NY Naval Militia recognizes members for COVID service at Corning Preserve boat launch on Tuesday, Sept. 20

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NY Naval Militia Landing Craft LC-2 will be featured during an awards ceremony at the Albany Boat Lanch at the Corning Preserve on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m.

ALBANY, NEW YORK (09/19/2022) (readMedia)-- Twenty-five members of the New York Naval Militia will be recognized for their service in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic during a ceremony at the Corning Preserve Boat ramp in Albany on Tuesday afternoon, September 20.

Members of the press are invited to cover the event, which will feature three Naval Militia patrol boats in the Hudson River.

WHO: Members of the New York Naval Militia who have been assigned to the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs budget office assist in processing COVID-19 related financial paperwork to ensure that the state is reimbursed for expenses by the federal government.

WHAT: The award of the Naval Militia's unit and individual member of the year awards, known as the Josephthal Trophy. Participants will also be awarded the New York State Pandemic Response Service Ribbon to mark their service in support of the state's pandemic response missions. An individual award will also be presented to Chief Petty Officer Bill Kaul who is in charge of Naval Militia boat training operations on Long Island Sound.

WHEN: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022.

WHERE: Albany Corning Preserve Boat Launch, near the intersections of Quay Street and Water Street

Coverage Opportunities:

New York Naval Militia Personnel will provide information for the awards ceremony. Following the awards ceremony, the Sailors and Marines will board Naval Militia Landing Craft 2 for an orientation cruise on the boat. Two other boats will be present in the Hudson River as well.

BACKGROUND

The New York Naval Militia:

Organized in 1891, the New York Naval Militia originally functioned as a naval National Guard. Following the creation of the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve, the Naval Militia evolved into an organization in which members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserves can serve concurrently.

These Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen use their federal training to work for the people of New York when placed on State Active Duty for missions.

A small number of the 2,700 members of the New York Naval Militia are retired reservists who now serve only in the Naval Militia.

The Naval Militia also operates a fleet of 12 patrol boats which support state, local, and federal agencies on the Lakes Erie and Ontario, Long Island Sound, New York Harbor, Lake Champlain and the Hudson, St. Lawrence, and Mohawk Rivers.

The Josephthal Trophy

The Josephthal Trophy, named for Rear Adm. Louis Josephthal, who commanded the Naval Militia from 1925 to 1929, is awarded annually to a Naval Militia member for outstanding service. It is also awarded to units for outstanding efforts.

Admiral Josephthal set aside $10,000 in his will, worth $173,000 in 2022 dollars, to finance the awards program over the years.

NYNM TASK FORCE J8

The unit was established in March of 2020 to provide the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Budget and Finance with manpower needed to help process the paperwork required to reconcile $88 million spent to keep over 6,000 members of the New York National Guard, the Naval Militia and New York State Guard on duty during the pandemic response period. J8 is the military term for the individual who handles a unit's funds.

The task force members dealt with purchasing, lodging, catering, reconciliation and grant management issues and is still at work to ensure that all outstanding expenses and reimbursements from the two-and-a-half-year mission are accounted for.

Chief Petty Officer Bill Kaul

Chief Petty Officer Bill Kaul served in the United States Coast Guard from 1987 to 1997 and joined the New York Naval Militia in December 2015.

He is in charge of Detachment 21 of the New York Naval Militia's Military Emergency Boat Service which operates a fleet of 12 patrol boats.

He is being recognized for his service as an outstanding trainer and the efforts he has made to build morale withing his detachment and the boat service as a whole.