SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The New York National Guard dispatched 65 Soldiers and Airmen to Florida Oct. 9 to help the Florida National Guard respond to Hurricane Milton.
“At the direction of Governor Hochul, the New York National Guard is ready to support our fellow citizens in Florida,” said Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York. “... Our Soldiers and Airmen are amazing in the way they respond on very short notice.“
The New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed 41 Soldiers and 10 Humvees as general purpose forces. The Soldiers flew out of Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse on board a C-17 Globemaster III operated by the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing.
The 105th aircraft, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, made two trips to move the Soldiers and vehicles.
Twenty-four pararescue Airmen assigned to the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island departed early Oct. 9 on board one of the wing’s HC-130J search and rescue aircraft and in a truck convoy.
The Airmen are all trained EMTs and skilled at search and rescue operations. They are deploying with watercraft to assist in flooded areas.
The Soldiers and Airmen headed to Camp Blanding Joint Training Center until the hurricane passed to the south.
Meanwhile, 48 New York National Guard Airmen and Soldiers continued operations in support of the North Carolina National Guard.
Sixteen aviation Soldiers assigned to B Company of the 3rd Battalion 126th General Support Aviation Battalion, based in Rochester, wrapped up a nine-day deployment and headed back to New York Oct. 9.
The Soldiers transported over 99 tons of vital supplies ranging from food and water to generators and hay for livestock on board their three CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters.
The Soldiers also conducted in-field repairs to keep one of the aircraft operating.
Twelve Airmen from the 107th Attack Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team deployed Oct. 1. The unit is trained to help locate the remains of people killed during disasters and respectfully deal with them.
The 12 Airmen operated in Burnsville to support of medical examiners in the region.