Photo By Sgt. Jeremy Spires | Soldiers of the 71st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade stand in formation in from of...... read more read more
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SAN ANTONIO - On April 14 soldiers of the 71st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade stood in front of the Alamo, one of Texas’ most historic landmarks, to participate in one of the Army’s most time honored traditions as outgoing commander Col. Brian F. Ray passed the colors to incoming commander Col. Joachim Strenk.
“Command is a privilege, commanding in a time of war is a distinct honor,” said Ray to the gathered soldiers, family and friends of the brigade, “I have certainly been humbled by this chance to command such a fine group of brave American soldiers.”
The 71st BFSB, located in San Antonio, provides division and higher-level commanders with persistent surveillance, mobile light reconnaissance and a variety of intelligence to conduct targeting in support of Amy and Joint war-fighters. It also sets itself apart from other BFSBs because of the variety of specialty units such as the 1-143rd Airborne Infantry Battalion and the 19th Special Forces Group Airborne. This specialized mix allows the 71st BFSB to engage in complex planning and rehearsals of time sensitive targeting missions.
“To the soldiers of the 71st BFSB, I would like to simply say thank you for your great service to our state and our nation,” said Strenk in his first official address to the soldiers in attendance, “and for the great job that you have done and will continue to do.”
On hand for the ceremony were a number of distinguished guests. Among them were 36th Inf. Div. commander, Maj. Gen. James K. “Red” Brown, and the division’s senior non-commissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Wilson Early.
Brown, who recently took command of the 36th Inf. Div. after their return from Operation New Dawn, took a few minutes to thank all of the soldiers in formation.
“To each of you on this day, thanks for what you do. Thanks for being here and for wearing the cloth of this great nation because you truly make a difference,” Brown said.
With the colors passed from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander, the mantel of command now rest on the shoulders of Strenk, who has command of units currently deployed to Afghanistan and Djibouti in East Africa.
“After being at war for the past 10 years you have given it all, and I am tremendously proud to have the opportunity to serve with you,” Strenk said. “God bless American and God bless the great state of Texas.”
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2012 09:29 |
| Story ID: | 87141 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 640 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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