LATHAM, N.Y. - Two New York National Guard Soldiers and an Airman commemorated the National Guard’s 388th birthday at New York National Guard headquarters Dec. 13.
Army Guard Master Sgt. Michael Schin, 59, Airman Gabriela Geise, 18, and 17-year-old Army Guard Pfc. Aliyah Billar joined Army Maj. Gen. Michel Natali, assistant adjutant general, Army, to cut the traditional National Guard birthday cake.
Schin represented the history and traditions of the Army and National Guard, while Geise and Billar, who joined the Air Force and Army National Guard this year, represented the future of the force.
The National Guard claims Dec. 13, 1636, as its birthday. On that date, the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay colony approved a law to organize the colonial militia into three regiments.
The New York National Guard can trace its roots to the militia force organized by the Dutch East Indies Company to protect its New Amsterdam settlement from attack by local natives or their English neighbors in Massachusetts and Virginia in the 1640s.
When New Amsterdam became New York in 1665, the militia was reorganized similarly to the English.
Natali said members of the militia and National Guard have fought in every American war since the New English militias defeated native American tribes in King Philip’s War in 1675-1676.
Natali said the New York Air National Guard can claim one of the oldest units in the Air Force. The 106th Rescue Wing’s 102nd Rescue Squadron has a lineage that reaches back to the New York National Guard 1st Aero Squadron organized in 1915.
“The men and woman who have served, and certainly continue to serve, the National Guard have participated in every one of America’s conflicts and have consistently been always ready and always there for every manner of domestic crisis or natural disaster over the past 388 years,” Natali said.
Today, the New York Army National Guard is deploying 850 Soldiers to Africa, the Middle East and Guantanamo Bay in the coming year, while the New York Air National Guard continues to operate worldwide, especially in the polar regions, Natali noted.
“Central to our ability to answer the call is our people, our Soldiers, our Airmen, our civilian workforce, and their families, that support all of our efforts abroad and here at home,” Natali said.
Schin enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1983 and transferred to the Army Guard a year later. He said it was an “honor and a privilege” to represent the history of the National Guard at the ceremony.
“This sort of helps to tie off my career,” said Schin, who is due to retire in five months.
Schin, a veteran of the Iraq War, has served as an infantry platoon leader, an assistant inspector general and an information technology specialist. He currently works for the National Guard as a civilian information technology specialist.
“It’s been an awesome adventure from start to finish, and I would do it all over again,” Schin said.
Geise enlisted in the Air National Guard Sept. 5 and reports for basic Airman training in April. She plans to train in the air transportation function with the 109th Airlift Wing.
“It was an honor to take part in the ceremony,” Geise said. “Being one of the youngest, it is definitely an eye-opener being with one of the oldest.”
Billar, a high school senior, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in October and will serve in the 27th Finance Company in New York City, She reports for basic training in August.