Photo By Staff Sgt. Ruth McClary | North Carolina Army National Guard Col. Eric Kohl (right), the outgoing commander of...... read more read more
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Two Army National Guard leaders, who have traveled similar paths, transition into new roles, during the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade’s change of command ceremony at the Charlotte Police and Fire training Academy, Jan. 11, 2015.
Col. Eric Kohl relinquished command of the 105th Engineer Battalion to Col. Luke Burnett during a similar ceremony in 2011, and now Burnett has been chosen to follow Kohl’s path to take the helm at the brigade.
“Col. Burnett is a great leader and a good friend, and I couldn’t be more honored to see him follow in my footsteps again,” said Kohl. “It’s an honor to pass the mantle on to him, and I know that this unit will go on to do great things.”
“Obviously the task at hand is huge,” said Brig. Gen. Kenneth Beard, the assistant adjutant general-sustainment. “Col. Kohl has exhibited that in fine fashion, but we have selected a following leader with the expertise, skill set and experience to take this unit to the next level.”
Beard accepted the unit colors (flag) from Col. Eric Kohl, the outgoing commander, and passed it to Col. Luke Burnett, the incoming commander, symbolizing the commander’s authority and representing his responsibility to the organization.
The master of ceremonies explained the historic significance of the time-honored tradition which dates back to medieval times by saying that the passing of the unit colors represents the heritage of the unit and the unity and loyalty of its Soldiers. Beard then spoke of the highlights of Kohl’s term and welcomed Burnett into the fold.
“I was amazed at the organizational, operational and geographical diversity [of the brigade],” said Beard. “There are 36 armories under this flag, a diversity of units with 2,700 or so troops and, literally, if you start on the eastern side of the state and try to get to the [units farthest west] it’s about an eight to nine hour drive.”
“Some significant activities that have taken place under [Col. Kohl’s] tenure include [several unit] mobilizations/deployments and successful deployments are not a small task to manage: The 2012 Democratic National Convention, major engineer projects throughout the state and state active duty events for hurricanes and tropical storms,” Beard continued.
Kohl thanked his mentors for providing guidance and support throughout his military career and he asked the brigade Soldiers to focus on self-development by taking the initiative to accomplish the needed tasks to further their careers.
“Be just a little selfish and focus on that career management piece,” said Kohl. “We hear the doom and gloom that the budgets are going to be less and less and we have to function with less. Everybody [needs] to make sure their personal stuff is together because when facing the boards ... they will only select the best.”
Kohl was given a meritorious award for outstanding service as brigade commander.
“Col. Kohl is a commander who has taken care of enlisted Soldiers. He has always put us first and he has always let us do our jobs,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Terry, the 130th MEB command sergeant major.
After observing the outpour of respectful support of Kohl, Burnett is ready for the challenge as he spoke about moving the unit forward in the midst of a transitioning Army. Changes that are not just structural, but also generational.
“Our junior Soldiers have more information in their pockets than is contained in all the libraries of the world combined,” said Burnett. “It is a very unique time in our history as a species and I think it comes along with all the technology and societal transitions. We have to figure out how to work through that, because our Soldiers are different today than they were two decades ago when I was a private.”
Burnett’s way of dealing with transition is to task Soldiers and include explanations. His three priorities as the new commander include promoting individual readiness, training management, and junior enlisted engagement.
“Our Soldiers are smarter, they demand more and they are more disconnected,” said Burnett. “I think we as leaders need to talk to them. They want to know why and I think we have to tell them why and walk them through it.”
Both Kohl and Burnett expressed that engaging enlisted Soldiers, keeping them focused and informed, is the key to a successful transition of command as well as shifting with the new Army agenda.
Kohl will be joining the Operations and Plans section at Joint Force Headquarters where he will support and push the MEB state active duty emergency capabilities.
“For the outgoing commander this is a bittersweet time,” said Beard. “The ultimate thing in an officers career is to command at the senior level and although I’m sure [Kohl] is looking forward to the additional [free] time, it is still bittersweet; but hopefully Col. Burnett is sitting back there saying ... Sweet, I finally made it!”
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2015 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 153057 |
| Location: | CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 335 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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