Change of Command for NY National Guard Training Institute

MEDIA ADVISORY

Related Media

Col. Michel Natali

LATHAM, NY (06/03/2011)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Col. Michel Natali, a veteran of the Iraq War and humanitarian missions in Haiti and Somalia, and a New York State Trooper in civilian life, takes command of the 106th Regional Training Institute from Col. Mark Warnecke on Sunday, June 5.

Members of the media are invited to cover the event.

WHO: Col. Michel Natali, the incoming commander, Col. Mark Warnecke, the out-going commander, Brig. Gen. Paul Genereux, the Deputy Commander of the New York Army National Guard and the men and women who serve in the 106th Regional Training Institute.

WHAT: The 106th RTI of the New York Army National Guard will change commanders from Col. Mark Warnecke to Col. Michel Natali in a ceremony marking the transition of leadership.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Sunday June 5, 2011

WHERE: Building 508, Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., 10567

For access to this secure military facility members of the media should contact Capt. Chris Culpepper, 106th RTI operations officer, (914) 788-7342, celll (914) 420-5822.

Coverage Opportunities:

Imagery of the traditional flag-passing ceremony which marks the Change of Command and interview opportunities with Col. Michel Natali, Col. Mark Warnecke and Brig. Gen. Paul Genereux.

BACKGROUND:

The Change of Command:

The Change of Command Ceremony dates back to the days in which a military unit's flag marked its position in the line of battle. The colors were always near the commander, so troops knew where to rally on the battlefield. Today the transfer of the colors marks a change in the unit and givens the soldiers their first opportunity to see and hear their new leader.

The change of command ceremony recognizes the accomplishments of the outgoing commander and the Soldiers who served under him. In addition, the ceremony identifies the new commander to the Soldiers, so they can follow him on the field of battle.

Col. Michel A. Natali

Col. Michel A. Natali was commissioned as a Military Intelligence officer in 1987. He served on active duty until he joined the New York Army National Guard in December of 1996. His active duty assignments included Commander, Headquarters Company, 110th Military Intelligence Battalion, Collection Manager-(Intelligence), 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY and Intelligence Officer (S2), 5th Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, Mainz Germany.

His New York Army National Guard assignments include Deputy Commander, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Syracuse; Intelligence Officer (G2), 42nd Infantry Division and S2, 27th Infantry Brigade. Colonel Natali has deployed to South Florida in support of the Hurricane Andrew response, Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope, Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also deployed to New York City subsequent to the 9-11 terrorist attacks with the New York State Police.

Natali is a graduate of the Military Intelligence Basic and Advance Courses, the Signals Intelligence Course, the Command and General Staff College as well as Military Intelligence and Infantry Pre-Command Courses. Natali is a 1987 graduate of Norwich University with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and is working on his Masters in Public Administration from Marist College. Natali is an Investigator with the New York State Police assigned to the New York State Intelligence Center-Counter Terrorism Center.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal (2nd Award), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd Award), Humanitarian Service Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass and "M" Aperture, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Reserve Component Exercise Support Ribbon (2nd Award) and the Army Parachutist badge.

Natali and his wife Barbara reside in Glenville, N.Y. They have three sons and two daughters.

Col. Mark Warnecke

Col. Mark Warnecke began his military career in 1975 at the age of 17 as an enlisted Soldier on active duty. He served in the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, Arctic and Mountain Light Infantry at Fort Wainwright Alaska, and in the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson Colo. before joining the New York Army National Guard. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1981 and was commissioned a 2nd Lt.

During his career he has been an infantry rifleman, grenadier, machine gunner, fire team leader, squad leader and platoon sergeant. Upon his commissioning, he served as infantry rifle platoon leader, scout platoon leader, rifle company executive officer, rifle company commander, infantry battalion logistics officer, air operations officer, battalion operations officer, battalion executive officer, battalion commander, training site commander and his final assignment as commander of the 106th Regiment, Regional Training Institute.

Warnecke's Military Education includes: Basic Training, Infantry Advanced Individual Training, Primary and Basic Non Commissioned Officer Courses, Northern Warfare School Summer and Winter Phases, Air Assault, Rappel Master, Light Fighter, Light Leader, Officer Candidate School, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, and Battalion and Brigade Commanders Course. He has attended Fulton Montgomery Community College, the University of Alaska and SUNY Albany and holds degrees in Natural Resources Conservation and Biology.

In addition to assignments within the Continental United States he has served in Alaska, Germany, Iceland, England, Central America, Africa, and Southwest Asia. He has trained, advised or served with military forces from Canada, Germany, Ireland, England, Honduras, South Africa, Japan, and Iraq.

He commanded two Infantry Battalions. The first (1st Battalion 105th Infantry) responded to the 9-11 attacks within hours of the planes striking the World Trade Center and provided security and controlled access for recovery efforts for first week after Sept 11th. He then established the initial military security for six airports in the New York City, Long Island and lower Hudson Valley area and commanded a variety of other security efforts during the year after the attacks.

He was selected to command a second battalion (2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry) in Sept. of 2003 within days of mobilization for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Under the command of the 1st Infantry Division he was assigned an area of operations in the heart of the Sunni Triangle. His battalion conducted over 75 Combat Air Assaults, 4,500 combat patrols, three downed aircraft recoveries, and defeated two suicide bomber attempts. This resulted in more than 600 insurgents captured or casualties, 800 captured weapons and four million pounds of captured explosives. The unit turned one of the most contested sections of MSR Tampa into one of the most secure through deliberate, intelligence driven combat operations. The battalion was instrumental in the crimes against humanity case for which Saddam Hussein was tried and convicted. For its contributions, the battalion was awarded the meritorious unit citation.

During his career he has been awarded 26 medals, ribbons and badges including the Bronze Star Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.

He will be retiring from the Army National Guard but will continue to serve as the civilian head of the Camp Smith Training Site.

The 106th Regional Training Institute

The 106th Regional Training Institute provides officer and non-commissioned officer training courses for the Army National Guard. The 106th RTI deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 to provide training for officers of the Afghan National Army.