Photo By Lt. Col. Michelle Lunato | Army Lt. Col. Mark J. Maier, a resident of Beallsville, Md., speaks to his new...... read more read more
By Spc. Bryan Randolph
300th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BALTIMORE — Lt. Col. Mark J. Maier assumed command of the 392nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion in a change of command ceremony at Sheridan U.S. Army Reserve Center, April 14.
Lt. Col. Dion Moten, the outgoing commander, passed the unit colors to Brig. Gen. Christopher R. Kemp, the commander of the 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, who presided over the ceremony.
Moten thanked his battalion for working hard each day to make the 392nd better, and told the troops they should be proud of their accomplishments. “From the first day I walked through the door, I tried to make the battalion just a little better than it was the day before, and admittedly, that work has not been done by me. It has been done by those [soldiers] who you see standing before you today.”
The 392nd was the first U.S. Army Reserve expeditionary signal battalion to deploy during the War on Terrorism, and it was the first time the battalion deployed since World War II. In support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the battalion deployed nearly 500 soldiers to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.
“I wouldn’t trade these soldiers for anything, and I’d go to battle with you again without hesitation,” said Moten.
Maier took the podium thanking Moten for all his efforts with the battalion thus far. “Lt. Col. Moten, you took the battalion to war under stressful times. You stepped it up, completed the mission, brought them back with praise and honor, and now delivered them to me ready, to take them to the next challenge-job well done.”
Maier told the ceremony guests he was looking forward to commanding the 392nd, stressed the importance of their communications role in the military, and referred to the equipment set up outside of the Reserve Center for a training exercise. “You can see outside what it takes to conduct war. Without all of that communications gear, it’s just a camping trip,” he said.
To the soldiers who deployed under Moten, Maier told them to never stop striving for the best. “This is more than just a job. This is a profession. You learn it. You grow it. You move it into other areas and take it into civilian life.” He continued to explain that as signal soldiers they were “dual use weapons” when they combine both their signal skills with their normal soldier skills. “You are a precious commodity.”
The next steps of the 392nd will not be easy, said Maier. “Folks are looking for the next challenge, and we’ve got one.” We are going to spend some time to rebuilding the battalion and ensuring is ready to meet the needs of the Army, said Maier.
Being a Reservist is complicated; balancing home, work and soldier duties takes great effort and deserves admiration, said Maier. “You are special American patriots. Serve to honor.”
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2012 14:51 |
| Story ID: | 86821 |
| Location: | BALTIMORE, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 631 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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