Photo By Lt. Col. Jeku Arce | 421st Medical Battalion (Multifuntional) conducts a Relinquishment of Command Ceremony...... read more read more
TORUN, Poland – Leaders and Soldiers of the 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), part of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 30th Medical Brigade, couldn’t have selected a more impressive or appropriate venue to mark an important leadership milestone.
The battalion conducted its relinquishment of command ceremony among international allies and leaders across the region assembled for Anakonda 16, a Polish-led international exercise that showcases allied capabilities, interoperability and mutual support.
Lt. Col. Roy Vernon relinquished leadership responsibilities to an interim commander during the ceremony.
Col. William Stubbs, the 30th Medical Brigade commander, praised the MMB’s accomplishments as well as its outgoing commander during his remarks.
“You are simply amazing,” Stubbs told the assembled Soldiers. “Your reputation throughout our Army embodies every facet of ‘Strong Europe’.”
Addressing Vernon directly, Stubbs said, “I know there was no way the 421st was going to convoy over 1,200 miles through Germany and Poland without you leading from the front, because that’s the type of leader you are.”
Vernon, in turn, praised the battalion’s Soldiers and Families during his remarks.
“Excellence is standing before you today and demonstrated in the tactical set up of our capabilities you see in front of you,” Vernon said. “It’s due to the incredible Soldiers that are before you that allow a change like this in the middle of one of largest exercises with our Polish allies to happen.”
A change of key leadership during a major exercise is not, to say the least, a common occurrence. But it highlights the unit’s adaptability, flexibility and fluidity as it participates in the premier exercise of the year amid an already high operation tempo.
It’s also appropriate in light of the expeditionary nature of the battalion. In the last two years, 421st MMB has supported operations in countries including Germany, Spain, Georgia, France, Ukraine, Latvia Romania Norway Belgium, Kuwait Afghanistan, Lithuania Hungary, Kosovo, Kenya and Djibouti.
Maj. Michael Story, the commander of 71st Medical Detachment, will assume interim command until the change of command ceremony planned for July.
Story thanked Stubbs for the opportunity to serve as interim commander and charged the Soldiers of 421st MMB with the battalion motto: “Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.”
The battalion is providing vital medical assets to Swift Response and Anakonda 16. Its mission includes, but isn’t limited to, food and water risk assessments, base camp assessments, ground ambulance evacuation, provision of “Role 1” and “Role 2” NATO medical capabilities, and combat operational stress control.
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2016 09:07 |
| Story ID: | 200009 |
| Location: | TORUN, PL |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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