GREENVILLE, S.C. - If you have served in the United States military long enough, you probably have attended or participated in at least one change of command ceremony. This past weekend, an Army Reserve unit held a change of command. But there’s something unique about this brigade.
What is so special about the 415th Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Brigade? It is the only chemical brigade in the entire Army Reserve. 415th members are not just Soldiers. They are “Dragon” Soldiers.
Cobalt blue and golden yellow are the colors that symbolize the Army Chemical Corps. The legendary dragon – a symbol of fire and chemical destruction – whose strength lies in its tail, is the unity of blue and yellow – green - that represents the unit’s mission and alludes to Greenville, S.C., the unit’s place of activation.
After three years of successfully leading the 415th, the time had come for Brig. Gen. (promotable) A.C. Roper, Jr., to relinquish his duties to a new commander.
On June 7, 2014, Roper handed over the reins to Col. George C. Frank, Jr., at the Change of Command ceremony held at the 415th headquarters in Greenville.
Roper’s military career spans 32 years through which he has served in numerous command and staff assignments. His assignments include serving as the Chief of Staff of the 87th Army Reserve Support Command East; G3/G7 (Training and Leader Development) of the Regional Support Group East; Inspector General of the 87th Training Support Division; and Assistant Chief of Staff of the 81st Regional Readiness Command. Roper commanded the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center. In this position, he deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he also served as the Public Affairs Officer for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. While deployed, his headquarters conducted split-based operations in three separate countries in theater in support of the 10th Mountain Division in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, the Civil Joint Military Operations Task Force in Afghanistan, and 3rd Army in Kuwait. Roper calls Birmingham, Ala., home, where he serves as the chief of police.
As incoming commander, Frank brings 29 years of military experience to lead the 4,000-plus Dragon Soldiers. Hailing from Alexandria, Va., Frank previously served as the 415th deputy commander. Additional command assignments include the 455th Chemical Brigade at Ft. Dix, N.J.; 479th Chemical Battalion at Ft. Tilden, N.Y.; 157th Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment at Willow Grove Naval Air Station, Pa.; and 411th Chemical Company at Camp Kilmer, N.J. He has deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. One of his biggest assignments while deployed was developing and authoring the Theater NBC Defense Plan for all U.S. forces in South-West Asia. In the civilian sector, Frank is the Chief of the Global Readiness Division, Defense Intelligence Agency at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2014 17:00 |
| Story ID: | 132825 |
| Location: | GREENVILLE, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 755 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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