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| Photo By Staff Sgt. Julio Olivencia Jr | New York Army and Air Guardsmen wait for a mission to come down at the United States Armed Forces Reserve Center in New Windsor, New York March 8, 2018. A team of 127 Army and Air Guardsman were activated by the state to aid in the recovery from two winter storms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Julio A. Olivencia Jr.) |
03.08.2018
Story by Staff Sgt. Julio Olivencia Jr
105th Airlift Wing NY Air National Guard
Newburgh, N.Y. (March 8, 2018) — More than 120 New York Army and Air Guardsmen joined forces at the United States Armed Forces Reserve Center in New Windsor to aid citizens across the Hudson Valley after a duo of winter storms ravaged the region.
The Guardsmen, 127 in total, came from as far away as Syracuse to aid in debris clearing, welfare checks, and other duties.
Lt. Col. Benson Louie, the bio-environmental engineer assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, said the troops were waiting on a mission to come down, but they were expected to take part in debris clearing.
“We are to serve in a support role mostly in debris clearing,” Louie said.
The collaboration is just a recent example in a long heritage of the Army and Air Guard Working together in New York.
Maj. David Myones, the battalion executive officer assigned to the 369th Special Troops Battalion said he welcomes the help from the Air Guardsmen.
“The more the merrier—blue, green—working together to accomplish the same mission for the community,” Myones said.
“We have folks from myriad backgrounds that can support in addition to debris clearing,” Louie said. “We have medical folks, vehicle maintenance folks and communication folks as well.”
Myones added that the Air Guard brings with them special skills, a sentiment echoed by Louie.
“We have folks from myriad backgrounds that can support in addition to debris clearing,” Louie said. “We have medical folks, vehicle maintenance folks and communication folks as well.”
This is Airman 1st Class Kyle Jones’s first state mission. Jones, a firefighter assigned to the 174th Attack Wing, said he immediately volunteered when called.
“It gets us out there and face to face with people and showing our support with the community and how we’re not just always deploying and training on base,” Jones said. “We’re actually getting out there with the community and helping the people.”
