News from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

For more information contact: Eric Durr, 518-786-458 or Lt. Col. Kim Terpening (518) 344-2103

New York Airmen Participate in Albanian Mission

Medical Technicians From 109th Airlift Wing Will Conduct Inoculation Clinics

LATHAM, NY (02/09/2008; 1100)(readMedia)-- Five medical technicians from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing will spend three days in Albania instructing members of that country’s Army on vaccination procedures.

The five enlisted Airmen, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, will be traveling to Albania Feb 10-16 as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program in which the National Guard works with militaries around the world in bilateral partnership programs.

The Airmen will be traveling with Major General Glenn Rieth, the Adjutant General of New Jersey, and commander of the New Jersey National Guard. He is making a visit to Albania as part of New Jersey’s State Partnership Program agreement with that country.

Although New Jersey is designated as Albania’s partner state, the New Jersey National Guard was not able to provide the medical personnel that the United States European Command requested accompany Major Gen. Rieth. The New York National Guard was asked if it could provide the needed medical technicians and the 109th Airlift Wing stepped up to the plate.

Heading for Albania will be Master Sgt. James Welch, from Mechanicville; Master Sgt. David Morrison, a Broadalbin resident ; Technical Sergeants Jonathan Michael and Jacqueline Sweet-McNeil, of Queensbury and Lake George, respectively; and Staff Sgt. Maureen Moffet, who lives in Cortland.

The Airmen are members of the 109th Medical/Dental Group and the 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, subordinate units of the 109th Airlift Wing.

“New York is proud to be able to assist the New Jersey National Guard by providing medical personnel for this capability building mission,” said Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General of New York. “This mission is typical of the kinds of work our Airmen and Soldiers do around the world.”

"The medical professionals from the 109th Airlift Wing have served their country and the Air National Guard in all corners of the world,” said Col Anthony German, the commander of the 109th who is currently overseeing unit missions in Antarctica. “We are proud of the work that they do and the skill sets that they bring to this unique mission".

"This is an excellent opportunity for the for bot hthe 109th Medical/Dental Group and the 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron to work together and do what we do best," Welch said. "We travel worldwide and provide medical attention to anybody in need."

The Capitol Region Airmen will work with 10 members belonging to the Medical Platoon of the Albanian Army’s Rapid Reaction Brigade. They will train the Albanian medics in the proper way to administer the Hepatitis A vaccine by working with them to inoculate 1,000 local children.

The State Partnership Program is a National Guard initiative that is designed to grow relationships, enhance international security and build capacity among militaries in emerging nations. The military-to-military relationships help these militaries understand the concept of civilian control of the military and help them to modernize.

New York has had a bilateral State Partnership Program relationship with the Republic of South Africa since 2003 and routinely hosts delegations from that nation’s military.

The 109th Airlift Wing, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, New York, operates the only ski equipped C-130 Aircraft in the US military. The 109th supports the United States Antarctic Program from a forward base in Christ Church New Zealand and supports National Science Foundation research in the Arctic as well.

The 109th also provides tactical airlift support as required and recently deployed Aircrew and aircraft to Afghanistan.

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