FORT MCCLELLAN, Alabama – Col. Roger “Brad” Benton assumed command of the Alabama National Guard’s Fort McClellan Training Center (FMTC) from Col. Jeffery Smith during a ceremony at the historic Women’s Army Corps Chapel, Nov. 6, 2021, in Fort McClellan, Alabama. Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon, the Alabama National Guard Adjutant General, presided over the ceremony and received the colors from the outgoing commander, Col. Jeffery Smith, before entrusting the command to Benton.
Maj. Gen. Gordon spoke highly of the Training Center’s progress made under Col. Smith during his time as the garrison commander, and noted her confidence in Col. Benton’s ability to carry on that vision.
Col. Benton comes from a military family, with many members of his family having previously trained at Fort McClellan. Benton himself has deep Fort McClellan roots, having graduated from Fort McClellan’s Military Police Basic Combat Training in 1990, commissioned from the Alabama Military Academy’s Officer Candidate School (OCS) on Fort McClellan in 2000, and been in several units that have trained and mobilized through McClellan over the years.
During his remarks, Benton recognized the rich history of training at Fort McClellan and vowed to continue the vision to make the installation “the best Training Center in the nation,” by modernizing the installation and ensuring that customer service remains at the forefront of the FMTC mission.
Benton serves full-time as the Deputy Chief of Staff (G8) at Joint Forces Headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama. Earlier this year, Col. Jeffery Smith assumed the role as Chief of Staff for the Alabama Army National Guard.
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Date Taken: | 11.06.2021 |
Date Posted: | 11.06.2021 14:31 |
Story ID: | 408815 |
Location: | FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA, US |
Web Views: | 683 |
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