NCNG: Command chief warrant officer change of responsibility

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Leticia Samuels | Chief Warrant Officer 5 James Herring, incoming command chief warrant officer, Army National Guard, speaks to the crowd during the command chief warrant officer change of responsibility ceremony at the North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., on July 10, 2015. The command chief warrant officers’ mission is to serve as a key member of the N.C. National Guard Command Team and assist in implementing programs and policies as they relate to the Warrant Officer Corps. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels, Public Affairs/Released)  

RALEIGH, NC, UNITED STATES

07.10.2015

Story by Sgt. Leticia Samuels 

North Carolina National Guard

RALEIGH, N.C. – Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rick Comer, outgoing command chief warrant officer of the North Carolina National Guard, turned over the reins of command to Chief Warrant Officer 5 James Herring, during the change of responsibility ceremony at the North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters here July 10, 2015.

The command chief warrant officers’ mission is to serve as a key member of the N.C. National Guard Command Team and assist in implementing programs and policies as they relate to the warrant officer corps.

“Several different assignments throughout my career and the time I spent as a detachment commander gave me the opportunity to train and lead soldiers,” said Comer. “It helped me to create the ability to identify people to become potential warrant officers to be able to serve in the warrant officer corps later in their career.”

Herring will continue the programs that Comer initiated and provide counsel to leaders at all levels in the North Carolina National Guard.

“Thirty-six years ago I was standing in basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, as a private and now here I am the command warrant officer of the North Carolina National Guard,” said Herring.

While serving as an adviser to the director of the National Guard, Herring will take the lead on multiple endeavors to include issues pertaining to policies, programs and actions impacting the warrant officer corps such as professional development, promotions, assignments, incentives, morale, discipline, performance, strength and recruiting programs.

“My predecessor has done a great job in building the strength of the NCNG warrant officer cohort. We are number one in the National Guard right now in terms of assignments to authorizations,” said Herring. “I plan to maintain that at a minimum and hope to increase our strength even more.”

A sword was used in the change of responsibility ceremony. The tradition of the sword began with the noncommissioned officer corps that started in 1840 with the selection of it not only intended for its functional use, but also symbolizing hard work and dedication. In the case of officers, the war department adopted the officer sword as a rapid way for soldiers on the battlefield to identify those officers assigned over them.

The tradition of the ceremony itself serves a dual function of rendering honors to the departing command chief warrant officer while providing official recognition of the transfer of responsibility as the senior warrant officer to the incoming command chief warrant officer. The symbolism and history of the ceremony exemplifies the heart of the organization and stands as a reminder of past glories and traditions, as an inspiration for the present, and a guide for the future.

“I think we have built up the strength of the warrant officer program in North Carolina,” said Comer. “I think that Chief Herring will be able to, now that we have a large corps, help develop a mentorship and training program and develop our junior warrant officers to build the future of the current warrant officer program.”

• Date Taken: 07.10.2015
• Date Posted: 07.15.2015 16:22
• Story ID: 170127
• Location: RALEIGH, NC, US