call for the New York Army National Guard to deploy to Kuwait Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, which is headquartered in Utica and has elements in Morrisonville, Ogdensburg, Saranac Lake, Gloversville, Glenville, Geneseo, Ithaca, and Leeds with additional Soldiers volunteering from New York City and Long Island.

The 427th Forward Support Battalion, with companies located in Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester was also called up. The 427th Forward Support Battalion provides logistics support-maintenance, supply, and medical support-to the brigade.

The 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, which is headquartered in Buffalo and has elements in Lockport and Syracuse, also mobilized. The 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion includes intelligence, engineering, signal, and other specialized support units.

In addition to the New York Soldiers, 800 National Guard Soldiers from South Carolina and another 800 from Wisconsin, Alabama, Illinois, Florida, California, Kansas and Michigan are being mobilized as part of the 27th Brigade Combat Team.

Imagery of the New York Army National Guard Soldiers mobilization ceremonies can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nyng

Posted Monday January 30, 2012 at 02:12 pm by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Thursday February 02, 2012 at 04:00 pm