Mayra Schulttz enlists for volunteer service in New York Guard

LATHAM, NY (05/28/2015)(readMedia)-- Brigadier General Stephen A Bucaria, the Commander of the New York Guard, announces the recent enlistment of members of the New York Guard in recognition of their commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the New York Guard.

Spc. Mayra Schulttz from Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. (postal code 10952) enlisted to serve with the New York Guard's 56th Brigade based at the Camp Smith Training Site.

"Membership in the New York Guard means volunteering to serve your state, supporting your neighbors and being part of something bigger than yourself," Bucaria said. I congratulate these volunteers for their initiative and devotion to be ready and respond when state emergencies arise."

The New York Guard, which is one of 23 state defense forces around the country, is authorized to recruit just over 1,000 volunteers organized into units located across New York. Currently there are 600 New York Guard members.

The New York Guard is a state volunteer force which augments and supports the New York National Guard with manpower and skills.

New York Guard members are a volunteer, unpaid force which serves at the direction of the Governor. They assist the National Guard in planning, training for and executing state emergency support and disaster missions, and provide legal and medical pre-deployment assistance to the National Guard units and other reserve components as requested.

Many New York Guard members are retired members of the National Guard and other military services, however military experience is not a prerequisite to membership. They are part of the military forces of New York but are not federal military reservists like members of the Army and Air National Guard.

About half of the New York Guard volunteers are former members of the active duty military or National Guard while the other half have never served in the military.

People who have served in the military can serve in the New York Guard up until age 65. Those who have never served in the military must be between age 18 and age 55 to join.

Members of the New York Guard assist National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to serve the people of New York as members of Guard Joint Task Forces which respond to state natural disasters, state emergencies and state security requirements.

For more information about the New York Guard, visit http://dmna.ny.gov/nyg/.