Latest news with #U.S.ArmyReserve
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Esmeralda Cruz Espino, Youngstown, Ohio
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Dr. Esmeralda Cruz Espino, a respected Geriatric physician, Major in the U.S. Army Reserve and lifelong resident of Youngstown, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 2, 2025, at the age of 83. Born on January 16, 1942, in San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippines, Esmeralda was the beloved daughter of Vicente and Angelina Espino. Find obituaries from your high school She earned her Doctor of Medicine and Surgery degree from the University of Santo Tomas in 1973 at just 21 years old. She was fluent in three languages and dedicated her life to the care of others. Esmeralda is survived by her loving son, Joseph Cruz Espino and his wife, Destiny Espino. She is preceded in death by her parents, Vicente and Angelina Espino and her grandchild, Baby Espino. A devoted mother, physician and woman of deep faith, Esmeralda was a member of the Franciscan Third Order and active in her church community. She was instrumental in forming several Filipino social and religious groups in Michigan and Northeast Ohio, including helping to establish the Michigan Santo Niño devotion and the early Youngstown Filipino-American Organization of Northeast Ohio. Esmeralda's kindness, spiritual devotion and commitment to community will be deeply missed by her family, friends, patients and all who knew her. Calling hours will be held on Friday, June 6, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., in Schiavone Funeral Home, 1842 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44504 and on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 12:00 – 12:45 p.m., in Saint Edward Catholic Church, 238 Tod Lane, Youngstown, OH 44504, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. and Military Honors. A Franciscan Wake Service will be held at the church at 11:45 a.m., Saturday morning, June 7. Please visit to share 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Change in command of 655 Regional Support Group at Westover base
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – A local unit within the U.S. Army Reserve is changing its commands. Family, friends, and the soldiers of the 655 Regional Support Group witnessed a command change from one officer to another on Sunday at the Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee. This celebration is one of the military's oldest traditions. 'We have a long process of selection in terms of our leadership and also military professional development that has led me to this point,' said Colonel Jay Greeley. Driver crashes into JFK Memorial in Holyoke, police seek charges Colonel Greeley joined the military in Virginia 25 years ago, shortly after 9/11. He's been a dedicated citizen-soldier with over two decades of experience in logistics and operations in the U.S. and overseas. His commitment led him to become the new commander of the 655th Regional Support Group, a unit that was established in 2002. The unit has been deployed worldwide to provide direct combat service support, command and control to units under its leadership. 'The commander will oversee this unit that is made up of about 1,300 soldiers throughout New England,' Colonel Sean Sherwood said. It was a position that Colonel Sean Sherwood did not want to let go of. He led the RSG for the last two years, but as he moves on to another commander role in his home state of Hawaii, he believes that the RSG's soldiers are ready for what's next. 'Soldiers here have learned to adapt, push through innovative ways for what we have to do to manage the expectations of the battlefield changes quickly,' Sherwood said. 'And it has changed significantly in the way they think.' Colonel Greeley told 22News he already has a plan for the unit, because the mission of the unit is to function as a command and control headquarters to extend protection over the Combat Support Brigade. 'In the next couple of years, we will really be focused on being ready now,' Greeley said. 'What that means is becoming tactically and technically proficient, doing soldier basic fundamentals of shoot, move, and communicate. So when our nation needs us, no matter where it is in the world, our soldiers are ready.' All of this comes at a perfect time, as the U.S. Army celebrated its 250th birthday this year. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mindr Honors Veterans and Military Families in Advance of Memorial Day by Reaffirming Hiring Commitment
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As Memorial Day approaches, Mindr, the industry leader in substance detection, monitoring and safety technology, reaffirms its deep commitment to our nation's military members, veterans and their families. This year, Mindr has made hiring veterans and military families a top priority, with a strong focus on supporting their long-term success in the civilian workforce. "Our military families make tremendous sacrifices, and we recognize the unique skills and resilience they bring to the workforce," said Amanda Sedars, Chief Human Resources Officer of Mindr. "Our experience working with military families has been incredibly rewarding. Their diverse professional backgrounds, adaptability and strong work ethic consistently make them exceptional team members who embody our core values: Put People First, Drive Results, Win as a Team and Own it. We are proud to support this community not just through recognition, but through action by offering meaningful, flexible and career-building opportunities that help them thrive." The company has successfully hired military members, veterans and their families, providing them with growth opportunities, and is committed to supporting active military members before, during and after future deployments. Victoria Simmans, a Customer Care Specialist at Mindr, joined the U.S. Army Reserve right after high school because she was determined to make a difference. She discovered a profound sense of purpose and belonging in the military. For Simmans, the military was a close and loyal community that felt like family. It was there, amid the camaraderie and shared mission that she met the love of her life, her husband. Simmans served the country for eight and a half years before being tragically injured. Sustaining a long-term disability as a result, she was determined to find a role that gave her purpose and allowed her to continue making a difference but she struggled to find one within a company that would best support her. That all changed after receiving an offer from Mindr. When asked about her experience working at the company, Simmans said, "Mindr has been a game-changer for me and has changed my life. Mindr made transitioning from military to civilian life easy. I wanted to be a part of a mission-driven company