Photo By Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Smith | Capt. Shane Sandretto, the new commander of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry...... read more read more
Story, photos by Pfc. Nathaniel Smith
4th IBCT Public Affairs
BAGHDAD – Capt. Shane Sandretto of Waterbury, Vt., took command of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from his executive officer, 1st Lt. Andrew Rinehart of West Palm Beach, Fla., Oct. 19.
For Sandretto, the pressures of taking command of a troop at war were not lost on him, but he said he is prepared to get to work.
"My entire career, to command a company in combat has been the goal, but when you're standing up there and a man actually hands you the guidon, you feel the pressure right there," he said. "About ten minutes after the ceremony, I calmed back down. It's business as usual. Nothing's changed besides the fact it says commanding after my name."
Rinehart said Sandretto's arrival is good for the Soldiers.
"The Soldiers deserve someone with experience. It's obvious that Capt. Sandretto has a significant amount of experience to draw back on. There are things a captain can accomplish that a lieutenant can't," Rinehart said. "Sometimes you need somebody with a little more rank on their chest to go to bat for you. The guys are getting that with Capt. Sandretto. They couldn't get that with me. I'm thankful for that.
"The ultimate job for any captain is to be a company commander. It's good to see a man like Capt. Sandretto, who's obviously skilled, get a chance to do that."
Sandretto, who is coming to 'Bandit' Troop after serving as the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th IBCT's assistant operations officer, said his experience gives him self-assurance for the task ahead.
"I have a lot more experience than most commanders, based on the history of my career," he said. "Most commanders are taking command at four and five years in the Army. I have three times that much time. I have that experience to fall back on."
Because of that experience, he added that he doesn't hesitate to ask those with command experience for guidance.
"I have no qualms whatsoever asking for help. I draw on my first sergeant; my executive officer was the commander for a couple months or so," he said. "I'm asking him questions constantly. It doesn't make me feel like less of a commander to ask for help."
Rinehart said it's been challenging to change commanders so often, but it's been a valuable learning experience.
"Sometimes you can do your job, and you don't understand how your job compliments other people and doing what they have to do," he said. "Being the (commanding officer) for a little while, I got to see how the (executive officer's) side of things compliments that.
"It's a big puzzle, and sometimes you don't understand what the picture is, but you know where your piece is."
One thing that has remained steadfast in the Bandits through the change of commanders, Rinehart added, has been the skill and professionalism of the Soldiers.
"The men do a great job, and that's never changed. They keep doing a great job, and they kept doing it while I was in charge," he said. "Me saying I was in charge is kind of a misnomer. I didn't get out there and start telling everybody what to do and how to do it. Everybody knows their jobs."
"That was the biggest thing that I leaned on as far as experience went. Everybody in the troop is a professional."
| Date Taken: | 10.25.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.25.2007 10:25 |
| Story ID: | 13303 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 626 |
| Downloads: | 558 |
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