Cape Girardeau Change of Command

Thursday CPT Molina received the Cape Girardeau guidon from LTC Somers in the Cape Girardeau Change of Command ceremony. 

The change of command ceremony is an Army tradition signifying a change in leadership.  Hooooaah!

Meet Army Olympic Athlete Sergeant Justin Olsen

Olympic Gold Medalist SGT Justin Olsen has accomplished almost everything one man can in a bobsled, yet he yearns to earn back his spot aboard USA-1 for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games – and win more medals. He teamed with former WCAP driver Steven Holcomb, Curtis Tomasevicz and Steve Mesler to strike gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. He also helped Holcomb’s four-man squad secure gold at the 2012 World Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y. Since then, injuries and lost recovery time have knocked Olsen out of Team USA’s No. 1 sled. He is determined to work his way back.

 

The most memorable moment for me was winning the gold medal at the last Olympics. Coming across the finish line and seeing that we were in first place still, and our friends and families were going absolutely crazy, was amazing. I will never forget getting out of the sled and putting my arms around my three teammates, saying: ‘We did it boys! We won it all!’”

 

http://www.thearmywcap.com/sochi?from=hp_hottopic#!__sochi/olsen

 

Sgt. William H. Carney First African American Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

In 1863, Sgt. William Carney entered the military and became a member of the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry. In July of that same year, Carney found himself in the fierce Battle of Fort Wagner. After being wounded, Sgt. Carney saw that the color bearer had been shot down a few feet away. Carney summoned all his strength to retrieve the fallen colors and continued the charge. During the charge Carney was shot several more times, yet he kept the colors flying high. Once delivering the flag back to his regiment, he shouted "The Old Flag never touched the ground!" For this act Sgt. Carney became the first African American Soldier to receive the Medal of Honor.

 

http://www.army.mil/africanamericans/profiles/carney.html

 

 

Army Under Secretary welcomes home division leadership, recognizes Fort Campbell as 'gem'

Army Under Secretary welcomes home division leadership, recognizes Fort Campbell as 'gem'

Under Secretary of the Army Joseph W. Westphal visited Fort Campbell Friday, to welcome back the command group of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), as they returned from Afghanistan, where the division headquarters has spent the last year commanding Regional Command-East. Prior to the command group's arrival, Westphal met with senior commander Brig. Gen. Mark R. Stammer and division leadership during a roundtable discussion, held at division's headquarters. Topics covered included resiliency programs, impacts of financial constraints on training and command concerns.  As he addressed the roundtable panel, Westphal relayed Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh's message to leaders, that even while the Army is currently challenged with issues such as ethics, sexual assault and suicide and the pressures that go along with each, leaders should not lose sight of the tremendous force that is fighting for this Nation on a daily basis. "Our entire Army family is doing a great job for America," said Westphal. "They are strong and they are resilient."

Read the rest of the story on the link below.
Retrieved on 13 Feb 2014

Written by Yvette Smith, Fort Campbell Public Affairs

First African American West Point cadet brigade commander

General Vincent K. Brooks is the commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC). The command postures and prepares the force for unified land operations, responds to threats, sustains and protects the force, and builds military relationships that develop partner defense capacity in order to contribute to a stable and secure U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility.

Brooks graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1980. Brooks became the first African American cadet in the school's history to be named cadet brigade commander (the top-ranking cadet). In this position, which is somewhat like the president of a college class, he led more than 4,000 cadets during his senior year. Brooks then graduated first of his class.

During his 31 years as a commissioned officer, he served in command and staff positions in the United States; in Germany during the Cold War; in Korea; in Kosovo; and in the Middle East. His tours of duty with fighting units include the 82d Airborne Division as a lieutenant; the 1st Infantry Division (Forward) as a captain; the 1st Cavalry Division as a major and again as a brigadier general; the 2d Infantry Division as a lieutenant colonel; the Third Army Central (with duty in Headquarters, Coalition Joint Task Force - Kuwait) and the 3d Infantry Division (with duty in North Atlantic Treaty Organization-Kosovo Forces) as a colonel; Headquarters, United States Central Command; Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (with duty as Headquarters, Multi-National Division-Baghdad) and Headquarters, III Corps and Fort Hood as a brigadier general; and the 1st Infantry Division (with duty as Headquarters U.S. Division - South) as a major general.

