Photo By 1st Lt. Marisa Lindsay | Col. Jeffrey Roach, 38th Troop Command commander, passes command authority in the form...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Col. Jeffrey Roach, 38th Troop Command commander, Alaska Army National Guard, hosted a change of responsibility ceremony at the National Guard armory, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where Command Sgt. Maj. Marc Petersen, who is now the state command sergeant major, ceremoniously relinquished responsibility of 38th Troop Command to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Grunst, Nov. 15.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Petersen put in a tremendous amount of effort to make 38th Troop Command the unit that it is today,” said Roach prior to the start of the ceremony. “I look forward to seeing Command Sgt. Maj. Grunst building upon that hard work and taking our unit into the future.”
Grunst, who moved to Alaska as a young teenager, has been a member of the Alaska Army National Guard since 1989. He joined as an infantry Soldier prior to graduation from high school under the split training option. A self-described “rudderless youth,” Grunst said Guard affiliation kept him in line, gave him something to look forward to every month and gave him a familial connection to others.
Since his initial enlistment, he has also completed Airborne School, Jumpmaster, Air Assault School, Pathfinder Course and countless other specialized training. Prior to being named command sergeant major for 38th Troop Command, Grunst led Soldiers at all levels, culminating as first sergeant with C Company (Long-Range Surveillance), 1st Squadron, 297th Cavalry.
He credits his volunteer attitude and open-minded willingness to try new things for his Guard successes.
“My advice for Soldiers who are looking to move upward in the ranks is to try everything – everything I have done, or failed to do, is a result of me volunteering for additional duties,” Grunst said. “You will not get anywhere sitting on your duff waiting for something to happen.”
Established in 2008, the 38th Troop Command houses approximately nine units. They include the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment and 761st Military Police Battalion, among others. The unit was created to provide colonel-level (O-6) command and control for unaligned subordinate units within the Alaska Army National Guard.
“I’m excited for this new position,” Grunst said. “I’m definitely excited about where 38th Troop Command is going. One of my goals is for Soldiers to leave drill weekend tired, wet, dirty and longing for their next drill weekend.”
Grunst had his family in attendance at the change of responsibility ceremony. His wife of 13 years, Charity, and their children, Caden (5) and Chloe (2).
| Date Taken: | 11.17.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.17.2015 15:24 |
| Story ID: | 182173 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 329 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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