NY Army National Guard Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Finn, a Liverpool resident, recognized for service in Ukraine
NY Army National Guard Commander Major Gen. Ray Shield's recognizes Soldier during May 25 visit to Ukranian training base
Yavoriv, Ukraine (06/05/2018) — New York Army National Guard Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Finn, a Liverpool resident, has been recognized for his service in Ukraine by Major General Raymond Shields, the commander of the 10,300-member New York Army National Guard.
Finn is currently serving as a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to the Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine He received a challenge coin from Shields in recognition of his service during a May 25, 2018 visit to the 220 New York Army National Guard Soldiers serving with the training group at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center in Ukraine.
The New York Army National Guard Soldiers are part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Syracuse.Finn is assigned to Headquarters Troop of the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry which is headquartered at Nigara Falls Air Reserve Station.
Shields presented Finn with a challenge coin. Challenge coins are presented to Soldiers by high-ranking officers to recognize their work.
Overseen by U.S. Army Europe's 7th Army Training Command, the Joint Multinational Training Group-- Ukraine is a multinational collection of Soldiers working to help Ukraine increase its capacity to defend its sovereignty. Alongside Soldiers from Canada, Denmark, Lithuanian, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, the 27th brigade Soldiers have spent the last seven months giving insight and guidance to the Ukrainian Soldiers who train at the center.
Shields visited the New Yorkers along with New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major David Piwowarski and New York Army National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer Jacqueline O'Keefe.
"The chance to visit our Soldiers helping to train the Ukrainian Army just reinforced my pride in the Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard," Shields said. "We asked them to leave their families and civilian jobs on short notice and they rose to the occasion and have performed extraordinarily well."
The New York National Guard Soldiers will turn over their part of the mission to Soldiers from the Tennessee Army National Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is scheduled to occur later this summer.
Media Attachments
Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields, commander of the New York Army National Guard, presents a challenge coin to Pfc. Christopher Finn at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center May 25. Finn, a Liverpool, N.Y., native, serves as a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to the Joint Multinational Training Group – Ukraine, and was presented a coin in recognition of his hard work during the deployment. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Derrick Garner)
New York National Guard
Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581Share this Story
Recent News
- NY Division of Military and Naval Affairs begins $3.5 million senior leader housing project at Camp Smith
- New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Annual Report for 2024 is now available on line.
- 17-year-old student from Arlington High School takes part in Army Birthday ceremony on June 13 at NY National Guard headquarters
- NY National Guard headquarters marks Army's 250th Birthday with a birthday cake cutting ceremony
- NY Naval Militia hosts Swedish marine and naval officers studying maritime security in New York Harbor and Niagara River
- Riverhead resident Timothy Daniel Malloy promoted to chief master sergeant in the New York Air National Guard
- NY Air Guard Lt. Col. Marty Viera, a Rocky Point resident, takes command of 106th Rescue Wing's 103rd Rescue Squadron
- New York Air Guard Lt. Col. Mark Wilborn, a Miami resident, retires after 31 years of service
- Col. Steven Slosek, a Galway resident, takes command of New York Air Guard's109th Airlift Wing
- Shawn Tabankin, a Clifton Park resident, is promoted to colonel in the New York Army National Guard