Rochester National Guard MP unit holds farewell ceremony on May 16 prior to European deployment

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK (05/15/2023) (readMedia)-- 160 New York Army National Guard military police soldiers will mobilize for a deployment to eastern Europe on Tuesday, May 16 at Monroe County Community College.

Reporters are invited to cover the ceremony.

WHO: 160 New York Army National Guard Soldiers from across New York, and 300 family members.

WHAT: A military farewell ceremony to mark the departure of the 222nd Military Police Company to its post-mobilization training station at Fort Bliss, Texas.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2023

WHERE: Monroe Community College Gym, 1000 E Henrietta Rd, Rochester. Parking designated at Lot M or L

Coverage Opportunities:

Video of the ceremonies, troops in formation and family members. Interviews can be arranged with Soldiers and family members, as well as New York Army National Guard leaders.

Reporters should contact Capt. Jorge Medina, at 845-702-9178 for information about this event.

BACKGROUND:

Commanded by Capt. Jorge Medina, the 222nd Military Police Company, is based at the New York National Guard's Patriot Way Armory in Rochester.

Military Police companies are trained to conduct security missions, convoy support, and law enforcement duties.

Following 30 days of training at Fort Bliss, Texas the MP Soldiers will deploy to Poland and will provide military police detachments to support NATO forces stationed in the three Baltic states on NATO's eastern border with Russian.

The deployment is part of the European Deterrence Initiative which supports NATO and American forces in order to bolster and increase the security and capacity of U.S. allies and partners."

The company will serve about 10 months in Europe before returning to the United States.

The company is part of the 102nd Military Police Battalion. Military Police Soldiers from across the state have volunteered to deploy for this mission.

In 2013 the company deployed to Qatar for a ten month deployment.