CONTACT: Mr. Eric Durr (DMNA), 518-786-4581 or Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt (518) 210-2868.

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, May 14, 2009

ON SITE: Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt (518) 210-2868.

WHO:

Eight National Guard Soldiers (Private through Specialist) and eight National Guard Non-Commissioned Officers (Corporal through Sgt. 1st Class) along with Command Sgt. Majors from eight states who will conduct the testing. WHO:. Eight National Guard Soldiers (Private through Specialist) and eight National Guard Non-Commissioned Officers (Corporal through Sgt. 1st Class) along with Command Sgt. Majors from eight states who will conduct the testing.

WHAT:

CORTLANDT MANOR, NY (05/13/2009)-- The New York Army National Guard will host a regional competition for the Army's Best Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award for National Guard Soldiers from New England, New York and New Jersey May 14-16 at Camp Smith Training Site. Members of the media are invited to observe the competition A competition that tests the Soldiers knowledge, physical fitness, marksmanship, and land navigation skills to select a Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer to compete to be the best Soldier/NCO in the 370,000-member Army National Guard. Those Soldiers will then go on to compete for the Army title against Soldiers and NCOs from the Active Army and the Army Reserve. The competition is designed to recognize Soldiers and NCOs for their ability and accomplishments

WHEN:

Thursday to Saturday, May 14-16, 2009 (See specific schedule of events below)

WHERE:

Camp Smith Training Site, Routes 6 and 202, Cortlandt Manor

Visual and Coverage Opportunities: Soldiers will be conducting a 10 kilometer forces march with full pack, taking part in a Army Physical Fitness Test, doing a timed land navigation event, and participating in "stress shooting" and even in which Soldiers run down range and then engage targets in order to better simulate the experience of engaging the enemy in combat. To gain access to this secure military facility and cover these events, members of the media must contact Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt at cell phone #(518) 210-2868.

BACKGROUND:

Participating States: Army National Guard Soldiers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine will take part. Schedule of Events: - 14 May 3 p.m.: Weapons Qualification -15 May 6 a.m.: Physical Fitness Test 8 a.m.: Stress Shoot 1 p.m.: Land Navigation Course 3 p.m.: 10 kilometer Road March 5:45 p.m.: Soldier skills test -16 May 8 a.m.; Soldier skills test 8 a.m.: Soldier Appearances Before Review Board 10:30 a.m.: Soldier Skill tests 10:30a.m.: NCO Appearances Before Review Board 5 p.m. Awards New York Soldier/ NCO of the Year: Soldier of the Year: Specialist Sebastian McClendon, of New York City.McClendon is a member of Company A, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, based at the Lexington Avenue Armory. Non-Commissioned Office of the Year: Staff Sgt Morgan Cady, of Booneville.Cady is a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 104th Military Police Battalion. "During the Board I kept visually looking back at the study guide in my head when I was being asked the questions and at the same time trying to keep my bearing and make sure I didn't twitch and move around and show how nervous I really was," Cady said. Camp Smith Training Site: Camp Smith is the largest of three training locations owned by the state of New York and operated by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs for the New York National Guard. The 1,613 acre facility includes 126 acres of main that includes 50 buildings, along with 229 acres of range and 1,256 acres of wooded training area. The site was first used by New York to train state militia in 1888. Camp Smith has been in continual use since then. Soldiers can train on M-4 carbines, M-16 rifles, M-240B machineguns, and M-9 pistols, and the M-14 sniper rifle at the existing ranges, and conduct infantry tactical training on the wooded hillsides. Along with units of the New York Army National Guard, Army Reserve, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and the Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, use the training facilities. Camp Smith, located just north of Peekskill, NY on the Hudson River, is also home to the headquarters of the all-volunteer New York Guard and houses patrol boats used by the New York Naval Militia. "Camp Smith is an exceptional training facility and we are proud to see it used by members of the United States Army Reserve in this competition," said Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General of New York.