Photo By Capt. Steven Wesolowski | U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William A. Justice, command sergeant major for Division...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, TX – Friends, families, and neighbors to Division West – First Army, gathered to observe an Assumption of Responsibilities ceremony for the division’s new command sergeant major at Cameron Parade Field on Feb. 17.
Following his duty as the command sergeant major of the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., Command Sgt. Maj. William A. Justice returned back to Fort Hood to accept his new responsibilities at Division West. Joining him included his wife, Tina, his brother retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nelson Justice, family in-laws, and longtime friends and Veterans, who previously served and mentored him throughout his career.
Brig. Gen. Joseph A. Edwards, commanding general of Division West, presided over the ceremony, welcoming and instilling his confidence in Justice.
“Today is indeed a great day for Longhorn Division. We welcome to our team a distinguished leader and military family. Command Sgt. Maj. Justice joins us with a great wealth of experience, not only as a combat warrior, but a trainer as well,” said Edwards. “He has served at Fort Hood many times throughout his years of service –from the First Cavalry Division to the U.S. Army Operational Test Command, and now with Division West.”
Edwards further emphasized the level of responsibilities Justice will shoulder for the division moving forward.
“Our mission is complex and operates across a tyranny of great distance. With five brigades and 49 battalions, split over four active duty stations across three time zones, spanning 2,500 miles across the entire western United States, it is not an easy mission,” said Edwards. “But, it is a critical one, for which the U.S. Army is counting on us to do right. And, I know you, Command Sgt. Maj. Justice, will help lead our Soldiers to the next level.”
Additional divisions Justice previously served under while stationed at Fort Hood include the 4th Infantry Division, 2nd Armored Division, and 5th Infantry Division.
“First, I would like to thank God for this day, and all his many blessings. I would also like to thank him for bringing Tina and I back to the Fort Hood community we love so much,” said Justice. “There are a few leaders from my past who have made the trip to be at this ceremony today –retired Command Sgt. Maj. Lloyd Julius, retired 1st Sgt. Ken Turner, and retired Sgt. 1st Class John Skaarup. Collectively, they are responsible for growing me from rank of private to command sergeant major. It means the world to Tina and I that you guys took the time to make it here to be a part of this.”
Justice spoke on his commitment to the division’s success.
“Helping build readiness in our National Guard and Reserve formations is vital to the security of our nation,” he stated. “I am proud to join the ranks of the professionals of the Longhorn Division in accomplishing that mission. I will do my best every day to earn the trust placed in me and to continue on the great work of those who came here before me. Truthfully, I can think of no place I’d rather be.”
The ceremony music, national anthem, and Dutch national anthem for the 302nd Dutch Squadron partners also participating in the ceremony, were performed by the 1st Cavalry Division Band. Singing of the First Army Song was performed by Staff Sgt. Kiari Mhoon, public affairs noncommissioned officer and squad leader from 1st Cavalry Division.
Posting of the ceremony colors were conducted by the 120th Infantry Brigade color guard team, with the ceremony led by Sgt. Maj. Isaac McKee, G-3 operations sergeant major of Division West. Each brigade command team was successfully represented, allowing Justice to get acquainted with their unit leaders and Soldiers.
U.S. Army retired Command Sgt. Maj. Lloyd Julius, now a local resident of Killeen, recalls of the several times he served and mentored Justice.
“I was one of the neighboring drill sergeants to Justice’s platoon when he was a recruit back in 1990,” said Julius. “It wasn’t until around 2012, we actually realized that together when he was the battalion sergeant major of 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, and while I was his command sergeant major of the 193rd Infantry Brigade at Fort Jackson. We made sure to keep in touch since then.”
Julius retired from the U.S. Army in 2015, and reflected on the support he provided to Justice and many other Soldiers over the years.
“A fact about the NCO journey is that the higher you grow in rank, the greater the responsibilities you must take on for the Soldiers who are depending on you every day. It becomes a culmination of many years of dedication to service,” said Julius. “Justice always had the potential to do this, and am very glad to see that his hard work has paid off to this day.”
U.S. Army retired Sgt. 1st Class John Skaarup, a local resident of Austin and cybersecurity officer for the Texas Department of Transportation, couldn’t agree more with Julius.
“I was a tank platoon sergeant with the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment back in our early days of serving together –good times,” said Skaarup. “I enjoyed training and watching him grow as a Soldier back then. We’re very proud for Will and what he has been able to accomplish over the past 30 years. Division West is in good hands.”
| Date Taken: | 02.18.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2022 19:37 |
| Story ID: | 415046 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 159 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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