Capital Region National Guard Soldiers Takes Command of Historic Headquarters Company

TROY, NY (12/11/2010)(readMedia)-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters Company held a change of command ceremony here Dec. 11 to welcome their new commander.

Capt. Todd Balog from Clifton Park, N.Y. succeeded Capt. Nicholas Suhr from Delmar, N.Y. in the presence of the more than 120 Soldiers of the division headquarters.

In the change-of-command ceremony, the company's flag, or colors, were ceremonially transferred from the outgoing to the incoming commander, signifying to the unit's members that the leadership of the unit is in new hands.

The 42nd Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Russell Clark, transferred the colors from Suhr, the outgoing commander, to Balog, the incoming one.

"To the Soldiers of the Headquarters Company, I will not let you down," Balog said.

The 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. The transfer of the colors marks a change in the unit leadership and gives Soldiers their first opportunity to see and hear their new commander.

Balog, originally from East Greenbush, N.Y., was commissioned in Aug. 2001 on Active Duty as an Armor Officer through Michigan State University Army ROTC.

Balog has served in a variety of leadership and staff assignments in the Active Army and Army National Guard, including platoon leader in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, National Training Center Protocol Bureau escort officer, operations officer for the 42nd Infantry Division Operations (G3) Section, Aide-de-Camp to the commanding general and currently the Secretary of the General Staff.

Balog participated in two overseas training missions with the 42nd Infantry Division, first, in Cairo, Egypt for Operation Bright Star in November 2007. He also participated in the Yama Sakura overseas bilateral training mission to Camp Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan in December 2009 serving as the Secretary of the General Staff.

Balog has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He is a graduate of the Army Airborne Course, Armor Officer Basic Course, Scout Platoon Leader Course, and the Adjutant General Captain Career Course.

His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster for his second award, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with device, and the Army Parachutist Badge.

Balog currently serves as an Active Guard and Reserve Officer. He and his wife Amy have two children.

Capt. Nicholas Suhr,originally from Laguna Niguel, Calif., was commissioned in June 2002 on active duty as a Field Artillery officer through the United States Military Academy.

Suhr has served in a variety of staff and leadership assignments in the Active Army and Army National Guard, including Fire Direction Officer, Executive Officer, and Battalion Maintenance Officer in the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, and effects officer for the 42nd Infantry Division.

Suhr participated in one overseas training mission with the 42nd Infantry Division, during the Yama Sakura overseas bilateral training mission to Camp Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan in December 2009 serving as a battle captain. He also assisted in the logistical planning for three other overseas missions: Cobra Gold in Thailand, Orient Shield in Japan, and Talisman Saber in Australia.

Suhr has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York and a Master of Engineering in Industrial and Management Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He is a graduate of the Army Airborne School, Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, and the Ordnance Captain's Career Course.

His decorations includes the Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster for his second award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, the Army Parachutist Badge, and Combat Action Device.

Suhr currently serves as an Active Duty Operations Support Officer. He and his wife Katie have one son and a step-daughter.

The division headquarters company of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division provides the staff and leadership to command and control combat and combat support brigades during operations for domestic emergencies or combat operations overseas.

The division currently provides leadership and staff support to the National Guard's Domestic All-Harzards Response Team. The DART element in Troy rapidly coordinates for the availability and movement of National Guard forces for major disasters or crises across the entire eastern United States.

The division deployed in December 2009 to Hokkaido, Japan for bilateral training of command post operations with elements of the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces Northern Army.

The headquarters company and 42nd Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion are aligned for training support with more than 14,000 Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade and 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, the New Jersey National Guard's 50th Infantry Brigade, the Vermont National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade, the New Hampshire National Guard's 197th Fires Brigade and the Massachusetts Army National Guard's 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

The company mobilized and deployed to Iraq from May 2004 through November 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing staff support and command and control of Task Force Liberty and Multinational Division North Central, based in Tikrit, Iraq.

"All current policies and procedures remain in effect," Balog said in his first command guidance to the assembled Soldiers.

Posted Saturday December 11, 2010 at 03:48 pm by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Monday December 20, 2010 at 01:05 pm