Photo By Sgt. Elliot Alagueuzian | Trooper from 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st...... read more read more
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FORT CAVAZOS, Texas- The 1st Cavalry Division held a change of command ceremony to bid farewell to outgoing commander of 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment “Stallion”, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team “IRONHORSE” Lt. Col. Edwin L. Minges and welcomed incoming commander Lt. Col. Matthew L. Pratt on July 11 at Cooper Field.
Minges spent the last 21 months at the reigns of the Stallion battalion, executing a rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, building an atmosphere of trust and cohesion. Under his command, Stallion fielded the M1A2 SEPV3 Abrams main battle tank, bringing the battalion to the forefront of modernization within the First Team.
“It’s always exciting to get new equipment.” Minges said. “It also required us to learn new the equipment, how to use, how to maintain it and to just have that part of our organization. So we had a great set of supply not only from the army, but also from the division that allowed us to go from no vehicles all the way to a functional battalion that was highly lethal.”
Col. Christopher Dempsey, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team commander, presided over the ceremony.
“There is no one more “Stallion” than Les Minges.” Dempsey said. “Les is someone who gives himself completely and I can say is thank you for the immense amount of personal and professional energy that you’ve poured into the Stallions and the IRONHORSE Brigade.”
Minges expressed that the success and modernization of 2-8 Cav was in great part due to the work ethic and professionalism of the Troopers and their non-commissioned officers.
“They have maintained the standard and opened our organizations.” Minges said. “They have marked our challenges and generated opportunities for our leaders to fix problems before they become insurmountable.”
Pratt expressed his pride and excited with his first address to the unit in inheriting one of the most modern units in the United States Army
“I commit to you today to provide the leadership, guidance and support you deserve.” Pratt said.
Minges' next assignment will be at Fort Riley, KS.
Under the command of Pratt, 2-8 Cavalry Regiment continues to provide reliable and lethal forces in support of the 1st Cavalry Division.
| Date Taken: | 07.11.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 07.12.2023 09:13 |
| Story ID: | 448896 |
| Location: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 551 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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