Valley Stream resident helps lead first field feeding company in New York Army National Guard

Camp Smith Training Site, New York (01/24/2024) — New York Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Anthony Mills, a Valley Stream resident now serves as the first sergeant of the New York National Guard's first field feeding company.

The 1501st Quartermaster Company (Field Feeding) was activated during a January 20, 2024, ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill, N.Y.

The company first sergeant is the senior enlisted Soldier in a unit, reports directly to the company commander, and is responsible for the professional development of the unit's Soldiers and company administration.

The new unit combines Army cooks who used to be divided up among several units into one unit focused on feeding Soldiers from many units.

The company is authorized a strength of 162 Soldiers and includes mechanics and staff personnel.

The Army began creating field feeding companies in 2018. The New York Army National Guard began laying the groundwork to organize this unit in 2022.

The company will be headquartered in Orangeburg and have platoons located in Rochester and Albany to serve units in those area. It is a component of the 369th Special Troops Battalion of the 369th Sustainment Brigade.

Mills said he was looking forward to being a leader in the newly activated company.

"The fight must be fed," Mills said. "For our Soldiers to be combat-ready, proper nutrition plays a vital role."

Col. Patrick Clare, commander of the 369th Sustainment Brigade, said that the 1501st will play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being and subsistence of men and women in uniform.

"Being the first Field Feeding Company in the New York Army National Guard, we are now a part of military history," Mills said.

Mills served on active duty with the 82nd Airborne Division and joined the New York Army National Guard after three years in the active Army.

Mills previously served as the religious affairs noncommissioned officer in charge of the 369th Sustainment Brigade. While deployed her served as the religious affairs non-commissioned officer in charge for U.S. forces in Qatar.

"I continue to serve because my mission to positively impact lives is not yet fully accomplished," Mills said.

"I believe that I am still physically, spiritually, and mentally fit and ready to empower, motivate, and educate the new generation of soldiers who are just joining the ranks," he said.

He has been a pastor in the civilian world for over ten years and considers religious support to be a part of who he is.

"The only shift with this assignment is that I will support them in a different capacity - providing them with the nutrition needed to fuel the fight," Mills said.

According to Mills, field feeding companies allow Army cooks to receive more training in their functional area. Soldiers in the company will also have more opportunities for promotion.

Mills holds a bachelor's degree in Theater Arts and a minor in Theater in Education, earned at Norman Manley College. He also earned a bachelor's in theology from Andersonville Theological Ceremony and Master of the Arts from Liberty University Theological Seminary.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Overseas Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Badge, the New York State Medal for Humanitarian Service, the New York State Defense of Liberty Medal, the Army Parachutist badge and the Combat Action Badge.

Mills lives in Valley Stream with his wife Paula and daughter Chrishnah.

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