Soldiers Welcome New Leadership at Camp Smith Training Unit

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Lt. Col. Robert Giordano receives the colors of his unit, signifying his receipt of command responsibilitieis. Photo by Spc. James Roa, NY Army National Guard.

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. (11/22/2011)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 106th Regional Training Institute welcomed their new commander during a change of command ceremony at the Camp Smith Training Facility here Sunday, Nov. 20.

Incoming commander Lt. Col. Robert Giordano, an Iraq war veteran, received the colors and responsibilities of command from outgoing commander Lt. Col. Michael McGurty, an Afghanistan veteran, in front of about 50 Soldiers of the 106th Regional Training Institute.

The 106th Regional Training Institute provides Soldier, officer and non-commissioned officer training courses for the Army National Guard across New York State and the northeast. The 1st Battalion specializes in military police proficiency training.

Giordano, from Rexford, N.Y., received his promotion to the rank of Lt. Col. from Col. Michel Natali, commander of the 106th RTI just prior to the ceremony. Giordano, with nearly 30 years of military service, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1983 and received his commission as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1989.

Giordano has served in the military police, field artillery and public affairs career fields, including assignments as mortar platoon leader, infantry company executive officer, headquarters company executive officer, rifle company commander for Company A, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, media operations chief and deputy division public affairs officer for the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters, operations officer for the 42nd Special Troops Battalion and division plans analyst officer of the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters.

He deployed to Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division in 2004-2005 and served as the deputy PAO for the 42nd Infantry Division and Task Force Liberty in North Central Iraq.

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 givens 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.

McGurty, of Montgomery, N.Y., received his commission as an infantry second lieutenant in 1987 and is a 1988 graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Prior to his command of the 1st Battalion, 106th RTI, he served as an operations officer and mentor to the Afghan National Army in 2008 and as an embedded team chief with the 3rd Kandak of the Afghan Army in 2005-2006.

He has held numerous command, staff and leadership positions, including operations officer for the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, plans officer for the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters, and company command of Company A, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry.

He is a graduate of the Army Airborne and Air Assault schools.