Change of Command

It's official. The Army has entrusted me with 244 Soldiers and Millions of Dollars of equipment. My signature now represents a decision and carries some weight. My first two days as a Commander were relatively uneventful. I'm still the same Mark and the company continues their day to day missions without a pause. In a word I am humbled to be a Commander. My Soldiers expect me to not only know their names but also their situations, to understand their jobs, and make decisions on their behalf. So enough of the highfalutin rambling. Here is a sort of picture narrative of the most important day in my Army career thus far:

First, the national Anthem is sung by one
of mybest Sergeants as the Narrator
(a senior WarrantOfficer)
salutes in the background.









Next, the chaplain prays for the change of command.








The First Sergeant puts the formation at 'parade rest', flanked by the guidon bearer.

The Battalion Commander passes me the guidon, an Army tradition dating back to Friedrich von Steuben, and says "Mark, you have the controls now" to which I respond with an Army "Hooah". Profound, I know.

The Battalion Commander, Outgoing Commander, and myself move forward to make our speeches.

After my 15-second speech (the new Commander is expected to be short-winded) I Command from the front of the formation for the first time to lead the company in our unit song and the Army song. After this I salute my boss to conclude the Ceremony, followed by refreshments and congratulations.

After the ceremony, my 'Command Team' poses for a quick photo. These are the Soldiers I will work with the most on a daily basis as they work right outside my office in the administration.