Soldier recognized for 42 years of service
New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Thomas Ciampolillo of Davenport, Fla., formerly of Poestenkill, received a Legion of Merit Medal in recognition of his 42 years of exemplary service.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Biehler, commander of the 53rd Troop Command, presented the medal to Ciampolillo during a ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site in Peekskill. Ciampolillo had served as the top enlisted leader of the 4,400-member 53rd Troop Command, which oversees units across the state.
The Iraq War veteran enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1980, joined the Navy in 1982 and then rejoined the New York National Guard in 1986. He also served in Ukraine in 2017, helping train members of the Ukrainian Army.
Ciampolillo served in a number of New York Army National Guard units, ranging from the mortar platoon of the 1st Battalion, 210th Armor to the 42nd Infantry Division’s Police Training Team in Tikrit, Iraq.
He served with the 102nd Military Police Battalion, the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the Joint Multinational Training Groupukraine, and the 106th Regional Training Institute before taking on his final assignment with the 53rd Troop Command.
Following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the former Schenectady detective served for six months on a federal airport security mission as a company first sergeant. While serving in Iraq, he also served as an operations sergeant major for a military training team supporting the 4th Iraqi Army Division.
While serving in the Navy, he deployed to the Mediterranean and Indian Oceans on board the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga.
He is a 2007 graduate of the Sergeants Major Academy.
Ciampolillo has also earned a Bronze Star Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, a Humanitarian Service Medal, a Navy Unit Commendation, and a Combat Action Badge.
Soldier advances
Clayton Buff, son of Greg and Ute Buff of Latham, was promoted to Army sergeant. The 2018 graduate of Shaker High School is serving as a mortar squad leader with the 2nd Battalion, 87 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division,
at Fort Drum.
On Navy duty
Navy Hospitalman Megan Shanley of Selkirk is serving with the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla. Shanley graduated from Ravenacoeymans-selkirk High School in 2017.
Scholarship winners
The American Legion Mohawk Post of Halfmoon has named winners of its annual Robert Nelson, Stan Stage, and Tim Stewart American Studies Scholarships. The awards totaling $6,000 are based on American studies, academic records and standing, extracurricular activities, and community service involvement,
according to Sam Gallucci, post spokesman.
The awards are given to a Shenendehowa High School senior who is a U.S. citizen, a senior who is a child or grandchild of an Armed Forces veteran, and any high school senior outside the Shenendehowa School District who is the child or grandchild
of a member of Post 1450, Auxiliary Unit 1450, or Sons of the American Legion Squadron 1450.
This year’s recipients are: Shenendehowa High School: Tianna Southwick, Grace Sautter, Ryan Ennist, Lauren Emery, and Aryadeepta De. Burnt Hills-ballston-spa High School: Kaitlin Hopper. Averill Park
High School: Ava Faragon. Catholic Central High School, Troy: Pat Casale. Queensbury High School: Mike Kilgallon.