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Queensbury resident Terry Benson promoted to lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard

Queensbury, NY (09/06/2022) — Terry Benson, a Queensbury resident, was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard during a ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 6, a New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham.

Benson, a full-time National Guard officers who serves in the New York National Guard Joint Operations Section, is a veteran of the Afghan War, who previously served in the United States Marine Corps.

Benson, an infantry officer, also serves as the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 106th Regional Training Institute.

The unit, based at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill, provides military occupational specialty qualification, medical training, Officer Candidate School, and general studies training for the Army National Guard, United States Army Reserve, and active component Soldiers.

1st Battalion is responsible for teaching the basic infantry Soldier course, the maneuver tactics course, hand-to-hand combat, and the Army drone operator's course.

Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, praised Benson for his leadership skills and his commitment to the Army National Guard.

"Terry, you are an excellent officer," Shields said. "You are a caring and compassionate leader, and you know how to lead others to success while ensuring the mission is accomplished."

"Promoting people is always a highlight for me," Shields said. "But promoting people who you have watched grow and mature from lieutenant to lieutenant colonel is so much more rewarding," he added.

Benson praised his parents and his children and family for their support, as well as non-commissioned officers and leaders who helped him in his career.

Prior to his service in the Army National Guard, Benson served as an intelligence intercept operator in the United States Marine Corps from 1993 to 1996.

He enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2002 and was commissioned through the New York Army National Guard's Officer Candidate School program in 2004.

In August 2005, Benson was assigned as a rifle platoon leader in Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry in Gloversville.

He deployed to Afghanistan as part of an Embedded Training Team serving as a company mentor in Ghazni.

Upon completion of this deployment, Benson was assigned as the Executive Officer Charlie Company before becoming the New York Army National Guard Force Integration Readiness Officer.

He has served as the commander for Alpha Company of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, and as the commander of Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry.

He has also served as the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry executive officer and administrative officer and as the operations officer for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Benson's other assignments have included 42d Infantry Division Deputy Chief of Plans, New York State Mobilization Readiness Officer, and secretary to the general staff to the 42nd Infantry Division.

Benson is a graduate of the Mountain Warfare School, the Joint Fires Course, and the Command and General Staff College Intermediate and Advanced Operations Course.

His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman's badge, and the Mountain Warfare Badge.

Media Attachments

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Terry Benson's daughter Zoey pins on his new rank, while Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, looks on during promotion ceremonies held on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham. New York. ( U.S. Army National Guard photo by William Albrecht)

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