• Peter Saxman, from Corfu, and assigned to the 222nd Military Police Company received a promotion to the rank of Private First Class.
• Zachary Cratsley, from Byron, and assigned to the Company A, 2-108th Infantry received a promotion to the rank of Specialist.
• Travis Lambert, from Byron, and assigned to the Headquarters Service Company, 642nd Support Battalion received a promotion to the rank of Private.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified Soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber Citizen Soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov or www.1800goguard.com

The New York National Guard (New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs) is the state's executive agency responsible to the Governor for managing New York's Military Forces, which consists of nearly 20,000 members of the New York Army National Guard, the New York Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard.

Miles Dietzman, from Batavia, assigned to the 105th Military Police Company, received a promotion to the rank of Private.

Elizabeth Taylor, from Alexander, assigned to the Headquarters, 153rd troop Command (Brigade) received a promotion to the rank of Sergeant.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified Soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber Citizen Soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov or www.1800goguard.com

The New York National Guard (New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs) is the state's executive agency responsible to the Governor for managing New York's Military Forces, which consists of nearly 20,000 members of the New York Army National Guard, the New York Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard.

The newest Citizen Soldiers to complete Army basic combat training and advanced individual training were welcomed to their units during a New York Army National Guard battle handoff ceremony Sept. 8.

Pfc. Sarah Rynkowski from Alexander was formally welcomed into the Headquarters and Services Company, 642nd Support Battalion during a transition ceremony at the Patriot Way Armory in Rochester.

The ceremony marks their completion of the National Guard Recruit Sustainment Program, a preparatory training program that provides new recruits with training, lessons and skills to excel at their initial military training.

The Soldiers will now embark on their traditional National Guard service to state and nation as part-time Citizen Soldiers.

"For these new Soldiers, being welcomed to their unit after basic training and advanced individual training is exhilarating and a proud day for them and their families. They received their unit's distinctive shoulder patch, which officially makes them part of their new team," Shields said. "I congratulate these Soldiers on this tremendous individual achievement and wish them the best as they integrate into their new unit and learn the teamwork and leadership skills necessary for success."

"Every Soldier or Airman across our great State makes a difference every day they serve, whether helping their community at home or serving our nation overseas. We welcome these newest Citizen Soldiers and Airmen as part of our Guard family," he said.

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov or www.1800goguard.com.

The New York National Guard (New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs) is the state's executive agency responsible to the Governor for managing New York's Military Forces, which consists of nearly 20,000 members of the New York Army National Guard, the New York Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard.

Press release:

A video Christmas greeting from New York Army National Guard Spc. Elizabeth Taylor, a native of Alexander who is deployed to Yavoriv, Ukraine, has been posted on the Department of Defense's Video Imagery Information Distribution System (DVIDS) and for media use for registered news organizations.

The short video -- a "holiday shout out to family back home in Batavia" -- can seen above. 

Taylor is one of 220 Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry and the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team assisting in the training of Ukrainian Soldiers at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center as members of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.

The training is designed to reinforce defensive skills of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in order to increase their capacity for self-defense.

The soldiers mobilized in October and have been deployed to Ukraine since December.