John Willsey, a Cohoes Resident and Iraq War Veteran, is Named Head of National Guard Family Programs

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John Willsey

LATHAM, NY (12/24/2013)(readMedia)-- John Willsey, a Cohoes resident, retired New York Army National Guard Sergeant Major, and a veteran of the Iraq War, has been selected as director of the New York National Guard's Family Programs Office.

The Family Programs Office is responsible for Guard programs which assist families before and during military deployments, help Soldiers reintegrate back into their jobs and families when they return from deployment, and assists Guard Soldiers and Airmen in finding civilian jobs. Willsey will oversee a network of professional civilian staff located at armories and airbases around New York.

Willsey was previously employed by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program, where he worked to link employers up with National Guard members, Reservists and veterans looking for jobs.

He also worked as coordinator of the New York National Guard's Yellow Ribbon Program which helps Soldiers reintegrate back into their jobs and families following a deployment. He was instrumental in organizing a number of job fairs aimed at Reserve military personnel and veterans and also helped developed a website to help New York National Guard members find out about jobs.

Willsey served as a full-time member of the New York Army National Guard for 33 years. He began his military career as a file clerk and ended it as a Battalion Command Sergeant Major, one of the highest enlisted ranks in the military.

During his military career, Willsey specialized in personnel management and during his deployment to Iraq in 2004/2005 he was responsible for maintaining the personnel records of 23,000 Soldiers spread out across three Iraqi provinces.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Education Ribbon, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Citation.

He and his wife Halina have two grown children.