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Col. David M. Newman, commander of 561st Regional Support Group from Omaha, Nebraska, and outgoing Fort Cavazos Mobilization Support Brigade commander, transferred authority of the Fort Cavazos Mobilization Support Brigade to Col. Robert D. Hegland, commander, 646th Regional Support Group from Madison, Wisconsin, during a transfer of authority ceremony at Sadowski Field, Fort Cavazos, Texas, Oct. 20.
U.K. Maj. Gen. Ben Cattermole, deputy commanding general, III Armored Corps, served as the reviewing officer for the ceremony.
“The mission of the Mobilization Support Brigade is in part to maintain mobilization of Reservists and National Guard for routine missions as we compete across the globe,” said Cattermole. “But it is primary there in the case of large-scale combat, when thousands and thousands of Reservists and National Guard would come through this installation in very short order to go and serve their country overseas.”
Cattermole thanked the 561st RSG, known as the Storm Brigade, for their efforts in preparing mobilizing and demobilizing U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers over the past year, improving processes.
“Over the past year, the Storm Brigade has mobilized and demobilized over 17,000 Soldiers, that’s the equivalent of a division,” Cattermole said. “And they have not missed a single reporting date of Soldiers going out to join their commands overseas or here in the continental United States. That is an incredible and awesome achievement.”
Cattermole also praised the 561st RSG’s development of relationships with the local partners and adding a human touch to the mobilization and demobilization processes at Fort Cavazos.
“They worked with the local community in Gatesville to open a recreation center in North Fort Cavazos so that the Reservists and National Guard men and women who were far from home could have somewhere to rest and relax before or on return from deploying,” said Cattermole. “Extending fitness centers, providing weekend shuttles, so that these Soldiers, often for the first time going away for a year, would be able to have access to the main cantonment areas. Adding a human touch to what otherwise could be just a process.”
During their 12-month mobilization, Storm Brigade promoted more than a dozen new NCOs, sent over 20 Soldiers to rank specific professional military training, and increased the brigade average Army Combat Fitness Test score by more than 20 points.
“All of that I think is credit to every man and woman I see on parade and to the leadership of Col. Newman and Command Sgt. Maj. Leising,” said Cattermole.
“So well done to you all from Storm Brigade and thank you for all that you have done, in not only helping us achieve our mission over the past 12 months but building us for the most critical mission of large-scale mobilization. We wish you safe travels back to Omaha, Nebraska.”
Cattermole concluded his remarks and welcomed the 646th RSG. “To Col. Hegland and Command Sgt. Maj. Dwyer, the leaders, and the Soldiers of the Badger Brigade, welcome,” he said. “Welcome to Fort Cavazos, welcome to “The Great Place”. We’re looking forward to living and working alongside in the future, and to all the great things I know you will do over
the next 12 months.”
Col. Newman followed Maj. Gen. Cattermole and expressed gratitude for the positive working relationships with civilian and military personnel
across Fort Cavazos, including III Armored Corps and subordinate units.
“Maj. Gen. Cattermole, brigade command teams, and leaders across Fort Cavazos mobilization enterprise, it has been our honor to serve alongside you this past year,” said Col. Newman. “The Storm Team accomplished a lot this year because it is a team of teams willing and ready to join with the outstanding mobilization enterprise across Fort Cavazos.”
Newman thanked the Soldiers of the Storm Brigade for their dedication to the mission and commitment during the mobilization, their families for unwavering support, and welcomed the 561st RSG.
“As we demobilize, I look forward to uncasing our colors back in Omaha, Nebraska, where we get to thank the other part of the Storm Team – our families and employers who supported us throughout this mobilization,” said Newman. “It’s with a deep sense of appreciation that the 561st RSG passed the MSB guidon and mission it represents to the 646th RSG and challenge them to continue to improve the foxhole and wish them even
more success here at “The Great Place.”
Once the transfer of authority was completed, Col. Hegland assumed the mobilization support brigade mission and expressed his appreciation to the guests in attendance and the families and friends who watched the ceremony live via Facebook.
“The RSG for the 646th, we are unique. The regional support groups were created for missions like this, to take care of others,” said Hegland. “The RSG is a representative of the clients and customers that we’re going to take care of. We are them. We are citizen Soldiers. We know what’s is like to leave our normal lives, our families, friends, our employers, our careers, to come down here to do what the nation asked us to do… The 646th’s motto is commitment to service. That service and commitment is required of every single member. That starts with us.”
| Date Taken: | 10.20.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.23.2023 14:58 |
| Story ID: | 456334 |
| Location: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | MADISON, WISCONSIN, US |
| Hometown: | OMAHA, NEBRASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 249 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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