Clifton Park Soldier to Command NY National Guard Headquarters Unit

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Capt. Todd Balog conducts familiarization training with a Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Type 90 Main Battle Tank in Dec. 2009 while deployed to Hokkaido, Japan.

LATHAM, NY (12/08/2010)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Capt Todd Balog takes command of the Headquarters Company of the 42d Infantry Division Dec. 11 at the unit armory in Troy.

Balog, from East Greenbush, N.Y., currently serves in Troy as the Secretary of the General Staff to the Commanding General of the Division.

In the change-of-command ceremony, the battalion's flag, or colors, are ceremonially transferred from the outgoing to the incoming commander, signifying to the unit's members that the leadership of the unit is in new hands. In this case the 42nd Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Russell Clark, will transfer the colors from Capt Nicholas Suhr, the outgoing commander, to Balog, the incoming one.

Balog, originally from East Greenbush, N.Y., was commissioned in Aug. 2001 on Active Duty as an Armor Officer through Michigan State University Army ROTC.

Balog has served in a variety of leadership and staff assignments in the Active Army and Army National Guard, including platoon leader in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, National Training Center Protocol Bureau escort officer, operations officer for the 42nd Infantry Division Operations (G3) Section, Aide-de-Camp to the commanding general and currently the Secretary of the General Staff.

Balog participated in two overseas training missions with the 42nd Infantry Division, first, in Cairo, Egypt for Operation Bright Star in November 2007. He also participated in the Yama Sakura overseas bilateral training mission to Camp Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan in December 2009 serving as the Secretary of the General Staff.

Balog has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He is a graduate of the Army Airborne Course, Armor Officer Basic Course, Scout Platoon Leader Course, and the Adjutant General Captain Career Course.

His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster for his second award, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with device, and the Army Parachutist Badge.

Balog currently serves as an Active Guard and Reserve Officer. He and his wife Amy have two children.

Balog's father, Victor Balog, an Army Vietnam Veteran, lives in East Greenbush, N.Y. His mother, Diane Balog lives in Troy, N.Y.

42nd Infantry Division Headquarters Company

The division headquarters company of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division provides the staff and leadership to command and control combat and combat support brigades during operations for domestic emergencies or combat operations overseas.

The division currently provides leadership and staff support to the National Guard's Domestic All-Harzards Response Team. The DART element in Troy rapidly coordinates for the availability and movement of National Guard forces for major disasters or crises across the entire eastern United States.

The division deployed in December 2009 to Hokkaido, Japan for bilateral training of command post operations with elements of the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces Northern Army.

The headquarters company and 42nd Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion are aligned for training support with more than 14,000 Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade and 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, the New Jersey National Guard's 50th Infantry Brigade, the Vermont National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade, the New Hampshire National Guard's 197th Fires Brigade and the Massachusetts Army National Guard's 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

The company mobilized and deployed to Iraq from May 2004 through November 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing staff support and command and control of Task Force Liberty and Multinational Division North Central, based in Tikrit, Iraq.