GLENVILLE, NY (12/09/2009)(readMedia)-- "We are honored to be in your company," Maj. Robert Mitchell, commander of the 501st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, told 15 Soldiers assigned to the New York Army National Guards 1108th Ordnance Company (EOD) during a departure ceremony held at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in, Glenville, NY, December 8, 2009.

The company, trained to deal with improvised explosive devices, discarded munitions, and other explosives, will train at Fort Lewis, Washington before deploying to Iraq early in 2010.

"It's a chance to do the job we were trained to do," said 1st Lt. Jeffrey Fiorito, commander, 1108th EOD Company, and a resident of Warwick, Rhode Island. "We were trained in the full spectrum of operations," he added.

"Our training has definitely prepared us for this deployment," Fiorito emphasized. The 1108th has trained for about a year for the deployment in tasks ranging from explosive ordnance disposal to chemical operations, he said.

The company also completed the Global Anti-terrorism Operational Readiness Course, as well as several Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms courses providing the Soldiers with current trends in the theaters of operation they will be supporting.

Brig. General Michael Swezey, the commander of the 53rd Troop Command, charged the Soldiers with taking care of each other and trust their extensive training. He also assured the Soldiers that the New York Army National Guard would look out for the welfare of their families while they are deployed.

The state headquarters has created a first rate program to help families of deployed Soldiers, he emphasized.

The 1108th EOD Company was organized in September 2005 from Soldiers of the inactivating 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, New York Army National Guard, formerly stationed at the New York State Armory in Schenectady.

Since its inception, the 1108th has supported such real world operations as the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York City, and ordnance disposal at Camp Smith Training Area in 2009.

The company will be rounded out with additional Soldiers from other units prior to heading for Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in January 2010.

Story by Staff Sgt. Thomas Wheeler, 138th Public Affairs Detachment, New York Army National Guard

Photo Cutlines:

Photo 091208-A-2099W_3698:

Glenville, NY-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 1108th Ordnance Co. (EOD) listen as Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey, commander of the 53rd Troop Command, speaks with them privately following a farewell ceremony for the company at the Armed Forces Reserve Center here on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

The 15 Soldier, who hail from six states, will conduct additional training at Fort Lewis, Washington before deploying to Iraq to take part in the counter-IED fight in 2010.

Photo 091208-A-2099W_3732

Glenville, NY-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 1108th Ordnance Co. (EOD) stand at parade rest before their family and friends during a farewell ceremony held Tuesday., Dec.8 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center here. The 15 Soldiers, who come from six states, have been trained in dealing with IEDs, discarded munitions and other explosive devices.

Photo 091208-A-2099W_3772

Glenville, NY-First Lt. Jeffrey Fiorito, the commander of the New York National Guard's 1108th Ordnance Company (EOD) shows his nephew Mike Fiorito and niece Loren Fiorito how to operate one of robots the company uses to train on bomb disposal during a farewell ceremony for the unit on Dec. 8 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center here.

Photos by Staff Sgt. Thomas Wheeler, 138th Public Affais Detachment, New York Army National Guard

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Posted Wednesday December 09, 2009 at 03:44 pm by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Thursday August 26, 2010 at 09:30 am