New York National Guard gets new Command Chief Warrant Officer

Photo By Master Sgt. Raymond Drumsta | Brig. Gen. Gary Yaple, deputy commander (operations) of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division (left), and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Robert Wold, the outgoing command chief warrant officer of the New York Army National Guard (right), pose with a plaque the division gave Wold during a change-of-authority ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters here on Dec. 9. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jeffrey Schirmer took over command chief warrant officer duties during the ceremony. Schirmer, a Leicester N.Y. resident and a veteran of two wars, will be responsible for recruiting warrant officers to fill the 286 positions in the New York Army National Guard and overseeing warrant-officer training. Wold, a Ballston Lake, N.Y. resident, is retiring after more than 40 years of service. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Raymond Drumsta/released)  

LATHAM, NY, UNITED STATES

12.09.2016

Story by Eric Durr 

New York National Guard

New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Schirmer, a Leicester, N.Y. resident and a veteran of two wars, took over as the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the New York Army National Guard during ceremonies at New York National Guard headquarters here on Friday, Dec. 9.

Warrant Officers are technical specialists who fall in between the Army's non-commissioned officers, known as sergeants, and the commissioned officer corps.

Schirmer, a Chief Warrant Officer 4, will serve as the Command Chief Warrant Officer for the New York Army National Guard, responsible for recruiting warrant officers to fill the 286 positions in the New York Army National Guard and overseeing warrant officer training.

Schirmer replaced Chief Warrant Officer 5 Robert Wold, Ballston Lake resident, who is retiring after more than 40 years of service. Wold has served in the position since 2010.

During his tenure the New York National Guard responded to Tropical Storms Irene and Lee in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

During the ceremony a saber, representing the duties of the Command Chief Warrant Officer, was passed from Wold to Major General Anthony German, the Adjutant General of New York. This represented Wold relinquishing the position.

German then transferred the saber to Schirmer. This represented Schirmer taking on those duties.

Schirmer enlisted in the New York Army Guard in 1982 and served as an enlisted Soldier, reaching the rank of Sgt 1st Class, before becoming a Warrant Officer in 1998.

Prior to his selection as Command Chief Warrant Officer, Schirmer served for 34 years as a dual-status federal technician in charge of the New York National Guard's Combined Support Maintenance Shop. Technicians are federal employees who support the National Guard and must also serve in the National Guard as a condition of employment.

As a Guard Soldier he has served as Electronics Platoon Sergeant in the 134th Maintenance Company; the Electronics Platoon Leader, Logistical Maintenance office for Headquarters Company of the 42nd Infantry Division, and Electronic Maintenance Officer in the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, and Logistical Maintenance Officer for New York National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters.

Schirmer deployed to Iraq in 2005 as Logistical Maintenance Officer for the 42nd Infantry Division. He also served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq in 1990/1991 during Operation Desert Storm.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal.

Schirmer and his wife Maureen have two daughters and three grandchildren.

• Date Taken: 12.09.2016
• Date Posted: 12.12.2016 10:01
• Story ID: 217280
• Location: LATHAM, NY, US
• Hometown: LEICESTER, NY, US