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    2nd IO Battalion welcomes a new Command Sergeant Major

    2nd IO Battalion welcomes a new Command Sergeant Major

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Shaun Conway | Command Sgt. Maj. Roger S Underwood Jr., incoming command sergeant major, 2nd...... read more read more

    FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

    10.01.2019

    Story by Staff Sgt. Shaun Conway 

    1st Information Operations Command (Land)

    FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- Soldiers, civilians, and family members of the 2nd Information Operations (IO) Battalion, 1st IO Command (Land) welcomes a new command sergeant major during a change of responsibility ceremony at Thurman Hall auditorium, Oct. 1.

    Command Sgt. Maj. Roger S. Underwood assumed responsibility from outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Michael T. Helton, hosted by Lt. Col. Matthew E. Hartman, 2nd IO Battalion commander.

    Underwood, who recently served as the 75th Ranger Regiment Signal Sergeant Major, was welcomed to the Battalion with remarks from Hartman.

    “Welcome to the second IO Battalion. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Battalion’s history. One in which your family becomes part of our family,” said Hartman. “I will impart to you four things. One, always remember people matter most. Two, be invested in the moment and the success of those you serve: both here and at home. Three, find a way to leave the world, and this unit better than you found it. Finally, and most importantly, it is about the people we serve; the Soldiers, Civilians, and Contractors that make up the Dragon team. This is your map to success. One in which I know you will excel and leave your own mark on those you have the privilege to lead.”

    Underwood, who is looking forward to the new opportunity, expressed his gratitude to Hartman and Helton.

    “Lieutenant Colonel Hartman, thank you for the kind words. Please know that I am ready to lead the second Battalion with you,” said Underwood. “Command Sergeant Major Helton, thank you for ensuring I was set up for success. You’re leaving me with a great battalion filled with great Soldiers, civilians, and contractors.”

    Underwood stated his expectations for the Soldiers of the 2nd IO Battalion.

    “Know that my expectations of you all are high,” said Underwood. “I expect you to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other Soldier. I want you to give 100 percent in all the things you do each day.”

    Hartman farewell Helton and thanked him for his commitment and success within the 2nd IO Battalion for the past two years.

    “This marks the culmination of two years of unwavering commitment, the joys of unit triumphs, the regret of perhaps some missed opportunities missed, but above all things, the celebration of a job well done by a team, family of warriors and professionals who never backed down from any challenge,” said Hartman. “You led a battalion equally distributed among active and reserve Soldiers, civilians, and contracted workforce. You put the Soldier back in Soldiering and created opportunities to be the glue that binds us as a cohesive, team-oriented Soldier, civilian, and family-centered organization. Thank you. Your departure will be felt. I wish you all the best and will look to follow your success stories.”

    Helton attributed his success to the 2nd IO Battalion’s people and the trust they have in each other.

    “The Army is built around people. People matter most,” said Helton. “The unit colors will never carry themselves. It is only the proud women and men, the Soldiers, civilians, and contractors of the unit, that drive the organization forward and carry those colors to new heights. This is only possible with a foundation of trust. Trust is what binds us as a team, and as a family, trust allows us to fail without fear of persecution and encourages us to try again and again, and it is trust that allows us to empower leaders to execute on vision and intent. It is my professional opinion that the 2nd Battalion is on the tip of the spear, because it is all about the warfighters.”

    1st Information Operations Command (Land) provides information operations (IO) support to the Army and other military forces through deployable teams, reach back planning and analysis, and specialized IO training in order to support freedom of action in the information environment and to deny the same to our adversaries.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.01.2019
    Date Posted: 10.21.2019 14:38
    Story ID: 348104
    Location: FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA, US

    Web Views: 565
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN