New York Guard, state volunteer defense force, conducts annual training at Camp Smith Training Site Aug. 15-19

MEDIA ADVISORY

CORTLANDT MANOR, NY (08/16/2022) — Members of the New York Guard, the state's volunteer state defense force conduct communications and engineering trainind during their week-long annual training at Camp Smith Training Site here August 15-19. News media are invited to view portions of the training on Wednesday.

WHAT: Communications training, including setup of radio equipment, and engineer flood response training, including sandbagging efforts, with hands-on events.

WHO: Members of the New York Guard state defense force.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 17 at 1:30 pm.

WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

Media Opportunity: Imagery and interviews with New York Guard volunteers conducting annual training to better prepare themselves for emergency response support efforts.

For access to this secure military training site, news media reporters must contact New York Guard Capt. Mark Getman at 516-644-9743.

BACKGROUND

The New York Guard is a force of 500 uniformed volunteers, organized as a military unit, who augment the New York National Guard during state emergencies. They provide administrative and logistics support to the National Guard. Members of the New York Guard supported the state response to COVID-19 with personnel for vaccination sites, medical supply warehousing, and other missions across the state.

Unlike members of the New York National Guard, New York Guard members do not have a federal military role and do not deploy outside the state. New York Guard members usually train in a volunteer status and are only paid when they are placed on state duty during emergencies.

Many members of the New York Guard are retired members of the National Guard and Reserve forces, who bring a wealth of experience to the force. Previous military membership is not a requirement for New York Guard service.

During the weeklong training session members who are new to the New York Guard will go through an initial entry training program and current members will conduct primary leadership and officer training. Other members will conduct emergency communications training and staffing an operations center. New York Guard engineers will also conduct flood response training efforts at Camp Smith.

When the 24,000 members of the New York National Guard were mobilized to fight in France in 1917, the state created the New York Guard as a state militia to replace the National Guard.

National Guard Soldiers had been guarding railroad bridges, the New York City water system, and the Erie Canal to prevent sabotage by enemy agents and state officials want to replace that force. Eventually there were 10,000 New York Guard members across this state with about 2000 serving on active duty as a security force.

During World War II the New York Guard was created again, and in the 1950s the New York Guard was established as a permanent force.

New York National Guard

New York Guard, state volunteer defense force, conducts annual training at Camp Smith Training Site Aug. 15-19

MEDIA ADVISORY

New York National Guard

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