New York National Guard's 153rd Troop Command Gets New Commander Sunday

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Lt. Col. James Freehart

BUFFALO, N.Y. (10/24/2014)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. James Freehart, a Troy resident takes command of the 153rd Troop Command Headquarters Sunday morning in Buffalo.

Freehart takes command from Col. James Pabis of Saratoga Springs, New York, who led the headquarters since 2011.Pabis has been selected to serve as deputy commander of the 53rd Troop Command.

Members of the media are invited to attend the event.

WHO: Lt. Col. James Freehart, the incoming commander, receives the colors of his new command from outgoing commander Col. James Pabis.

WHAT: A traditional military change-of-command ceremony in which the colors, or flag, of the headquarters is transferred from Pabis to Freehart by the 53rd Troop Command commander, Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey, signifying the change of responsibility and authority for the command from one leader to another. Traditionally the unit's color's marked the location of the commander on the battlefield and the ceremony allowed the Soldiers to know who their commander was.

WHEN: Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 11 a.m.

WHERE: New York National Guard Armory, 184 Connecticut Street, Buffalo, New York

Coverage Opportunities:

Reporters will have the opportunity to interview both the incoming and outgoing commanders. Video and photographic opportunities include Soldiers in formation as well as the ceremony in which the unit colors are transferred. Media must contact Maj. Jess Traver at (716) 572-5513 or jess.traver@outlook.com for access to the secure military facility.

BACKGROUND

The Change of Command Ceremony dates back to the days in which a military unit's flag marked its position in the line of battle. The colors were always near the commander, so troops knew where to rally on the battlefield.

Today the transfer of the colors marks a change in the unit and gives the soldiers their first opportunity to see and hear their new leader.

The change of command ceremony recognizes the accomplishments of the outgoing commander and the Soldiers who served under him. In addition, the ceremony identifies the new commander to the Soldiers, so they can follow him on the field of battle.

Lt. Col. James Freehart:

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. James Freehart entered the Army as an enlisted Soldier in 1981, serving as a helicopter mechanic in the 82nd Airborne Division. While assigned to the 82nd he participated in Operation Urgent Fury, the invasion of Grenada in 1983.

While on active duty he served in Korea and in the United States with the 82nd Airborne once again before joining the New York Army National Guard in 1987.

While serving in the 42nd Aviation Battalion in Latham he attended the Empire State Military Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in infantry in 1989. He served in a variety of positions with the 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry, including commander of Headquarters Company of the 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry.

He served in the State Area Headquarters and joined the 204th Engineer battalion as operations officer in 2005. In 2007 he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and served in Afghanistan in 2008 as a training advisor to the Afghan Army.

Freehart took command of the 204th Engineer Battalion in 2011. Under his command the unit responded to Tropical Storms Irene and Lee and Superstorm Sandy, as well as summer flooding in the Mohawk Valley in 2013. The battalion has also deployed Soldiers to Germany and Afghanistan while under this command.

In his civilian life Freehart is employed as a federal technician in the Division of Military and Naval Affairs facilities engineering office in charge of environmental compliance.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Medal, Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Air Crewmembers Badge, and the Senior Parachutist Badge.

Freehart has an Associate's degree from Hudson Valley Community College and a Bachelors' degree in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

He resides in Troy, New York with his wife, Lisa, daughter Cydney and son, Jacob.

Col. James Pabis

New York Army National Guard Col. James Pabis joined the Army Reserve as a military police officer after being commissioned from Northeastern University ROTC in 1991. He served in the Army Reserve's 98th Division as assistant operations officer, a battalion personnel officer, company executive officer and company commander until 2001 when he transferred to the New York Army National Guard.

He has served as the secretary to the general staff for the commander of the New York Army National Guard and the brigade engineer of the 27th Infantry Brigade. He commanded the 272nd Military Police Detachment from 2004 to 2007 and deployed to Iraq with that unit. He commanded the 501st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion from 2009 to 2011 when he took command of the 153rd Troop Command.

Pabis' awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Combat Action Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Metal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star and the Army Service Ribbon.

Pabis is a graduate of Northeastern University and holds an MBA from Sage Graduate School. His military education includes the Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.

He has served as the Chairman of the Board for the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and is a past board member of the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation. He is also a board member of the Saratoga National Bank Community Advisory Board and has been involved with numerous other not for profit boards.

153rd Troop Command

The 153rd Troop Command is based at the historic Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo and is the higher headquarters for the 102nd Military Police Battalion, the 204th Engineer Battalion and the 501st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion.

The 153rd Troop Command Headquarters is a component of the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Troop Command, a major subordinate headquarters and is one of four brigade-level headquarters in the New York Army National Guard. The 153rd is responsible for overseeing 1,700 Soldiers. In a state emergency the 153rd Troop Command is responsible for commanding both Army and Air National Guard units in 18 Western New York counties.