Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Donald Pint, foreground left, first sergeant of Company A, Special...... read more read more
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By: 1st Lt. George Hotaling
BAGHDAD — Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center held a change of command ceremony Mar. 17, 2011, representing the transfer of authority from the outgoing company commander to the incoming company commander.
Capt. Klara Wright, the outgoing commander of Company A, STB and a Prague, Czech Republic, native, who has led the company for the past 15 months, handed over its leadership to Capt. Jason Cano, the incoming commander of Company A, STB and College Station, Texas, native.
“A change of command is a bittersweet time where soldiers say farewell to an outgoing commander, who has cared and shared experiences with them over the term of their command,” said Spc. Ashley Lake, an imagery analyst with Company A, STB and a San Jose, Calif., native. “soldiers will then welcome a new commander who will share new experiences and [look after] their well-being.”
“Capt. Wright has always been a very caring and outstanding commander,” said Staff Sgt. Jared Grissom, an intelligence analyst with Company A, STB, and a Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., native. “She was always able to find that balance between taking care of soldiers while continually pushing [them] to accomplish the mission.”
First Sgt. Donald Pint, the first sergeant of Company A, STB and a Cedar Falls, Iowa, native, said he was thankful that he had the chance to work with Wright.
“I wish Capt. Wright the best of luck on her next assignment,” Pint said. “She was an outstanding commander, who genuinely cared for each and every one of her soldiers. I was extremely grateful to have the opportunity to serve on a command team with her; she will truly be missed by all the soldiers here in Company A.”
Pint also looks towards the future, and his partnership with Cano as the new Company A command team.
“As for Capt. Cano, I look forward to our command together as we strive to provide the unit with accurate and timely intelligence support and bring all our fine ‘Titan’ soldiers back home at the end of this deployment.”
During a deployment where the mission tempo can be ever-changing, a smooth change of command can be crucial to a unit’s success. Several key tasks, including signing over of a company’s property book, tackling current soldier issues, and overseeing internal leadership policies and procedures come with a change of command. All of these tasks are responsibilities that both of the commanders need to execute in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.
“A new commander means a new command philosophy in several different areas, to include supply,” said Cpl. Heather Blanton, a supply specialist with Company A, STB and a Junction City, Kan., native. “I am confident that will build a strong working relationship, similar to the relationship I had with Capt. Wright.”
“One of the toughest things during command was trying to carry on operations when sometimes the company was only at 60 percent personnel manning strength,” Wright said. “Every day, the soldiers of Company A continue to go above and beyond their call of duty, proving that it’s the quality, not the quantity soldiers that continue to get the mission done. It’s almost a surreal feeling. You spend so much time preparing for this day, and now it’s time to move on to the next step.”
The incoming commander said he was excited about the challenges ahead.
“It is a very exciting day and I look forward to the task of commanding the fine ‘Titan’ company soldiers,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 03.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2011 10:01 |
| Story ID: | 67356 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 147 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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