Courtesy Photo | Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Cox hands the brigade flag to Col. Corey Carr for the last...... read more read more
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By Indiana National Guard Capt. Jessica Halladay
FRENCH LICK, Ind. - Senior leadership and families of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team recently gathered at French Lick Springs Resort Feb. 4-6, for a mobilization conference and change of command ceremony, saying goodbye to one commander and hello to the next.
In September 2010, the adjutant general received unofficial notification regarding the nomination of the 76th Infantry Brigade, but no official alert or mobilization order has been published. The 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered at Tyndall Armory in Indianapolis, Ind., is sourced as a contingency to potentially fill a Department of the Army requirement with a tentative date for mobilization in January 2012.
The conference held at French Lick gave commanders and senior leaders time to discuss and plan the training cycle for the next year in preparation of a possible deployment.
“This is a time to come together and talk about tactics, techniques and procedures across the brigade,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Cox II. Cox also explains how it gives time for leaders to cross talk with other unit commanders face to face, some that they may not otherwise see but once a year.
This weekend not only brought soldiers together, it brought families together to receive information about benefits, education and a chance for spouses to exchange information from previous deployments.
“It was good to talk with other spouses and know there is support when needed” said Alicia Burress, wife of Sgt. 1st. Class Thomas Burress, native of Evansville, Ind., of the 163rd Field Artillery. If the brigade deploys again, the Burress family has gone through this before and knows what to expect and can help others.
“It’s also good to just spend some time with my husband” said Burress.
Saturday evening, soldiers and family gathered for a formal dinner to build camaraderie, share history and spirits with the outgoing 76th brigade commander, Col. Corey Carr one last time and get to know the new commander Lt. Col. (P) Jerry Hadley. The dinner also marked an important event for some, as they hung battle streamers from their unit flags signifying their service completed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“It’s important to remember that every one of those streamers was earned with the sacrifice of soldiers of our unit over 150 year’s service to our country,” said Carr.
Guest speaker, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, the adjutant general of Indiana, talked about the rich history of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and commended the success of prior missions and the reputation of its noncommissioned officers and officers, as he says are known throughout the Army.
“We must always depend on the citizen soldier, the militia and every conflict of this nation you have always been there, and your fore fathers, and those before us have always been there and it’s not going to change. You’re going to carry the success of this nation, and I’m so darn proud of each and every one of you,” said Umbarger.
With President Barack Obama announcing the troop withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2011; the 76th IBCT is uncertain where the next mission will lead them. For Carr, a new mission begins as he relinquishes his command to the 76th IBCT and starts a new one as the Commanding General of the 81st Troop Command which currently holds a mission of Homeland Security.
Carr spent four years as the brigade commander for the 76th IBCT and led the brigade during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008-2009 to a successful mission. During the change of command ceremony, Carr read a letter from an Iraqi business owner who worked closely with the 76th IBCT during deployment. The program, Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone, was greatly expanded at Joint Base Balad as an initiative to provide local Iraqi business leaders with opportunities to tap into valuable military contracts and provide a secure environment to grow their business.
After two years, the letter explained that the IBIZ program was a success and the shipping container repair had become a model in Iraq. The note highlighted achievements by sourcing funds for more than 500 families, 75 singles have been married while on the project and workers have been able to buy small houses or new furniture.
“The 76th IBCT made a strategic impact that will have a lasting legacy,” said Carr.
As Carr relinquishes command to Lt. Col. (P) Hadley, he says giving up such a command is hard, but feels Hadley will take the brigade to a higher level.
“There are a lot of people who shape the success of a unit and do a lot of heavy lifting during a command. Like a second family I’ve been surrounded by great NCO’s,” said Carr. Carr paid special tribute to Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Rhoades and Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Cox for providing stability and guidance.
As the weekend came to a close, a new commander took over the 76th IBCT. Although the brigade still may have uncertainties about their next mission in 2012, they will always stand ready and be prepared for any new challenge they may face.
| Date Taken: | 02.10.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.10.2011 23:31 |
| Story ID: | 65207 |
| Location: | FRENCH LICK, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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