Photo By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Hawkins | Command Sgt. Maj. Lori Schlafer presents Lt. Col. Rex A. Johnson a framed copy of the...... read more read more
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FOREST PARK, Ill. – The 318th Press Camp Headquarters hosted a change of command ceremony March 7 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center.
Lt. Col. Rex A. Johnson, the outgoing commander of the 318th PCH, passed the command to Lt. Col. Daniel P. Allen, the incoming commander.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to work with other public affairs Soldiers and be able to focus on the mission that we had,” said Johnson. “I am happy we were able to go to Korea for Ulchi Freedom Guardian. I think we did a great job the year before at Vibrant Response.”
Johnson has been in command of the 318th PCH since 2013 and has been in charge during the many changes over the past couple of years in the unit. The 318th PCH has transitioned into a press camp headquarters in charge of several down trace units during his command.
Johnson said he has enjoyed seeing the press camp headquarters grow into being a higher level command for subordinate units.
These units attending the ceremony included: 340th Public Affairs Detachment from Millington, Tennessee; 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment from Nashville, Tennessee; 367th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment from Whitehall, Ohio; 350th Public Affairs Detachment from Indianapolis; and 220th Public Affairs Detachment from Southfield, Michigan. Also attending were Forest Park Mayor Anthony Calderone and Brig. Gen. Greg Mosser, deputy commanding general, Regional Support Command Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Johnson will be the command public affairs officer for the 76th Operation Response Command at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City.
“It will give me the chance to work with each of the emergency liaison officers of each state,” said Johnson. “When there’s a disaster, something similar to Hurricane Katrina, or the like, we will be the public affairs element there out front.”
Johnson said it was a pleasure serving with the Soldiers of the 318th PCH.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Lori Schlafer has been an outstanding command sergeant major,” said Johnson. “I certainly would say that she is, without a doubt, one of the most dedicated, professional Soldiers I’ve served with. We would not have been nearly as successful without someone like her. I am very proud to have served with her.”
“I’m also very proud to have served with Maj. Dennis McWherter, the executive officer,” added Johnson. “I think he has been an outstanding leader. He certainly is someone who is capable and ready to command a battalion now. I’m very proud to serve with him.”
“I mean this from the bottom of my heart, this was the highlight of my military career,” said Johnson.
Allen has recently served as both the chief of operations and an instructor at the Defense Information School in Fort Meade, Maryland. He is originally from Chicago. Allen has a lot of public affairs experience. What he enjoys most about public affairs is the art of public affairs, taking a message and figuring out how to craft that message in such a way that it drives the point home.
“There is no better field to be in than public affairs,” said Allen.
Allen has also been the strategic communications adviser of the Hero-2-Hired Program, a program that helps service members find a job, while working as the deputy director for public affairs for the Army Reserve.
“I was very fortunate to be brought in to that program in its infancy,” said Allen. “The Hero-2-Hired Program is not just getting a job, it is helping you understand your resume, mentorship, dressing for success, and any elements that deal with career and employment. That’s what we specialize in.”
Allen said he looks forward to the opportunity to command the 318th PCH and to be back in his hometown.
“I grew up here in Chicago on the south side,” says Allen. “Out of all the choices, all the units and all the places I could have went, this was my first choice. So to be able to return home as a south side Chicagoan with some of the finest and brightest service members that the military has, what more can you ask for?”
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2015 19:40 |
| Story ID: | 156321 |
| Location: | FOREST PARK, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 387 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 318th Press Camp Headquarters welcomes new commander, by SSG Carolyn Hawkins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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