Media Invited to Visit Buffalo Army National Guard Unit Training at Fort Drum

Media Advisory

FORT DRUM, NY (08/13/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard is inviting news media to visit Fort Drum on August 18 to see members of the 105th Military Police Company from Buffalo and Rochester conducting Annual Training.The 105th was one of the first New York Army National Guard units to deploy to Iraq; serving there in 2003 during the invasion.

WHO: More than 160 members of the 105th Military Police Company from Buffalo and Rochester

WHAT: Annual training for a New York Army National Guard unit that will be mobilizing for service in Iraq next year.

WHEN: Wednesday August 18, 2010 from roughly 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Link up at the New York National Guard's Mobilization and Training Equipment Site (MATES) off Route 26, in the vicinity of the Fort Drum Carthage Gate, north of the intersections of Routes 3 and 26.

Interested news organizations are encouraged to contact the DMNA Public Affairs Office at (518) 786-4581 to reserve seats on the vehicles and for additional information. Unit POC on August 18th is 1st Lt. Joseph Valentino at (716) 352-5697.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Media are invited to cover the 105th Military Police Company conducting simulated combat training. The 105th was one of the first New York units that was called to duty in 2003 for service in Iraq, took part in the invasion of Iraq, and has been set to return to Iraq as part of the transition from U.S. to Iraqi security forces.

Interested news media can link up with unit representatives at the New York National Guard Mobilization and Training Equipment Site (MATES) at 9 a.m. for a trip to the field. Planned training will be a mounted patrol where unit members will react to an ambush.News media will be brought back to MATES not later than the early afternoon. Interested news organizations must provide names and social security numbers of participants so that Invitational Travel Orders can be published covering the ride in government vehicles.

Participants should dress appropriately for a dusty environment and bring inclement weather gear as necessary. Bring a bagged lunch and water as well.