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Cohoes resident Isabel Polanco promoted to Sgt. 1st Class in the New York Army National Guard

Latham, NY (09/22/2020) — Cohoes resident Isabel Denis Polanco was promoted to the rank of Sgt. 1st Class in the New York Army National Guard during a ceremony held Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 at New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham.

Polanco, who has served in the Army National Guard since 2008, is currently assigned as the plans and mobilization non-commissioned officer for the New York Army National Guard's military personnel office.

Col. Jim Cahill, the director of military personnel, trained Polanco for her work ethic, and the positive attitude she brings to everything she does.

Polanco, during her short remarks, thanked her family for their support and her colleagues and superiors for their trust in her.

Polanco's mother, Delia Velazquez, pinned on her new rank.

Polanco was initially assigned to the 369th Sustainment Brigade in Harlem. She also served in the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy before transferring to the Joint Force Headquarters.

Polanco has deployed to Kuwait with the 369th Sustainment Brigade where she served at the Base Operations Center and with the Area Support Group Kuwait, working as a unit administrative non-commissioned officer and training non-commissioned officer.

She deployed to Guantanamo Bay with the Headquarters Battalion of the 42nd Infantry Division.

She currently works in the military personnel office as a full-time technician.

Polanco holds an Associates in Science Degree in Cyber Security from Hudson Valley Community College. Her military education includes courses for human resources specialist, the Third Army Noncommissioned Officer's Warrior Leader Course, the Battle Command Sustainment Support System course, the Contracting Officer Representative course, the Facility Maintenance Officer course, Combat Life Saver, the Advanced Leaders Course and the Domestic Operations course.

Her awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.

Polanco is an active member of the community. She volunteers at the Damien Center supporting all those who are affected by HIV and collects donations to provide local shelters. She volunteers at her local food pantry, and prepares food from home to distribute to the homeless and people of low income communities in an effort to stop hunger.

Media Attachments

New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Isabel Polanco receives her new rank from her mother Delia Velazquez, during ceremonies marking Polanco's promotion outside New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, New York on Sept. 22, 2020. Polanco serves as the plans and mobilization non-commissioned officer for the New York Army National Guard Military Personnel Office. ( U.S. Army National Guard photo by Eric Durr)

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