Photo By Staff Sgt. Priscilla Desormeaux | Virgin Islands Army National Guard Col. Gil Diaz, state surgeon, was promoted during a...... read more read more
ST. CROIX, Virgin Islands - The Virgin Islands National Guard promoted State Surgeon Lt. Col. Gil Diaz to colonel during a promotion ceremony at the Brigadier General Gerard L. James Sr. Joint Force Headquarters at the Estate Bethlehem Military Compound on St. Croix.
The Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands Brig. Gen. Deborah Howell (VI) hosted the promotion. Family and friends from Puerto Rico and VING personnel, most notably Maj. Gen. (retired) Renaldo Rivera, former adjutant general of the VI, were in attendance.
Diaz’s daughter, Capt. Janeberly Diaz, read her father’s biography and spoke of his various accomplishments, ranging from his deployments to his experience in the medical field. Capt. Diaz also spoke on how her father influenced her decision to also become an officer.
“He influenced me,” said Capt. Diaz. “I wanted to enjoy being enlisted but he told me I must go to college. He took me by the hand through Reserve Officer Training Corps and even helped me to choose my branch.”
Diaz took to the podium after his daughter and addressed the audience, acknowledging various key staff members, during his tenure, who made his leadership all that much easier with their attention to detail and hard work.
Diaz also thanked Howell and Rivera, as well as the VING Director of Joint Staff Col. Linda Cills for trusting in him to lead.
“I hope I will do all that is expected,” said Diaz. “I would like to thank Maj. Gen. Renaldo Rivera and Col. Cills.”
“General Howell, the office of the state surgeon will support your vision, mission and values by providing an integrate medial readiness team dedicated to mission accomplishments and individual soldier readiness. I will not leave a comrade behind.”
The tradition of the first salute and silver dollar continued as Diaz gave silver coins to and received salutes from Staff Sgt. Natifa Leonard and Sgt. Harrington Augustin. Diaz also gave his lieutenant colonel rank to Maj. Jamie Cook as an endorsement of her potential for promotion.
Diaz’s promotion marks the first time the Medical Detachment has had an O-6 officer in three years.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2015 18:55 |
| Story ID: | 181370 |
| Location: | ST. CROIX, VI |
| Web Views: | 293 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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