Florida’s 50th Regional Support Group changes commanders

Photo By Sgt. Spencer Rhodes | Incoming commander of the 50th Regional Support Group Col. Richard Elam receives the official brigade guidon from the Adjutant General of Florida, Maj. General Michael Calhoun during Saturday’s Change of Command ceremony for the 50th RSG at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center. Elam takes over command of the 50th from Col. Peter Kaye.  

STARKE, FL, UNITED STATES

05.14.2016

Story by Sgt. Spencer Rhodes 

107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

STARKE, FL (May 14, 2016) -- The Florida Army National Guard’s 50th Regional Support Group bid farewell to brigade commander, Col. Peter Kaye yesterday during the 50th RSG’s change of command ceremony held at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center. Kaye has held command of the 50th RSG for just over two years and will be relinquishing his duties to Col. Richard Elam.
The Florida Army National Guard has at its disposal a vast assortment of capabilities from Soldiers and the various types of commands that are spread throughout the state, an eclectic array of expertise that ranges from infantry and artillery to finance and quartermasters. Few commands represent such a diverse versatility like the 50th Regional Support Group, which has developed a reputation of top tier readiness and performance, and will continue to do so as they bid farewell to Kaye and continue to build on their legacy under the guidance of Col. Elam.
In two years there have been a wealth of missions and activities that the RSG has been a part of while under Kaye’s command, something Kaye says he’s incredibly proud of.
“...What I’m most proud about is the fact that the 50th RSG and the 930th Digital Liaison Detachment. We’re being asked by name to go support U.S. Forces Korea every year for their exercises. We’re being asked by name to participate in Operation Golden Coyote out in South Dakota and Wyoming,” said Kaye. “So we’ve established a reputation among the National Guard and among the active Army that we are an organization that is professional, an organization that is trained, an organization that is to be counted on to get the job done.”
A change in leadership may be occurring but the amount of missions and work to be done by the 50th is in no way slowing down or showing any signs of change in the near future. Col. Elam is taking command shortly before elements within the RSG prepare to go to South Korea over the summer for a live mission.
Maj. Nathan McMillan, the brigade S1 officer who is in charge of human resources for the brigade, has been with the 50th RSG for eight years. McMillan says the efficiency and professionalism of their Soldiers has helped build relationships and healthy rapport with units on the active duty side, including those stationed in South Korea, where the 50th RSG has become an integral part of two of the largest military exercises in that region. As a result they are now requested specifically to continue supporting and developing those relationships. McMillan says an additional benefit of that particular mission, which is only one of many they support, is that in many ways it mirrors the active duty missions they perform here in Florida as well, and that having such a wide range of capabilities helps enable them to accomplish different missions.
“We are the state’s logistical professionals, it’s a very diverse MSC [major subordinate command],” said McMillan. “When it comes to logistics that is probably the anchor for the RSG, having those assets, and a lot of those work well together.”
In his final remarks, Kaye had some positive words for his successor: “Col. Elam, you’re my favorite logistician and I can’t think of a better Soldier to pass the colors to; you now command a brigade that only knows one direction of travel and that is forward.”

• Date Taken: 05.14.2016
• Date Posted: 05.17.2016 12:44
• Story ID: 198368
• Location: STARKE, FL, US
• Hometown: FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, US
• Hometown: HOMESTEAD, FL, US
• Hometown: IMMOKALEE, FL, US
• Hometown: JACKSONVILLE, FL, US
• Hometown: MARIANNA, FL, US
• Hometown: MIAMI, FL, US
• Hometown: PENSACOLA, FL, US
• Hometown: ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, US
• Hometown: STARKE, FL, US