Flushing resident Carmela Ruiz is commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the New York Army National Guard

Former personnel specialists aims to become an Army Chaplain

Latham, NY (05/03/2019) — Carmela Ruiz, a Flushing resident, has been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the New York Army National Guard and will serve as Chaplain Candidate.

Ruiz, who has served in the New York Army National Guard since 2015 and attained the rank of specialist, was sworn in as an officer by Brigadier General Michel Natali during a ceremony on Friday, May 3 at New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham, N.Y.

Ruiz is currently a second year student in the Master of Divinity program at Alliance Theological Seminary. Once she completes her seminary education she will be considered to become a chaplain in the New York Army National Guard and assigned to a unit.

Until then she will be assigned to Joint Forces Headquarters in Latham.

Military chaplains conduct religious services for service members and handle their spiritual needs while also serving as counselors to help Soldiers deal with the stresses of military life.

Ruiz has been working as a human resources specialists in the 369th Sustainment Brigade which is based at the Harlem Armory in New York City.

She has also served as a recruiting assistant in the New York Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

Ruize holds an associate's degree in paralegal studies from Interboro Institute in Queens and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Monroe College in the Bronx. She also has a Master of Science in Elementary Education from Hunter College.

She is an elementary school teacher at Esperanza Preparatory Academy in New York.

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