Delmar resident and New York Army National Guard Captain Nicholas Suhr relinquished his command of the Headquarters Company 42nd Infantry Division this month, handing over the company’s colors to Clifton Park man Captain Todd Balog.
The change-of-command ceremony took place at the unit armory in Troy. The 42nd’s Headquarters Company supports the division in administrative tasks and support during the Guard’s domestic or overseas missions.
Captain Balog said he’s most eager about running training aspects for the division.
I’m looking forward to getting out of the office and getting back to the Army stuff…going out to the field, training, he said. `As the Headquarters Company, we have to make sure everyone is completing all the requirements they have to do to be in the Army.`
The division also provides support to National Guard’s Domestic All-Harzards Response Team, which is stationed in Troy.
Suhr served for two years as commander of the Headquarters Company. During that time he went with the division overseas in 2009 to Japan for a training mission and assisted in the logistical planning for three other overseas missions in Thailand, Japan and Australia.
Suhr holds a bachelors degree from West Point and a master of engineering in industrial and management engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He’s received numerous decorations during his service, including the Bronze Star.
Balog is an East Greenbush native who joined the military in 2001 through the Michigan State University Army ROTC program, and has since served in a variety of capacities in the active Army and National Guard.
He’s participated in two overseas training missions with the 42nd Infantry Division, first, in Cairo, Egypt and also in Hokkaido, Japan in December 2009 serving as the Secretary of the General Staff.
Balog’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.
The Dec. 11 ceremony was followed by a celebration of the Guard’s 374th birthday.“
