Photo By Master Sgt. Ryan Campbell | 2nd Lt. Samantha Dominguez, assigned to the 501st Ordinance Battalion based in...... read more read more
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ALBANY, N.Y., (Oct. 11, 2019) — New York Army National Guard leadership joined the Albany Stratton Veterans Administration Medical Center to commission one of their social workers as the Guard’s newest officer during a ceremony held at the facility, Oct. 8, 2019.
The event was arranged by her coworkers at the VA, where Samantha Dominguez, from Porter Corners, N.Y., and her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Erwin Dominguez, both work. Samantha’s husband was joined by Brig. Gen. Michel Natali, assistant adjutant general of New York in pinning on her second lieutenant rank as she enters the military intelligence field.
“I recently hired a new voluntary service specialist, Sgt. 1st Class Dominguez, and through the course of his employment I found he was married to one of our social workers,” said Jim Keller, chief of voluntary service. “The conversation came up that she was in training to be an officer in the National Guard and when she came back I just thought it would be nice a thing, as husband and wife, to have her commissioned here at the VA.”
Keller who is a Navy veteran that served from 1978 to 1984 explained that he knew the significance behind commissioning ceremonies, including the first salute an officer gives.
Unlike most Guardsmen, Samantha went through federal Officer Candidate School where as most go through a version run by their state and commission together. Because of this, there was no formal commissioning ceremony scheduled until the VA offered to host it.
“Samantha was part of our accelerated Officer Candidate School so she was not able to participate in the ceremony that we do at Camp Smith because she was still in training at that time,” said Natali. “I’m glad we were able to catch up and take care of that here this morning.”
Samantha, who joined the New York Army National Guard in September of 2018 is assigned to the 501st Ordinance Battalion based in Glenville, N.Y. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the State University at Albany, and works with post 9/11 combat veterans in helping them get connected with services and their benefits, work that was praised by Natali.
“We are also here to recognize her service to our veterans and for the service she will continue to provide to the New York Army National Guard, leading our Soldiers into the future,” said Natali.
“My job is great because not only do I get to work with our veterans, but I have also learned so much about the fields of PTSD, addiction traumatic brain injuries and a variety of other physical and mental health conditions and how they impact individuals and their families,” said Samantha.
Her decision to join was supported by her husband Erwin, Samantha explained. The training she went through would see her follow in the footsteps of a family member from decades before.
“My uncle was drafted during Vietnam and went into the Army and was quickly recruited to attend OCS in the same exact training facility where I attended,” said Samantha. “I consider my uncle to be a true hero and inspiration.”
Samantha explained that her uncle would deploy to Vietnam and volunteer to stay with this platoon for a second tour, a decision that would ultimately cost him his life.
“That is what selfless service and true leadership looks like to me and I can only aspire to be the leader and role model that he was,” said Samantha.
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2019 10:00 |
| Story ID: | 347529 |
| Location: | ALBANY, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 309 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, VA Social Worker Becomes N.Y. National Guard's Newest Officer, by MSgt Ryan Campbell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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