Desert Storm, Iraq War Veteran and State Trooper Takes Command of Latham Army National Guard Unit

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Col. Mark Stryker

LATHAM, NY (11/06/2009)(readMedia)-- Col. Mark Stryker, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and New York State Trooper in civilian life, will take command of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade Saturday.

WHO: Col Mark Stryker, the incoming commander; Col Michael Bobeck, the outgoing commander; and the men and women of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

WHAT: Traditional change-of-command ceremony in which Col. Bobeck will hand the brigade flag, commonly called the colors, to Col. Stryker to mark the transition from one commander to another.

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009

WHERE: Army Aviation Support Facility, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham NY

Coverage Opportunities:

Interviews with Col. Mark Stryker, and Col. Michael Bobeck about the missions of the brigade and its role in supporting troops in combat. Visual opportunities will include the passing of the battalion colors and imagery of the troops in massed formation.

For access to this secure military facility contact SFC Steven Petibone in the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Public Affairs Office at 518-786-4581 or (cell) 518-225-6649.

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. Mark Stryker:

Col Stryker began his military career in 1983 when he was commissioned as an Ordnance officer through ROTC at SUNY Oswego. He completed Army flight school in 1984 and was assigned to the United States Army Reserve's 1209th United States Army Garrison Aviation section in Mattydale, New York as maintenance platoon leader.

In 1990 he transferred to the 423rd Air Ambulance Detachment and served 10 months on Active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the positions of platoon leader, S3 and commander. He joined the New York Army National Guard in 1995 as the personnel officer for the 1st of the 142nd Attack Helicopter Battalion in Rochester and in 2000 he became executive officer of the 1-142nd Corps Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2006 he took command of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, which also includes overseeing the 249th Air Ambulance Company and B Company of the 3rd Battalion 126 Aviation (HJC-47) in Rochester. Prior to this assignment he was deputy commander of the 53rd Troop Command.

Col. Stryker's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He is a 1986 graduate of SUNY Oswego and The Army Command and General Staff College and the Joint Task Force Commander Training Course.

He has been a pilot with the New York State Police since 1986. He and his wife Mary live in Alexander, New York with their three children.

Col. Michael Bobeck:

Colonel Michael Bobeck was born in Buffalo, New York. He enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1979 as an infantryman and was initially assigned to the 1-174th Infantry in Tonawanda, New York. Bobeck enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Canisius College and was commissioned in 1983 as a second lieutenant in the infantry and went on to active duty as an aviation officer in July 1984.

He was initially assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment as an Aeroscout platoon leader at Fort Bliss, Texas. He graduated from the aviation officer advanced course in 1988 and attended the aviation maintenance and maintenance test pilot courses for the AH-1 Cobra. He was next assigned to the 10th Mountain Division serving as Aviation Intermediate Maintenance (AVIM) production control officer and Commander, D Troop 3/17th Cavalry. He attended the CH-47 aircraft qualification course and maintenance test pilot course in March 1992 and was selected for the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) where he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 160th SOAR at Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia and served as a maintenance officer, Battalion S4, and finally Commander C Company, 3/160th.

Bobeck left active duty in February 1997 to become Commander, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, New York Army National Guard in Rochester, New York. He served as the Battalion Executive Officer of the 1st of the 42nd Attack Battalion and was selected to command the 1/142nd AVIM Battalion as the Battalion was identified for mobilization and deployment to the Iraqi theater in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Jan 2004-Jan2005. Bobeck became the State Army Aviation Officer, a full-time position in January 2001, and has served concurrently as Commander of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade since 2008. His next assignment will be with the National Guard Bureau in Washington where he will manage the Army National Guard's fixed-wing aviation program.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and his awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Medal.

He is married to the former Kim M Davis and they have 3 girls; Samantha , Kelsey, and Jessica 15.

42nd Combat Aviation Brigade:

The 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, a part of the 42nd Infantry Division, can provide command and control for aviation elements in support of a division or corps. Within New York the brigade is the higher headquarters for the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion as well as the 3rd of the 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion. Additional battalions can be assigned when the brigade deploys. The brigade deployed to Tikrit, Iraq in 2005 where it provided Army Aviation Support to Task Force Liberty, a 23,000-Soldier force of Army National Guard, Army Reserve and Active Army Soldiers commanded by the 42nd Infantry Division.

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