New York Naval Militia Boat Conducts Training on Mohawk River in Scotia Today

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A New York Naval Militia patrol boat underway in the Hudson River during training in 2012.

LATHAM, NY (05/10/2013)(readMedia)-- Members of the New York Naval Militia will be conducting boat qualification training on the Mohawk River in Scotia on Friday, May 10. Training will begin in the vicinity of Lock 8 at about 9 a.m.

The two- person crew will be training on Naval Militia Patrol Boat 221, a 22-foot work boat which is used for patrol duties by the Naval Militia's Military Emergency Boat Service.

The Naval Militia, a New York State uniformed defense force, operates a fleet of nine boats under the control of the governor. The boats of the Military Emergency Boat Service can augment the security operations of local law enforcement agencies and also work hand-in-hand with the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The crew will be conducting basic boat handling training, according to Naval Militia Commander Don McKnight, the Office in Charge of the boat service.

The New York Naval Militia is a force of about 2200 members of the Navy , Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserve who volunteer to perform state missions in addition to their federal military obligation. A small crops of Naval Militia members are volunteers who are not enrolled in a federal reserve force. In addition to manning the boat fleet members of the Naval Militia provide trained manpower to assist in state emergencies, like the response to Hurricane Sandy.