Photo By Ebony Gay | Col. John Dreska, outgoing 1st Brigade (Quartermaster) commander and Command Sgt. Maj....... read more read more
Charleston, WV – There are several significant milestones that senior leaders mark on their list of military accomplishments throughout their career. For an outgoing brigade commander and 6-year Defense Logistics Agency/ Maritime Division Chief for Army & Marine Corps Industrial Support staffer, his 2-year tenure of commitment to duty and service to his Soldiers was recognized.
The 1st Brigade (Quartermaster), a down-trace unit of the 94th Training Division-Force Sustainment, gathered at the Maj. Gen. Charles C. Rogers U.S. Army Reserve Center to bid farewell to Col. John Dreska and welcome Col. John Joseph as the new brigade commander on 19 May 2018, in a change of command ceremony.
Dreska took a look down memory lane to give an account of his thoughts and mindset when he first took command of 1st Brigade on 15 May 2016. “I was very excited to command a Quartermaster brigade my entire career. I was ready for the challenge, but you're never ready for everything that comes at you,” said Dreska.
Although Dreska was excited for his first command assignment, leading a brigade with a footprint that's made up of nine battalions spread across the United States posed a few challenges on his journey to a successful command. “The most challenging aspects of command is ensuring that taskers and actions get completed. Inevitably, not everyone will be on the same sheet of music,” said Dreska.
In the midst of his most difficult times in command, Dreska heavy relieved on various staff members to include his brigade deputy commander, brigade command sergeant major and brigade operations personnel who he stated played a pivotal role in aiding with achieving all unit requirements.
Dreska also thanked Brig. Gen. Hector Lopez, 94th TD-FS commanding general for his strategic leadership. “His charisma, love of Soldiers, attention to detail, and willingness to mentor and provide guidance are incredible,” said Dreska.
For Dreska, his relinquishing of command would turn out to be a unique event as his brigade command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Betty, a 12-year New York City Transit Authority Superintendent, was due to depart his position at the unit the day following the change of command ceremony. Both Dreska and Betty shared accounts of their command time together and how it feels for their duo team to part ways.
Dreska expressed that their teamwork thrived due to their common mindsets, ability to cover a vast area of their brigade personnel while managing to come together to collaborate to address affairs throughout the brigade’s infrastructure.
“It’s kind of like a bat and a ball; they go together. I do one thing, and he does the other. It’s like we think on the same accord. I go to the east coast; he goes to the west coast. I go north, he goes south, and when we need to come together, we come together in the middle. We’ve covered a lot of ground and Betty has been my representative on the ground no matter of location, and everyone knows that he represents me. I know that he will take care of all NCO affairs,” said Dreska.
In regards to Betty’s departure from his command sergeant major position, Dreska viewed it as a step in the right direction which will not only enable Betty to lead Soldiers at a higher echelon but will also open the opportunity for another sergeant major to command at the brigade level.
“Betty is on his way up to a one-star command with the 100th Training Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His departure is viewed as a positive because another Soldier will get the opportunity to be a brigade sergeant major and it means Betty will get to go out and influence more Soldiers in the long run. It is bittersweet, but it’s better for the Army,” said Dreska.
Dreska went on to state how his command could not be completed without Betty and shared his excitement for Betty’s advancement in his military career.
“I couldn’t have completed my command without Betty. Through thick and thin, he’s there. When I was frustrated by things, he’s seemed to be able to claim me down in a New York minute. I am thrilled that he’s moving on and up and will have more opportunities to influence Soldiers going forward,” said Dreska.
Betty gives his view of his and Dreska’s recipe for success. “We split the baby. We ensured that one of us was always present at key events. When we needed to get together at the headquarters company or events hosted by 94th TD-FS or the 80th TC, we ensured that we came together to represent the 1st Brigade as one team, one fight,” said Betty.
For Betty, the recipe for success between him and Dreska also consisted of hard work, knowing and understanding what his boss needed. “It’s his (Dreska) show and his intent, and my job is to push his intent. I made sure his intent is pushed to the down trace units,” said Betty.
Betty continued, explaining how countless hours of work were required to run the 1st Brigade efficiently. “We spent many hours together on the phone, text messaging or communicating via e-mail to ensure we’re in synch and we keep the brigade focused. It’s not about Col. Dreska, it’s not about CSM Betty; it’s about the mission of the brigade and making sure we’re successful in taking care of the down trace units, the Soldiers and their families of the 1st Brigade,” said Betty.
Both Dreska and Betty agree that some of their most memorable milestones include taking a failed brigade with an accreditation score of 54 percent and achieving a rating of 96 percent while streamlining certification and badging throughout the unit which was also highlighted by Lopez during his remarks at the change of command ceremony. Betty also emphasized placing the welfare of their Soldiers over the mission was essential in achieving an active command.
Lopez continued with his remarks stating, a wise man once said, “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand and the determination that whatever we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” “John, as you reflect on your time as the 1st Brigade commander, I can say with great certainty that you have indeed applied the best of yourself to being the commander of the 1st Brigade and the results bear out this truth,” said Lopez.
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2018 19:52 |
| Story ID: | 285259 |
| Location: | CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | GAHANNA, OHIO, US |
| Hometown: | VALLEY STREAM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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