Photo By Brent Thacker | FORT KNOX, KY – Maj. Gen. Flem B. “Donnie” Walker, Jr., commanding general, 1st...... read more read more
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FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 1st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) Special Troops Battalion (STB) completed the first combined change of command and change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Knox, June 12, at the Sadowski Center.
During the ceremony, presided by Maj. Gen. Flem B. “Donnie” Walker, Jr., commanding general, 1st TSC, the outgoing STB command team, Lt. Col. Brett A. Ayvazian and Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin D. Henderson relinquished command and responsibility to the incoming STB command team, Lt. Col. James L. Crocker and Command Sgt. Maj. Carey A. Welsh.
Ayvazian spoke about moving the command from Fort Bragg, N.C. to Fort Knox.
“The unit lived at Fort Bragg for nearly four decades, with established procedures, routines and support network,” Ayvazian said. “When we moved here last summer, we didn’t have that luxury.”
Ayvazian also highlighted a number of major operations that occurred during the transition.
“We were trying to figure out how to operate on a new installation, set up a swing space, execute a casing ceremony and turn in 14 buildings at Bragg,” Ayvazian said. “We deployed the Red Team out of Fort Knox, redeployed the 14th (Human Resources Sustainment Center) and Blue Team back at Fort Bragg. We executed an uncasing ceremony here (at Fort Knox), moved out of our swing space and into Fowler Hall. From there, we did a ribbon cutting ceremony, implemented a Global Command Support System for the Army, and struggled through the death of one of our Soldiers. We also deployed and redeployed the Red and White teams, sent a team to Jordan for three months to support an exercise and went to the field for the first time as a battalion.”
With all his accomplishments, Ayvazian said he feels lucky he commanded this battalion.
“A lot of people don’t know that I took an eight year break from the Army,” Ayvazian said. “I decided to come back after working in a corporate world, and it’s the best professional decision I ever made.”
Ayvazian said he came back to the Army after his extended hiatus because he missed it. For eight years, he couldn’t find the friendship, bonds or character of people he found in the Army.
Ayvazian spoke words of encouragement to the incoming command team.
“Lt. Col. Crocker, Sgt Maj Welsh, I don’t envy what you’re about to step into,” Ayvazian said. “I wouldn’t want this to be my first leadership challenge as I took command, but I know the Army picked the right team for this job.”
Lt. Col. James Crocker spoke at the ceremony, saying he is extremely honored and humbled to be selected as the next Special Troops Battalion commander.
“Lt. Col. Ayvazian and Command Sgt. Maj. Henderson, you made a tremendous impact on not only the organization, but the Fort Knox community as a whole with your work ethic, dedication and focus on the mission and overall positive attitude,” Crocker said. “You’ve built and developed an outstanding team within the battalion and Command Sgt. Maj. Welsh I can’t thank you enough for that.”
After the ceremony, attendees took photos with Cpl. Blackjack, a live pony mule, serving as the unit’s mascot.
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| Date Taken: | 06.12.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2018 15:41 |
| Story ID: | 281378 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 255 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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