New York City National Guard Soldiers Leave for Deployment

Media Advisory

QUEENS, NY (04/16/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard's 442nd Military Police Company will leave for post-mobilization training at Fort Dix, New Jersey Monday morning, April 19. Members of the press are invited to observe and speak with members of the unit and their families as they prepare to depart for a year of federal active duty in Iraq.

WHO: 170 Soldiers and family members of the 442nd Military Police Company, New York Army National Guard.

WHAT: Soldiers will be saying goodbye to their families and boarding buses for 45 days of training at Fort Dix prior to deploying.

WHEN: Buses are expected no later than 10 a.m. on Monday, April 19. Members of the media should be there by 9 a.m.

WHERE: New York State Armory 93-05 168th Street, Jamaica, NY 11433

Coverage Opportunities:

Imagery of the Soldiers packing their gear on buses, saying goodbye to their family members and leaving. There will be opportunities to speak with Soldiers and leaders.

For access to this secure military facility members of the press should contact Staff Sgt. Kristen Perkins at 646-707-1911.

Additional Information:

442nd Military Police Company:

The 442nd Military Police Company is comprised of about 170 men and women and is based at the State Armory in Jamaica, Queens. The unit served at Ground Zero following the 9-11, 2001 terrorist attacks and was deployed to Iraq in 2003-4, where it earned a Presidential Unit Citation and helped re-establish a training academy for the Iraqi police. Approximately a third of the unit's members are civilian law enforcement professionals from across the region and almost a fourth of the unit has already completed at least one overseas deployment, including its commander Capt. Tara Dawe, who served as an enlisted member of the unit in Iraq. About a fifth of the unit's members are college students.