Cheektowaga resident Angelo Gelster, currently supporting Ukrainian soldier training in Germany promoted to staff sergeant in the NY Army Guard

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany (02/28/2023) — Angelo E. Gelster, a Cheektowaga resident currently deployed to Germany to support Ukrainian military training, was promoted to staff sergeant in the New York Army National Guard on February 20, 2023, standing on top of an M1A2 Abrams tank.

Gelster, whose been in the Army since 2004, is deployed to the American military base in Grafenwoehr, Germany with other New York National Guard Soldiers as part of Task Force Orion, assigned to the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.

The unit ensures the combat effectiveness of Ukrainian military personnel training on systems and equipment issued under the United States' Presidential Drawdown Authority.

Gelster, who is now an ammunition specialist, asked to be promoted to staff sergeant on top of a tank, because he started out in the Army has an M1 Abrams tank crewman.

It is not uncommon for military service members to make special requests for promotion and re-enlistment ceremonies. When Gelster found out his promotion was approved, he knew exactly what he wanted to ask for - a ceremony on top of a tank.

"It went back to my roots," Gelster said. "Coming in through tanks and then going to be cavalry."

Gelster enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2004 as an armor crewman with the 1st Battalion, 127th Armor Regiment He spent two years operating the previous M1A1 variant of the Abrams.

The unit's history dated back to 1838, with service in the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. But when the Army underwent a reorganization in 2006, the 127th was disbanded and their tanks left New York. The unit was directly succeeded by 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, where Gelster has spent most of his nearly 18 years of service up to now.

He hasn't been around active tanks since then, but he still misses serving on them, Gelster said.

"They're awesome," he said. "They're big. They go boom. It's not hard to explain."

Since July 2022, Gelster has been deployed with New York's Task Force Orion in support of the Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine mission.

The Task Force works alongside the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, supporting combined arms training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The brigade's 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment supplied the M1A2 Abrams tank for Gelster's ceremony.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability and development potential. They recognize the best-qualified Citizen Soldiers to continue careers in the New York Army National Guard.

"Angelo's outstanding contributions to the New York National Guard at home in his community and on deployment overseas are a sure sign that he will excel in his new rank," said Col. William Murphy, commander of Task Force Orion.

When his deployment is complete, Gelster's new rank will take him to the New York Army National Guard's 642nd Aviation Support Battalion in Rochester.

He said he worked hard to get his promotion, and tells other Soldiers who aim to advance their careers that it takes a lot of determination and knowledge.

"Work hard. Fight for yourself," he said. "Nobody's just going to give it to you."

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov.

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