News from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

For more information contact: Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581, on site in Auburn 1st Lt. Monique Barnhart, 315-855-2591, on site in Hornell 1st Sgt. Smilinich, 607-324-4062

Freedom Salute Ceremony to Honor 222nd Military Police Soldiers for Iraq Service

Media Advisory for Citizen Soldiers from Auburn and Hornell

LATHAM, NY (02/08/2008; 1019)(readMedia)-- Citizen Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard celebrate their return from service overseas with family and community following their successful return home from supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

WHAT: Freedom Salute Awards Ceremony for members of the 222nd Military Police Company, N.Y. Army National Guard

WHEN: 11 a.m. Sunday, February 10, 2008

WHERE: NYS Armory, 100 Seneca Street, Hornell, N.Y. 14843 and at the NYS Armory, 174 South Street, Auburn, N.Y. 13021

WHO: About 60 National Guard Soldiers (30 at each armory site) from Central New York and the Southern Tier plus family members, friends and military and government officials

BACKGROUND:

In December 2003, National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., launched the Freedom Salute Campaign nationwide as a way to recognize members of the Army National Guard for service during Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom and thank their spouses, children, and employers for the support they have shown to their Soldier.

The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. Each eligible Soldier will receive an encased American flag, a lapel insignia, a commemorative coin and certificate of appreciation from the Army National Guard. The soldier’s spouse/significant other will receive a lapel insignia while Soldiers who are considered a center of influence with young people will be given a Future Soldier Footlocker Kit that includes the Daring Eagle board game, Mission Command card game, and Army National Guard trading cards.

Background on the 222nd Military Police Company

The Military Police Soldiers conducted a variety of convoy security and military law enforcement missions in and around Baghdad. The 222nd MP Co. was tasked with the Police Transition Team's mission in the Karrada District of Baghdad.

Generally, one squad was assigned to one Iraqi Police station and responsible to evaluate the station’s strengths/weaknesses, train the Iraqi police officers in basic law enforcement tasks (alongside U.S. and International Police Liaison Officers) and to patrol the Iraqi Police jurisdiction with the Iraqi Police/Iraqi army forces.

Over the course of the deployment squad missions increased to include logistics security duties, convoy escorts, joint U.S. and Iraqi patrols, roadblocks and checkpoints and other tactical missions.

For more information contact the Public Affairs Office at the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs at (518) 786-4581. Visit our web site for current photos and stories of the New York National Guard at www.dmna.state.ny.us.

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