Tullahoma unit receives New 1SG

Courtesy Photo | Outgoing first sergeant, 1st. Sgt. Greg Sawyer (second from left), hands the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 30th Troop Command, Tennessee Army National Guard, guidon to Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Turner during a formal change of responsibility for the unit, held Feb. 8, 2015. Sawyer relinquished his position as the unit's first sergeant to incoming 1st Sgt. Kenneth Latham (right) while Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Cannon (left) the unit's guidon bearer, oversees the traditional exchange. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Sarah Holt, released.)  

TULLAHOMA, TN, UNITED STATES

02.08.2015

Courtesy Story

Tennessee National Guard Public Affairs Office

By Sgt. Sarah Holt, HHD
30th Troop Command Unit

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - The Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the Tennessee National Guard's 30th Troop Command, based in Tullahoma, Tenn., welcomed 1st Sgt. Kenneth Latham as the new unit first sergeant during a formal change of responsibility ceremony conducted Feb. 8, 2015.

"I am honored and humbled by the opportunity," said Latham, who also serves as supervisor of the Tennessee National Guard Emergency Operations Center in Nashville, Tenn. Before joining the Guard, he served in the active duty Army and has a total of 24 years of service.

Latham became the senior non-commissioned officer through the tradition of passing the unit guidon, which he received from outgoing 1st Sgt. Greg Sawyer, who had been the unit's first sergeant since August 2013. Sawyer now serves as the non-commissioned officer in charge of the active Guard and Reserve section at the Tennessee National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville, Tenn.

The change of responsibility is a simple traditional event that is rich with symbolism and heritage. Key to the ceremony is the changing of position of responsibility between the outgoing and incoming first sergeants. The unit first sergeant is the custodian of the unit guidon and as such, he is the senior enlisted advisor in the unit and the principal advisor to the commander on all facets of the unit’s operations.

Of the earliest of times, leaders used a banner or other symbols to identify themselves and used them as a rallying point for their warriors. For the modern day Soldier, the unit's guidon records the unit’s history, its glories, its battle, and its campaigns.

Story by: Sgt. Sarah Holt, HHD, 30th Troop Command Unit Public Affairs Representative

• Date Taken: 02.08.2015
• Date Posted: 02.12.2015 12:10
• Story ID: 154297
• Location: TULLAHOMA, TN, US