Petersburgh resident Bob Hill piloting PB 230, a patrol boat operated by the New York Naval Militia, took part in boat proficiency training conducted on Friday, July 30, in the Hudson River near Troy. The training was conducted so that members of the Naval Militia could exercise their boat handling skills.
Hill, an employee of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is a Petty Officer Second Class in the New York naval force and participates in the Naval Militia’s Military Emergency Boat Service program.
The New York Naval Militia is a State force comprised mainly of members of the federal Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve who also agree to serve the State of New York at the direction of the Governor.
The mission of the New York State Military Emergency Boat Service is to provide rapid deployable, small boat capabilities for Defense Support to Civil Authority (DSCA), Homeland Defense/Homeland Security and New York National Guard operations in assigned waters as directed by the Adjutant General.
The Military Emergency Boat Service operates a fleet of ten patrol craft that work with the Coast Guard, the Border Patrol and local law enforcement agencies as needed.