Intelligence and Sustainment Company hosts change of responsibility ceremony

Photo By Cpl. Genesis Miranda | U.S. Army Master Sgt. Ricardo I. VacaMedina, incoming 1st Sgt. of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa’s (SETAF-AF) Intelligence and Sustainment (I&S) Company, gets pinned to 1st Sgt. by 1st Sgt. Curtis N. Thornton, outgoing 1st Sgt. of SETAF-AF Intelligence and Sustainment Company during the I&S change of responsibility ceremony on Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy, Sept. 8, 2023. I&S Company supports the mission of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa to enable unified land operations, while conducting sustained security engagement with African Land Forces to promote security, stability, and peace. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Genesis Miranda)  

VICENZA, ITALY

09.08.2023

Story by Pfc. Kevin Eros 

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), Intelligence and Sustainment Company (I&S) bids farewell to 1st Sgt. Curtis N. Thornton and welcomed 1st Sgt. Ricardo I. VacaMedina as the new company first sergeant during a change of responsibility ceremony at Caserma Ederle on September 8, 2023.
Thornton took responsibility of I&S Sept. 8th, 2022 and after one full year serving as first sergeant, relinquished command on Sept. 9th, 2023.

In his farewell speech, Thornton expressed his gratitude, saying, "I could not have asked for better teammates to share the good times, long nights, early mornings, stressful last-minute tasks, and creatively designed physical fitness sessions with."

Thornton will be moving to the 141th Signal Battalion, located in Wiesbaden, Germany.

VacaMedina shared his enthusiasm for his new role, saying, "I am deeply honored to assume the position of the new first sergeant of this highly professional company. As your first sergeant, I am committed to providing you with the best leadership possible."

VacaMedina is coming from I&S G4, located here at Del Din, Vicenza, Italy.

Captain Fernando R. Rubio, company commander of I&S Co., said, "1st Sgt. VacaMedina is the kind of soldier who could acquire 50 boxes of MREs in Germany, even if he's nowhere near Germany. We extend our heartfelt thanks to 1st Sgt. Thorton for his wisdom and leadership, and we warmly welcome 1st Sgt. VacaMedina to his new responsibilities."

I&S Co. was activated on August 27, 2013, with a mission to provide essential administrative and logistical support to the U.S. Army Africa and Southern European Task Force, now SETAF-AF, directorates.

Rubio emphasized the significance of the event, stating, "This is a celebration of the dedicated non-commissioned officer (NCO) core, composed of outstanding men and women who have earned respect and trust through their unwavering dedication and exemplary leadership."

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

• Date Taken: 09.08.2023
• Date Posted: 09.20.2023 02:17
• Story ID: 453635
• Location: VICENZA, IT