INDIANAPOLIS -- Soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division, also known as the Cyclone Division, held a change of command ceremony at the Indiana War Memorial here today.
Brig. Gen. Gordon L. Ellis, of Brown County, Ohio, took the reins from Maj. Gen. David C. Wood, who had led the division since October 2014.
“As I assume command, I am cognizant of the need to continue to build sustained readiness across the formation of this division,” said Ellis during his speech. “We, Cyclone soldiers, share a legacy that was built before us.”
Ellis said he intends to lead the 38th Infantry Division by focusing on the development of the agility, adaptiveness, proficiency and lethalness of its soldiers while continuing to contribute to the division’s history of achievements.
The division formed more than 100 years ago during America’s mobilization for World War I. Its soldiers served in World War II earning the nickname Avengers of Bataan. And as a community-based organization, 38th citizen-soldiers also stand ready to help its country during disasters - like they did following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Ellis has served in the Army National Guard for more than 30 years and has three overseas deployments in support of Kosovo in 2004-2005, Kuwait and Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2012.
“The CY patch is known throughout the Army as a division that gets the mission done and gets it done right,” said Wood during the ceremony. “Each of you have built this reputation through overseas deployments, your response to disasters and your performances in exercises at home and abroad.”
During the ceremony, the 38th also changed senior enlisted advisers. Command Sgt. Maj. Dale A. Shelter assumed duties as the division command sergeant major from Command Sgt. Maj. James H. Martin.
Shetler has served in the Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard for 32 years. He deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2006 and 2007.
The 38th Infantry Division is one of 18 Army divisions and one of eight National Guard divisions in the United States’ arsenal. The division, headquartered in Indianapolis, stands ready with more 8,000 Hoosier Guardsmen across the state and thousands more in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan and Delaware.
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Date Taken: | 02.11.2018 |
Date Posted: | 02.11.2018 15:24 |
Story ID: | 265554 |
Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
Web Views: | 255 |
Downloads: | 1 |
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