146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion bids farewell to one commander and embraces another

Photo By Staff Sgt. Karen Ingham | Soldiers from the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion present the colors during the official change of command ceremony today, at the Maxwell C. Snyder Armory. Lt. Col. Vernon J. Dohmann is relieving Lt. Col. Gray Johnson as commander.  

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

06.04.2016

Story by Sgt. Spencer Rhodes 

107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The 146th Signal Battalion, one of the many specialized units that make up the 50th Regional Support Group, had its official change of command ceremony today at the Maxwell C. Snyder armory.
The outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Gray Johnson, assumed command in 2013 and has seen them through an increasing amount of training and readiness preparation as they became a part of Command and Control Response Element-Bravo. C2CRE-B is a task force made of specialized national guard battalions that are capable of responding to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear event, anywhere in the country, at a moment's notice.
1st Sgt. Brian Fancher, the full time operations senior enlisted leader for the 146th as well as the Charlie Company first sergeant, says that this commitment to being part of a quick response element forces each individual soldier and the units as a whole to maintain an even higher level of constant readiness.
Johnson explains that the involvement and amount of work required of a Soldier who drills once a month and two weeks in the summer is far more complex than the guard of previous eras. This skillful balance between military life and civilian life has given Johnson an even greater respect for drilling Soldiers than he already had.
“One of my biggest takeaways from this is that we have really good citizen Soldiers in the Florida National Guard,” said Johnson. “Let’s face it, it's not the National Guard of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s. The days where you left drill on sunday and didn't have to think about it again until next drill are over. No, to be a good soldier you’re working year round, 365 days…Leaving here I have an even greater love and appreciation for the traditional guardsman.”
Lt. Col. Vernon J. Dohmann is the incoming commander for the 146th and he offered encouraging words to the soldiers in formation, assuring them they would continue with the same level of performance and excellence.
“To the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion: you are the greatest battalion in the Army, and I work for you! Together we will continue the traditions of the 146th and build upon your solid foundation in order to maintain the level of superiority that you have achieved,” said Dohmann.

• Date Taken: 06.04.2016
• Date Posted: 06.04.2016 20:03
• Story ID: 199999
• Location: JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US
• Hometown: JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US
• Hometown: PALM COAST, FLORIDA, US
• Hometown: ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, US