Cedarhurst resident joins the New York National Guard

Pvt. Zachariah Farrell from Cedarhurst, was officially inducted into the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, First Battalion, 69 Infantry during a ceremony held at the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center in Farmingdale on April 6.

The ceremony signified the end of Farrell’s participation in the National Guard Recruit Sustainment Program, a preparatory program that uses trainings, lessons and skills to gear new recruits towards exceeding expectations in their initial military training. The New York Army National Guard welcomed 110 new soldiers to various units this spring in different ceremonies held statewide.

“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,” Adjutant General of New York Major General Ray Shields stated in a news release.

The New York National Guard is the state’s executive agency tasked with overseeing New York’s Military Forces, composed of nearly 20,000 members from different branches like the state’s Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Naval Militia and the New York Guard.