National Guard Chief Chaplain Visits New York

Meets with New York State National Guard Chaplain to Review Programs

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National Guard and New York Chaplains.

LATHAM, NY (03/29/2009)(readMedia)-- The Army National Guard's top chaplain, Chaplain (Brig. Gen) Bryan Hult, visited New York National Guard headquarters on Saturday, March 28, to meet with New York National Guard State Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Eric Olsen.

Hult assumed duties as the Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains, Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau, Washington, District of Columbia on October 1, 2006. As Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains, he is responsible for assisting the Army Chief of Chaplains in advising on all programs, policies and plans affecting the Army National Guard Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants.

As the National Guard Bureau advisor to the Army Chief of Chaplains, Hult routinely visits National Guard State headquarters to review programs, structure, and strength management and discuss issues affecting the chaplain corps.

Olsen, a Saranac Lake resident and a chaplain for the New York State Department of Correctional Services in civilian life, has been very involved in shaping the New York Army National Guard's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, designed to help Soldiers make the transition from combat back to their families and civilian workforce.

"I am impressed with New York's structure, organization and vision, from incorporating unit ministry teams and Air National Guard personnel and resources into programs to expanding the chaplain corps to meet the diverse needs of New York. New York is bringing it all together," Hult said.

Hult received his commission from Officer Candidate School on July 29, 1979. He was commissioned an Infantry officer and transferred to Aviation after Flight School in 1980. After six years active duty in the Infantry and in Aviation, he branch transferred to the Chaplaincy Corps in 1988. In 1993 he joined the Indiana National Guard and has served at every level of National Guard Chaplaincy to include Battalion, Brigade, Enhanced Brigade, Division and State.en and Chaplain (Brig.Gen), Special Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains based at Arlington VA, view the Fallen Comrade Memorial Wall, during a visit to the New York National Guard's Joint Forces Headquarters on March 28.

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Photo by Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo, 42nd Infantry Division

New York National Guard's State Chaplain, (Lt. Col.) Eric Olsen (left) and Chaplain (Brig.Gen) Bryan Hult, Special Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains based at Arlington VA, view the Fallen Comrade Memorial Wall, during a visit to the New York National Guard's Joint Forces Headquarters in Latham on March 28. (Released)