Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Dan Allyn (center), commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, passes the...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas – With two brigades deployed, and two more and its headquarters scheduled for deployment, the 1st Cavalry Division experienced a significant change within its ranks.
Command Sgt. Maj. Rory Malloy, former division command sergeant major, relinquished responsibility in a ceremony to Command Sgt. Maj. Isaia Vimoto, April 15, on Cooper Field.
Inside a few months of the division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and headquarters deploying, Army leadership selected Malloy to be the next commandant of the U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.
“It’s been my honor to have been afforded this opportunity to serve the soldiers and families of this great division for the past three years; America’s First Team,” Malloy said.
Maj. Gen. Dan Allyn, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, also commented on Malloy’s time while with the division.
“I firmly believe that Pegasus 9 was exactly the sort of man Gen. MacArthur described when he spoke of a leader who refused the path of comfort, opting instead for a path of challenge. For his outstanding performance, and reputation for excellence, the Army has wisely chosen him for increased responsibility,” he said.
Vimoto came to the Cav from First Army Division West and has followed in Malloy’s steps for much of their careers.
“I’ve been following him around the Army,” Vimoto said. “We’ve been drill sergeants together, first sergeants, command sergeants major; he was my brigade sergeant major at one time in the 101st, now we are here exchanging patches together as division command sergeant major.”
Vimoto initially entered the military under the Cohesion Operational Readiness and Training program from the island of American Samoa, Nov. 5, 1981.
He has served in many areas through the world including a tour with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vincenza, Italy.
He has held extensive leadership positions; from team leader to first sergeant; assistant commandant of the Savalauski Air Assault School; operations sergeant major; battalion command sergeant major; brigade command sergeant major; and now division command sergeant major.
Vimoto’s military education has also been in competition with his positions held such as but not limited to; basic airborne training, jump master course, ranger school, air assault school, drill sergeant school, rappel master course, special operations training course and master fitness course.
He is also a recipient of the prestigious Sgt. Morales and the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club.
Allyn also gave words of encouragement to the First Team’s Troopers.
“Like his predecessor, our new Pegasus 9 has devoted his life to serving his country and his soldiers,” he said. “We know that our division is once again in good hands with, masterful leadership to carry us forward.”
During the ceremony Vimoto thanked many people for the opportunity allotted to serve as the senior non-commissioned officer of the First Team.
“Maj. Gen. Allyn, sir, thank you for picking me as your battle buddy and as your divisions command sergeant major. I look forward to our future rendezvous,” he said.
His closing remarks were addressing the soldiers of the division.
“To the men and women of this great division and in the words of Abraham Lincoln, in his Gettysburg Address, when he said, ‘The world will never know no longer what we state here but it will never forget what we did here’,” he said. “For what you’re about to do, you’re about to go into harm’s way and what you’re about to do will be written in history books that generations and generations will learn and read about you.”
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2011 14:40 |
| Story ID: | 68988 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Responsibility changes for America’s First Team, by SGT Kimberly Browne, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