General Brooks served at the national-level in the Pentagon. Within Headquarters, Department of the Army, he fulfilled staff duties as aide-de-camp to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, and later as the Army's Chief of Public Affairs. Within The Joint Staff, he fulfilled duties as Deputy Director (J5) for Political-Military Affairs for the Western Hemisphere, and later as the Deputy Director (J5) for the War on Terrorism. Brooks previously commanded Third Army/US Army Central (ARCENT), the Army service component of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

General Brooks holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy; a Master of Military Art and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies at the United States Army Command and General Staff College; and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the New England School of Law in Boston. He also served as a National Security Fellow at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government.

General Brooks is married. Both the general and his wife are from career military families.

 

http://www.army.mil/africanamericans/profiles/brooks.html

Complete Living Concepts CEO Serving in the Army Reserves

Sergeant Travis McCorkendale grew up in Independence, MO and graduated from William Chrisman High School. He enlisted into the Army Reserves in 1997 to be an Army Firefighter (12M).  He trained as a combat lifesaver, trauma and life support, Driver and Pump Operator, high angle rescue, and fire science. He spent six years in the 467^th Eng. Det (FF) Army Reserve unit in Gardner City, KS.  The unit deployed to Kosovo in October 1999 to 2000 May. SGT McCorkendale worked as a firefighter while assigned to the 467^th.  Their mission was to protect army aircraft and structures. Along with protecting army assists the 467^th also provided fire protection for the local Kosovo community in their area of operation. When he returned from Kosovo he worked in construction and attended Longview Community College for business and fire science on the Army’s tuition assistance program.

 

In March 2003 he deployed to Iraq with the 467^th Eng. Det (FF) as a firefighter Sgt. The mission was to establish, coordinate, and develop emergency response systems with all emergency service for the U.S. Army on LSA Anaconda near Balad Iraq.  Along with protect military aircraft and assets, they were tasks to help local government official est. and develop emergency response systems for their towns. “We established fire and emergency response capabilities. “   When he returned from Iraq he started his own construction company Complete Living Concepts in Peculiar, MO.  He started his business by registering with the Veterans Administrations Small Business program.

Sergeant McCorkendale re-enlisted in the Army Reserves in 2012 to take advantage of the family benefits, Tri-Care, and the G.I. Bill.  He chose to transfer his G.I. Bill to his daughter.  For this re-enlistment he changed his job to a combat engineer (12B) assigned to the 348^th Engineer Company in Belton, MO.  Since being assigned to the high-speed 348^th he has HELOCAST (jump) out of helicopters, earned Army combative certification, placed 2^nd in the Best Warrior competition-this means accomplishing 32 warrior tasks and marched 22 miles. He has attended the Warrior Leaders Course, enrolled in the U.S. Army Advanced Leaders Course, starting U.S Army Explosives Ordinance Clearing course, and training for the toughest of engineer schools…the coveted U.S. Army Sapper Leadership Course to attend in March 2014.

He said the Reserves gave him the flexibility to serve the Nation, go to school, and hold a civilian career. He continued, “To grow professionally with leader support”.  He said Army training can advance civilian careers such as firefighters, EMT, police, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, construction, and heavy equipment operators. 

Sergeant McCorkendale is married with a little girl and has another on the way. He plans to stay in the Army Reserves and retire.

By Fred Hermstein

Army Public Affairs

 

First African American Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army

General Lloyd J. Austin III, hails from Thomasville, Georgia. He was commissioned an Infantry second lieutenant in 1975 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
General Austin has served in a wide variety of command and staff positions throughout his 36-year career. His early assignments included duty with: the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army; 2d Battalion, 508th Infantry, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion, Indianapolis, Indiana; United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry and 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, New York.
General Austin then returned to Fort Bragg in 1993 and served as Commander, 2d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division; G-3 82d Airborne Division; and later as the Commander, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division 1997 to 1999. Following duty at Fort Bragg, he was assigned to the Pentagon where he served as Chief, Joint Operations Division, J-3 on the Joint Staff.
More recently, General Austin served as the Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, from July 2001 until June 2003; and Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, New York from September 2003 until August 2005 with duty as Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-180, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan. He then served as the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command from September 2005 until November 2006 followed by assignment as the Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps in December 2006 where he commanded, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, from February 2008 until April 2009. He was then assigned to the Pentagon as the Director, Joint Staff from August 2009 to August 2010. General Austin commanded United States Forces – Iraq from September 2010 through the completion of OPERATION NEW DAWN in December 2011.
His military education includes the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia; United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Military Academy, a Master's Degree in Education from Auburn University, and a Master's Degree in Business Management from Webster University.
General Austin's awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with Three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with Four Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with Six Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

Visit Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III's full profileGo back to profiles