Photo By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry | Indiana Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Corey Carr, right, receives the 81st Troop...... read more read more
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana National Guard's 81st Troop Command changed commanders in a ceremony at the Bloomington Readiness Center Sunday, March 13.
Indiana Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Corey Carr, of Columbus, Ind., took the reins from fellow Hoosier Guardsman, Col. Mark E. Coers, a native of Muncie, Ind.
"As I look out at you Soldiers it's apparent to me that you all are the essence of the National Guard - perfectly configured for both your federal wartime mission and for our response and support of our civil authorities and state mission," said Carr to his new troops during the ceremony.
The 81st Troop Command is comprised of a variety of subordinate units including engineer companies, medical companies and military police companies. The 81st is headquartered in Indianapolis and has units based in communities throughout the state.
"We got this group of skill sets that are perfect for reacting and supporting civil authorities during a state emergency," said Carr. "The troop command is ideal to be designated for that role."
Carr, who formerly commanded the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and deployed with more than 3,000 troops to Iraq in 2008, is looking forward to his new duty assignment.
"Being able to command this unit with the great diversity and great complexity is a real challenge and professionally rewarding," said Carr.
"Each unit has a separate mission focus, and so it's much more diverse. The train is going a lot of different directions and fast."
Coers has been on that train for approximately two years. He will stay on as an advisor until June and then retire in October. During the ceremony he commended the troops he commanded.
"It's been a distinct honor and a privilege to command this organization; you're a special group of folks," said Coers to his troops during the ceremony. "You guys have done some great stuff," said Coers of 81st's many missions that included readying Indiana units for overseas missions and welcoming them home, sending troops to help with hurricane relief in Haiti, and February's state active-duty mission Operation Frostbite.
Coers also said he enjoyed commanding 81st Soldiers.
"I said all along I have the best job in the Indiana National Guard - I have all the engineers, I got all the cops, I got all the docs, and I have a great staff. I couldn't ask for more."
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2011 13:28 |
| Story ID: | 67043 |
| Location: | BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 309 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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