Command Sgt. Major Corey Cush, an Afghan War Veteran, becomes top enlisted leader in Troy-based 42nd Division

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(Right) Command Sgt. Maj. Corey Cush visit with Soldiers and Airmen during a visit to Kuwait on May 17 -18, 2017.

TROY. N.Y. (10/19/2018) (readMedia)-- Command Sergeant Major Corey Cush, a Mt.Vernon resident and veteran of the War in Afghanistan, will replace Command Sergeant Major Justin Lenz as the top enlisted Soldier in the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division on Sunday, October 21.

Lenz, a North Bellmore resident, who has served in the position since 2015, will be moving into a strategic plans and policy position at the National Guard's Joint Forces Headquarters in Latham, N.Y.

As the division command sergeant major, Cush will serve as the division commander's chief advisor for all enlisted Soldier-related issues particularly those affecting training and quality of life.

The 42nd Infantry Division commands 4,500 Soldiers in New York and has a training relationship with Army National Guard elements in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and New Jersey.

Members of the press are welcome to cover the ceremony.

WHO: Command Sergeants Major Corey Cush, the incoming 42nd Division command sergeant major, and Justin Lenz, the outgoing command sergeant major, and Major General Steven Ferrari, the commander of the 42nd Infantry Division.

WHAT: A change of responsibility ceremony marking the installation of the new division top enlisted leader. The two sergeants major will a saber, marking the change of responsibility.

WHEN: 1 p.m. Sunday, October 21, 2018.

WHERE: 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters, New York Army National Guard, 137 Glenmore Road, Troy, NY 12180

Media Opportunity:

Video and still imagery of the passing of the saber between the outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Justin Lenz and the incoming Command Sgt. Maj., Corey Cush. Interviews will be available.

News media should contact the New York National Guard Public Affairs Officer Capt. Jean Marie Kratzer at 518-496-7150 prior to 12 p.m. for access to the secure military facility.

BACKGROUND:

Command Sergeant Major Corey K. Cush

Command Sergeant Major Cush is a graduate of Mount Vernon High School and has earned an Associate's Degree in Computer Science from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Information Systems from Monroe College.

Cush enlisted in the Active Army in 1986 and served for four years, serving in Germany and Panama. He joined the National Guard on 7 August 1990 and his first unit of assignment was A Battery, 1st Battalion 258th Field Artillery at Kingsbridge Armory, Bronx NY.

He later went on to serve in several different leadership positions, including Section Chief, Platoon Sergeant, Regional Training Institute, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course Instructor and later Combat Arms Course Manager.

Cush was appointed to Command Sergeant Major of the 1/258th Field Artillery in 2005 and served as the Afghan Regional Security Integration Command Sergeant Major during his 2007 – 2009 deployment to Afghanistan.

In 2009 he was appointed as the Command Sergeant Major of the 106th Regiment Regional Training Institute and in 2014 Troop Command Sergeant Major.

Cush has attended a number of military schools to include the Sergeant Major Academy, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Education Course, and Nominative/Executive Leader Course.

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

Command Sergeant Major Justin Lenz

Command Sergeant Major Justin Lenz entered active duty May 24, 1984 at Ft. Hamilton, New York and attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training and Airborne School. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and with the 325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy.

Lenz left active service in December 1987 and joined the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion 71st Infantry Lenz transferred to the 442 Military Police Company in 1996, where he held leadership positions from Squad Leader through First Sergeant.

He deployed to Iraq with the 442 Military Police Company from April 2003 through April 2004. Lenz deployed again to Iraq in August 2007 and served as Base Defense Forces Command Sergeant Major at Camp Buccal.

Lenz has served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 104th Military Police Battalion, the 369th Sustainment Brigade and most recently the 106th Regional Training Institute.

Lenz holds an Associate and Bachelor degrees in Criminal Justice from The City University of New York John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from American Military University.

Lenz's is a Deputy Inspector in the New York City Police Department, and has been employed with them for over twenty-six years. He is currently the Commanding Officer of the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway, Queens.

His military education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System through the Sergeants Major Course.

Lenz's awards and decorations include; the Bronze Star Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, Driver's the Mechanics Badge, the Navy-Marine Corp Presidential Unit Citation and the Spanish Armed Forces Parachutist Badge.

Lenz resides in North Bellmore, New York and is married to the former Rita Lyndon; they have two children, Erin age 22 and Michael age 20.