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CONTACT: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, 518-786-4581 or (cell) 518-441-4106
FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Apr 02, 2011

National Guard Engineers to go Through "Reintegration Program"

New York Army National Guard Program Provides for Soldiers and Family Members of the 827th Engineer Company

BUFFALO, NY (03/31/2011)-- More than 200 Soldiers and family members of the New York Army National Guard’s 827th Engineer Company participate in the first phase of the Guard’s Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Saturday, April 2. Members of the media are invited to attend part of the event. The troops will be welcomed by Brig. Gen. Paul Genereux, the deputy commander of the New York Army National Guard. The unit served in Afghanistan since April 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. WHO: 180 Soldiers assigned to the 827th Engineer Company and their family members. WHAT: 30-day unit reintegration event following the unit’s return from Afghanistan on Feb. 16, 2011. Soldiers will receive briefings on things to expect as they return to civilian life following a year on active duty. WHEN: Saturday, April 2 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Media opportunity) WHERE: Hyatt Regency, Two Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, N.Y. 14202 On-site point of contact for Saturday, April 2 is Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, 518-441-4106. Coverage Opportunities: Videographers and still photographers can film soldiers and their families as they are greeted, undergo briefings and tour displays of support services from public and private providers, service agencies, employers and schools. There will be opportunities for interviews with Soldiers and their family members. BACKGROUND : 827th Engineer Company: The 827th Engineer Company is a horizontal construction company, which means they specialize in building and repairing roads headquartered in Horseheads, N.Y., and is part of the 204th Engineer Battalion based in Binghamton, N.Y. During their deployment to Afghanistan, the 827th conducted road construction and repair with D7-Dozers, Scrapers, Graders, and general earthmoving equipment. They are regularly called to assist the State with snow removal and flood support such as their recent State Mission with flooding of Delaware and Sullivan counties June 18, 2007. The 827th Engineers served with Task Force Red Dragon and the 1092nd Engineer Battalion. The task force, based at Forward Operating Base Sharana in eastern Afghanistan, provided engineer support at 25 different locations throughout the country. The unit was part of Regional Command East, covering 13 provinces in Eastern Afghanistan. The unit took part in a number of combined arms operations with maneuver units from the 101st Airborne Division pushing into known Taliban strongholds. These missions included rapid road repair, construction of new bases and check points, and damaged vehicle recovery operations. The Soldiers worked on projects at 45 different sites, conducting approximately 120 combat movements in eastern Afghanistan. Nearly half of the unit received recognition for combat service, including 70 recipients of the Combat Action Badge, two Purple Hearts and seven awardees of the Bronze Star Medal. The Company received additional Soldiers for their deployment from the 204th Engineer Battalion located in Binghamton and the 152nd Engineer Company located in Buffalo. Yellow Ribbon Re-Integration Program: The New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program was created to help Soldiers and their family members cope with the stress of returning to civilian life after deployment, while also helping Army National Guard units transition from federal mobilization status back to state control. Yellow Ribbon events have proved to be an effective way to help reintegrate troops with families, employers and the community. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program requires Soldiers to be present for paid assemblies at approximately 30 and 60 days after their return from a combat zone, and invites families to attend as well. The sessions are held in a non-threatening, non-military environment, to provide Soldiers and families a chance to share experiences and talk frankly with each other and counselors about their experiences. More than 3,000 members of the New York Army National Guard have participated in Yellow Ribbon Re-Integration events since 2008 following the return of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.
© NYS DMNA Press Release:National Guard Engineers to go Through "Reintegration Program"
URL: https://dmna.ny.gov/pressroom/?id=1301789016
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Page Last Modified: Apr 02, 2011