focused on saving lives – that's what we do here, and we do it as a team. I have had tremendous growth opportunities and was even promoted a few months after I started. I have never felt more seen, supported and allowed the flexibility and time-off needed to care for myself and my family. I encourage anyone who is a military member or veteran to apply here – go for it!" Mindr is actively seeking to hire veterans and military families and is a proud member of the U.S. Department of Defense's Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP). Mindr currently has 45 open positions in departments such as: Sales, Customer Service, Engineering and IT. Many of these roles offer remote options, helping meet the needs of the mobile military lifestyle. The company offers its employees a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, including dental, health and vision insurance; a 401(k) plan; paid holidays and time off; ongoing professional training; and more. Mindr encourages military spouses, military members and veterans seeking new opportunities to visit to explore openings and learn more about how we're building a workplace that honors and supports our military community year-round. About Mindr Mindr is a national leader in substance detection, monitoring and safety solutions. Its portfolio of trusted brands includes Intoxalock, Breathe Easy Insurance, Keepr, and ADS Interlock. Mindr is focused on empowering individuals and institutions with the tools to make better decisions and create safer communities. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mindr
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Diverse, personal story': ABC News correspondent Ramos delivers Pitt-Johnstown commencement speech to around 400 graduates
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown's 2024-25 class of about 400 graduates were celebrated Saturday with a commencement ceremony at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center. "We entered college during the COVID-19 pandemic," Pitt-Johnstown Student Government Association President Augie Mucci said as he addressed his fellow graduates. "It wasn't just a transition from high school to college. It forced us to grow up faster than expected – we adapted. We found friends, mentors and purpose in our studies and resilience that we didn't know we had. Over the past four years, he said, the graduates have grown to become "scientists, engineers, teachers, leaders." Graduates Lily Keslar (left), of Latrobe, wears her graduation cap decorated with words "what a wonderful world" as Julia Shima, of Elton, speaks with her at their commencement ceremony Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Pitt-Johnstown's Sports Center. Both Pitt-Johnstown graduates have completed undergraduate studies to become teachers. "Today, we stand on the edge of another change – careers, graduate school or a pause to catch our breath. Let us not fear change, but embrace it. We've done it before." A theme of "trusting your future self," and building "lived experience" continued in commencement speaker Stephanie Ramos' address to the graduates. Ramos is a national correspondent for ABC News, covering presidential administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump as well as "many of the critical events that in many ways have marked our lives," Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar said. Ramos is also a U.S. Army Reserve major who has received medals for her honorable service, including the meritorious service medal. In 2008, she was a first lieutenant in Iraq, receiving multiple medals. After a year-long deployment, she and her husband returned to Iraq to produce the award-winning documentary "To Baghdad and Back" using footage she captured on a small handheld camcorder. Ramos ABC correspondent and U.S. Army Reserve Major Stephanie Ramos delivers the 2025 commencement address at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center Saturday May, 3, 2025. Prior to ABC, Ramos reported for local stations in Kansas City, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas, where she established herself as a tenacious reporter covering important issues including immigration, politics and crime. Ramos related her story to the graduates – including the months of persistent attempts to get a foot in the door first, in local TV news and subsequently at ABC. As she worked her way to becoming a national correspondent, she took different roles in the newsroom. "I didn't care about title," Ramos said. "I cared about my mission." After the terror attacks of 9-11, she said she wanted to serve in the U.S. military. Her deployment was a "shock" and "lonely," she said, "but I signed up for it." She said she felt her career in the military and in journalism intersected. Her lived experience as a mother and as a Latina woman also intersected with her career. Ramos said all 340 million people in the United States has a story that needs to be told – "every one of us has a different, diverse, personal story." She said her experiences made her a better journalist and a better person. "Every part of you is an asset," she told the graduates. "Don't apologize for any part. Lead with it."
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
ABC News correspondent to speak at UPJ commencement
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown has announced that ABC News correspondent and U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Stephanie Ramos will be this year's commencement speaker. 'Ms. Ramos is an exceptionally talented and successful national news correspondent with a record of meritorious service in our military,' Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar said in a release. 'We are honored to have her share her inspirational journey from small-town Topeka, Kansas, to the highest echelons of national and international reporting.' She'll address the UPJ graduates during the 1 p.m. ceremony Saturday at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center. Ramos is an acclaimed reporter who has worked across all ABC News platforms, from 'Good Morning America' and 'ABC News Tonight' to ABC News Live, 'Nightline' and '20/20.' She started with the agency as a multi-platform reporter in Washington, D.C., and covered the Pentagon. Ramos has reported on a variety of topics during her career, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House, the Alabama U.S. Senate race and the Parkland shooting. Prior to joining ABC News, she worked for local stations in Missouri, Kansas and South Carolina. In 2008, during the Iraq War, Ramos was a first lieutenant, and upon her return from the tour, she and her husband produced the award-winning special 'To Baghdad and Back' using footage she captured on a small handheld camcorder. During Saturday's ceremony, she'll be presented with the President's Medal of Distinctive Excellence.
