New York National Guard Military Police Go Through Reintegration Training This Weekend

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Soldiers of the 442nd Military Police Company in formation during their homecoming on April 8, 2011.

WHITE PLAINS, NY (05/13/2011)(readMedia)-- Soldiers of the 442nd Military Police Company, who returned from Iraq in April will participate in the New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program on May 14 at the Crown Plaza Hotel here.

Members of the media are welcome to attend part of the session to observe and speak with Soldiers and family members.

WHO: One hundred and fifty members of the Queens-based 442nd Military Police Company and their family members. While the unit is headquartered in Queens the Soldiers from across the state.

WHAT: A two-day session during which they will learn about the problems and concerns that can crop up when National Guard Soldiers return from a combat zone to civilian life.

WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2011

WHERE: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 66 Hale Avenue, White Plains NY 10601

Members of the press interested in attending this event should contact Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo from the New York National Guard Public Affairs Office at 518-528-4770 (cell).

Coverage Opportunities

Reporters will have the opportunity to speak with New York National Guard leaders, Soldiers and Family members about their experiences and sit in the on the general session briefing which opens the two-day event. The press is also invited to view and speak with participants' in the "Provider Fair" in which families can find out about the services they are eligible for.

Background

442nd Military Police

The 442nd Military Police Company mobilized April 18, 2010 and deployed in August 2010. The company was based in Ramadi, Iraq as part of the 4th Advise and Assist Brigade assigned to the Third Infantry Division. The company operated throughout Anbar Province, covering cities from the west such as Rawah, Anah, Hit and Baghdadi stretching east to Habaniyah and Ramadi.

The unit conducted more than 400 partnered missions with Iraqi law enforcement or security forces. The Soldiers also provided training in riot control techniques to assist Iraqi forces during the Days of Rage, provided security during Family Visitation Days at the area detention facility and assisted in the training of Iraqi Police Investigative elements. Most notable during the unit's deployment in this region, both Sunni and Shia Iraqi law enforcement personnel worked side by side against terrorism cells.

The 442nd Military Police Company is based at the State Armory in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. The reunion at the Harlem Armory is the headquarters of the unit's higher command, the 369th Sustainment Brigade.

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 New York City region and almost a fourth of the unit's members had already completed at least one overseas deployment.

Yellow Ribbon Program:

The New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program was created to help Soldiers and their family members cope with the stress of returning to civilian life after deployment, while also helping Army National Guard units transition from federal mobilization status back to state control. Yellow Ribbon events have proved to be an effective way to help reintegrate troops with families, employers and the community.

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program requires Soldiers to be present for paid assemblies at approximately 30 and 60 days after their return from a combat zone, and invites families to attend as well. The sessions are held in a non-threatening, non-military environment, to provide Soldiers and families a chance to share experiences and talk frankly with each other and counselors about their experiences.

More than 3000 New York National Guard Soldiers have been through the program since its inception in 2008.