Ronkonkoma-based Army National Guard helicopter unit gets new commander today, Sunday, August 20

RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK (08/20/2023) (readMedia)-- New York Army national Guard Lt. Col. PaulM. Bailie, a Cohoes, N.Y resident and a war veteran will take command of the 3rd Battalion, 142d Assault Helicopter Regiment during a ceremony at Ronkonkoma Army Aviation Support Facility on Sunday, August 20, 2023

He succeeds Lt. Col. Matthias Greene, whose next assignment is the Manpower Reserve Affairs Deputy Chief position at the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa in Vicenza, Italy.

Members of the press are invited to attend.

WHO: Lt. Col. Paul M. Bailie, the incoming commander; Lt. Col. Matthias Greene, the outgoing commander; Col. Jason Lefton, the commander of the 42nd Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade and the presiding officer; and the men and women of the 3rd Battalion, 142d Assault Helicopter Regiment.

WHAT:Traditional change-of-command ceremony in which Greene will transfer the battalion flag, also known as the colors, to Bailie to mark the transition from one commander to another. The 3rd Battalion, 142d Assault Helicopter Regiment is headquartered in Ronkonkoma and has elements at McArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma and Albany International Airport.

WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, August 20, 2023

WHERE: Army Aviation Support Facility, 201 Schaefer Drive, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

Coverage Opportunities:

There will be opportunities to gather still and video images of troops in formation and the flag transfer ceremony. Interviews with the incoming and outgoing commanders will also be available.

Members of the press can attend the ceremony by contacting LT. Stephanie Sylvain at 516-305-1768 for access to this secure military facility

BACKGROUND:

Lt. Col. Paul M. Bailie

Lt. Col. Bailie is a dual-status military/federal technician within the New York Army National Guard. He is currently serving as a federal civilian Supervisory Aircraft Pilot at the Albany International Airport, Latham, New York.

Bailie is a Master Army Aviator qualified in the UH-72 Lakota, UH-60 Blackhawk, OH-58 Kiowa, and UH-1 Iroquois. He holds certifications as an Instructor Pilot in both the UH-60 Blackhawk and UH-72 Lakota.

He served as an Operations Planning Officer in 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, and Deputy Division Aviation Officer in 42nd Infantry Division.

He held several positions within the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion to include flight company platoon leader, battalion personnel officer and headquarters company commander.

In 2008, Bailie deployed to Iraq, as Alpha Company Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed again in 2020 as the Division Aviation Officer for the Operation Spartan Shield.

His awards include, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Reserve Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, The Meritorious Unit Commendation medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, two stars, and the Master Army Aviator Badge.

Lt. Col. Matthias Greene

Lt. Col. Greene assumed command of the 3rd battalion, 142d Assault Helicopter Battalion in 2020.

Green is an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who has served in a vareity of positions since his commission.

In 2003, he led an air cavalry platoon of the 2nd Squadron ,17th Cavalry Regiment during the invasion of Iraq, to return in 2006, as a supervisor of the Intelligence section of the 2nd Squadron 6th Cavalry.

In 2009, he commanded a medical evacuation company in Eastern Afghanistan in 2009 with the Wyoming Army National Guard.

As a civilian, Matthias was a Deputy County Attorney in Park County, Wyoming. He also served two terms in Wyoming State House as a state Representative.

His awards include the Air Medal, the Bronze Star, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Master Army Aviator Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.

3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion

The 3rd battalion, 142 Assault Helicopter Battalion traces its heritage back to 1947 with the formation of a fixed wing aviation detachment of L-19 Bird Dogs assigned to Miller Field in Staten Island, New York. In the late 1960's, the Battalion began transitioning to rotary wing aircraft.

Over the years and through additional re-organizations, 3-142nd, also called, the 42nd Aviation Battalion, in 1985, had over 1000 personnel and 125 aircraft that included the AH-1 Cobra, OH-6 Cayuse, and UH-1 Iroquois.

Further restructuring in 1995 led to the deactivation of some units and the creation of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation Regiment. The new unit began receiving its first UH-60 Blackhawks the same year.

Following a series of intensive training and validation exercises to ensure the unit was mission ready, 3-142nd welcomed numerous missions and deployments, including several New Horizons assistance deployments to Honduras from 1999 to 2006

It assisted in the 9/11 World Trade Center recovery mission in 2001, in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the border patrols along the US - Mexican border in 2006.

In May 2007, the unit was re-configured to its current make-up as an Assault Helicopter Battalion and received its mobilization alert order prepping it to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The battalion deployed to Baghdad and a few other locations in southern Iraq from August 2008 to the May of 2009, providing aviation support throughout the region, supporting the 10th Mountain Division.

In 2012 the unit supported the relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy to provide air support for the relief effort.

In 2017 the battalion responded to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, transporting doctors and nurses to isolated parts of the community and assisting in the recovery, relief, and restoration efforts of Puerto Rico.

In May of this year, the battalion completed a ten-month deployment to Camp Buehring Kuwait where it provided aviation support to U.S. Army elements operating in the Middle East.