Photo By Giancarlo Casem | Capt. David Strahl, center, 51st Tactical Interpreter Company commander, shakes the...... read more read more
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FORT IRWIN, Calif.—Soldiers of the 51st Tactical Interpreter Company bid farewell to1st Sgt. Thomas Gustason and welcomed 1st Sgt. Jeffrey Hartlerode, during a change of responsibility ceremony at the Freedom Fitness Center, Aug. 4.
A native of West Covina, and raised in Big Bear, Calif., 1st Sgt. Gustason was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin, to help stand up the 51st TICO in early 2008. Under his guidance the TICO was successfully stood up on Oct. 16, 2008.
"Today is a bittersweet ending to a long 16-month ride as the first sergeant of the Army's only translator interpreter company," Gustason said.
The 51st TICO "Jackals" is the first and only TICO in the Army and has the unique mission of training, integrating and deploying 09L translator interpreters. Troopers of the 51st are skilled Arabic and a wide range of other languages to support overseas contingency operations. The company's translators are native-born speakers who not only translate, they are also cultural subject matter experts.
The TICO commander, Capt. David Strahl, credited 1st Sgt. Gustason with overseeing construction of the company's buildings and for shaping the Jackals into the Soldiers they are now.
"He took a personal interest in every Soldier by molding each one into the complete Army Soldier; teaching them what it means to be part of a team, the Army culture and the military way of life," Strahl said. "Through his mentoring and leadership, we have had four Soldiers re-enlist, two promoted to the rank of staff sergeant and ten to sergeant."
During the TICO's first year, the unit grew from 30 Soldiers to 146, 49 of whom are currently deployed around the world. As the non-commissioned officer sword was passed from Gustason to Strahl, it not only signified his transfer of responsibility, but it also marked an end.
"Today marks the official end of the transitional period that started well over a year ago when the concept of Tactical Interpreter Company was born," Strahl said. "I call it a transitional period due to everything that has been accomplished up to this point were the first of its kind. An airplane built in flight. When 1st Sgt. Gustason took over as first sergeant, the TICO was little more than scribbled notes on paper, no SOPS, no buildings and no 09L Soldiers. It was 1st Sgt. Gustason, a few Soldiers and his previous chain of command that built upon this concept and thrust it into reality."
The incoming first sergeant, Hartlerode, is a native of Hammon, Ind. He said he was eager to begin his ride as the first sergeant of the TICO.
Following the change of responsibility, Gustason was greeted by fellow Soldiers wishing him luck on his retirement later this year. He said his time with the Jackals has been memorable and that he will hold the unit in high-regard.
"The 51st TICO troopers will always be at the top of my memory list," Gustason said.
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2009 14:31 |
| Story ID: | 37290 |
| Location: | FORT IRWIN, US |
| Web Views: | 528 |
| Downloads: | 352 |
This work, Jackals bid farewell to first ever first sergeant, by Giancarlo Casem, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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