Camp Smith-based Army National Guard Command gets new top enlisted leader Sunday, Oct. 14

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Command Sgt. Major Thomas Ciampolillo

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. (10/12/2018) (readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Thomas Ciampolillo, a Glenville, New York resident, and a veteran of the Iraq War, will become the top enlisted Soldier in the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Troop Command during an Oct. 14 ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site.

Ciampolillo will replace Command Sgt. Major Corey Cush who is moving onto a similar position with the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division.

The 53rd Troop Command oversees about 4,000 of the New York Army National Guard's Soldier in units located across the state.

Members of the press are welcome to attend the ceremony.

WHO: Command Sgt. Major Thomas Ciampolillo, Command Sgt. Major Corey Cush, and Brig. Gen. Michel Natali, the commander of the 53rd Troop Command.

WHAT: A change of responsibility ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site. The outgoing sergeant major will transfer the unit colors to the incoming sergeant major signifying the change of responsibility from Cush to Ciampolillo. The 53rd Troop Command command sergeant major is the chief advisor on enlisted Soldier promotion and training issues to the general who heads the command.

WHEN: 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018

WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

Media Opportunities:

Video and still images of the ceremony and the opportunity to interview the incoming and outgoing command sergeant majors and unit leaders.

Reporters must contact Staff Sgt. Mike Davis at 845-656-8702 for access to this secure military facility

BACKGROUND:

Command Sgt. Major Thomas Ciampolillo

Command Sergeant Major Thomas Ciampolillo entered the New York Army National Guard in January 1980.

In May 1982 Ciampolillo enlisted in the United States Navy and completed Navy Boot Camp and Aviation Apprentice Training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Ciampolillo was discharged from the United States Navy 1986 and enlisted in the New York Army National Guard once again.

Ciampolillo has served in tank, air defense artillery, infantry and military police units during his career. He has served as command sergeant major for the 102nd Military Police Battalion, the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the Joint Multinational Training Group- Ukraine, and the 106th Regional Training Institute.

Ciampolillo deployed to Iraq in 2005 and served as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the 42nd Infantry Division Police Training Team in Samarra, Iraq. He also served as operations sergeant major for the 4th Iraqi Division military training team in Tikrit, Iraq.

In 2018 he deployed to Ukraine as the top enlisted Soldier for a 220-member New York Army National Guard team working with other NATO nations to train the Ukrainian Army.

Following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Ciampolillo served as the battalion task force command sergeant major for a team providing security at New York City airports as part of Operation Noble Eagle.

His military education includes the Sergeant Majors Academy and the U.S. Army Service Support Course along with other military schools.

His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Naval Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

Ciampolillo retired from the Schenectady Police Department as a Detective.

He and his wife Toni have one daughter, Casey, and two step-sons Daniel and Ben.

Command Sergeant Major Corey Cush

Command Sergeant Major Corey K. Cush enlisted into the Army on 6 August 1986 and served for four years on active duty before joining the New York Army National Guard in 1990.

He has served in a number of positions in field artillery units. He has served as the command sergeant major of the 1st Battalion 258th Field Artillery, the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in Afghanistan in 2007-2009, and Command Sergeant Major of the 106th Regional Training Institute. He has served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 53rd Troop Command since 2014.

Cush is a graduate of many military schools to include the Sergeants Major Academy, the Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Education Course and the Nominative/Executive Leader Course.

He holds an Associate's Degree in Computer Science from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Information Systems from Monroe College.

Cush's military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.