Lt. Col. Jeff Csoka, a Greenwich resident, takes command of New York Army National Guard training unit

Camp Smith Training Site, New York (06/15/2021) — New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Jeff Csoka, a Greenwich resident, took command of the 106th Regiment during a June 12 ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill, New York.

The 106th is Regional Training Institute unit that trains new lieutenants through the Office Candidate School program, conducts infantry military occupational specialty training, medic recertification, and unmanned aircraft system operator qualification.

In 2008, members of the 106th deployed to Afghanistan to assist in training the Afghan National Army.

Csoka replaced Col. Diane Armbruster, who is now serving as the communications officer for the New York Army National Guard full-time.

Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant General of New York and the Commander of the New York Army National Guard presided over the promotion.

Csoka is a 1997 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the active Army for 10 years. He was commissioned as an infantry officer and deployed to Bosnia in 1999-2000 and to Iraq in 2003-2004 as a member of the 1st Infantry Division and the 101st Air Assault Division.

His assignments on active duty included rifle platoon leader, company executive officer, battalion assistant operations officer, infantry company commander, and Ranger training company commander.

Csoka left active duty in 2007 and joined the New York Army National Guard in 2009.

Since then he has served as battalion operations officer, division liaison officer, brigade operations officer, chief of operations for the 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment and commander of the 1st Battalion, 108th Infantry, before serving as the assistant operations officer for the 42nd Infantry Division.

He deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as part of the New York Stability and Transition Team where he served as a Senior Advisor and Security Force Assistance Team Leader with 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry.

He deployed to Kuwait with the 42nd Infantry Division in 2020.

Csoka's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the NATO Medal He also holds the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Air Assault Badge, Basic Parachutist's Badge, and the coveted Ranger Tab.

Csoka works as the Director of Construction & Facilities Sourcing for Columbia. He and his wife Sarah, have three children - sons, Alexander (5), Julian (3), and daughter, Ilona (16).

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