Chief Master Sergeant Robert Podbielsk strikes a pose beside his 1957 Ford pick-up at the Scotia Air National Guard base. Courtesy Photo.
The Big Four-0! Guard Times Staff STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia - It is often said that members of the National Guard can join a unit and stay there for their entire military career. One New York Air National Guard Airman turned that idea into reality as a 40-year military career. Chief Master Sergeant Robert Podbielsk, 109th Airlift Wing in Scotia, retired after 40 years of service in the New York Air National Guard on Dec. 31, 2007. Podbielski’s career spanned nearly a dozen different airframes and maintenance functions as the 109th Airlift Wing underwent reorganization, aircraft conversions and transformation. Podbielski’s maintenance work is the story of the air wing in Scotia, progressing from aircraft such as the C-54, C-97, C-124, U-21, U-3, to the six variations of the C-130 along with support to the Guard’s counter drug fixed wing aircraft C-12 and the C-26. Podbielski started his career in January 1967 in the airlift wing’s aircraft engine shop, later cross-training as a shop chief quality assurance and inspection position. His last assignment in the 109th Maintenance Squadron was equipment maintenance branch chief. Throughout his long career, Podbielski supported more than 30 aircraft recovery missions both in the U.S. and overseas, including two maintenance missions to the Greenland Ice Cap.
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Hey Guardsmen! You Outta Be in the Movies Members of the New York Army National Guard who played extras in the latest Will Smith movie, “I Am Legend” were present at the movies premier in New York City on Dec. 12, 2007. They are: (from left) Col. Michael Bobeck, (not an extra in movie) Joint Forces Headquarters Aviation Officer ; Cadet Stephen Trotter, Chief Warrant Officer Danny Edling, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation; Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas McGurn, Headquarters Company, 3rd Bn, 142nd Avn; Sgt. Jorge Jara, Co. A, 1st Bn, 69th Infantry; Staff Sgt. Bolivar Hernandez, Headquarters Co. 1st Bn, 69th Infantry; Sgt. Richard Alicia, 427th Support Bn and Spc. Paul Lukasik, Co. B, 3rd Bn, 142nd Avn. Photo by Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, 27th Brigade Combat Team.
Oh Yeah? Guardsmen Take It Outside Michael Laduke, an assistant instructor at Empire Martial Arts in Colonie, demonstrates an “Americana” hold-down technique on Pvt. Craig Depuy while Spc. Turel McKinney looks on. Soldiers from Detachment 3, Company E, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation took the opportunity to do some extra combative training on Nov. 3, 2007. Members of Det. 3 are anticipating a deployment in 2008. Photo courtesy of Alicia Sherman