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FORT SHAFTER FLATS, Hawaii -- The 9th Mission Support Command has had a year full of “Aloha,” as a new command team was welcomed, and previous leadership were given a warm farewell. As new leaders took the helm, Soldiers of the 9th MSC continued to provide seamless mission execution and support for the Pacific and for its communities.
The 9th MSC is the only Army Reserve command assigned directly to an Army Service Combatant Command, U.S. Army-Pacific. It is the most ethnically diverse, geographically dispersed command in the U.S. Army Reserve, crossing seven time zones, two U.S. states, two U.S. Territories, one Commonwealth and two foreign countries.
The year began in thoughtful recognition with an emotionally charged ceremony Jan. 23, honoring the surviving members and families of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, with the La Legion d’Honneur – France’s highest decoration- at the Japanese Cultural Center. The Honorable Pauline Carmona, consul general of France in San Francisco handed out the awards and personally thanked the veterans and their families as they accepted. Hawaii Gov. David Ige, Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Lt. Col. Daniel Austin, commander, 100th Bn., 442nd Inf., spoke with enthusiasm and respect at the ceremony.
The operational tempo took an upbeat for the command in April with several major events.
The 302nd Quartermaster Company, Detachment 1, 9th MSC supported the Red Cross’s Northern Mariana Islands Chapter, annual walkathon by showcasing one of their Humvees, for students and participants in the walkathon. The chapter showed its support for the troops by choosing vintage olive green as its official shirt color for the 2015 event, and many walkathon participants stopped at the Army displays to take photos with the Soldiers and tell them “Thank you” for their service.
Also in April, in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, The 9th pledged to “Take a Stand” against sexual assault. By tying teal colored ribbons on the palm trees lining the walkways of the reserve complex, Soldiers declared their active role in raising awareness, restoring dignity and protecting fellow defenders.
For the past eight years in April, 9th MSC volunteers have cleaned up one of the most polluted streams on Oahu during the city’s “Mauka to Makai” annual stream clean up. The U.S. Army Reserve Theater Support Group, 9th MSC was honored by the community with the 2015 City and County Good Neighbor Award, earlier in the year for their constant and unwavering support.
April marked a monumental month as the reserve complex was renamed and dedicated to the (at the time of his death) longest serving U.S. Senator and prior infantry Soldier of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Lt. Daniel K. Inouye. His wife, Irene Inouye, spoke in high regard for her late husband, and noted the significance of the day, for the current Soldiers of Pacific and for the veterans of the 100th and 442nd.
In June, four of the 9th MSC’s Soldiers were selected out of 200 applicants into the Military Reserve Exchange Program, where they worked alongside international counterparts from Denmark and Bulgaria. This is the second year in a row that the 9th was represented by Army Reserve Soldiers in the international program.
The sweltering heat of August brought a new commander with a positive and strong outlook for the 9th MSC. Brig. Gen. Stephen Curda was introduced by Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Commander, U.S. Army-Pacific, August 29, on the U.S. Army Reserve’s Daniel K. Inouye Complex parade field, while saying goodbye to Brig. Gen. John Cardwell. At the conclusion of the day, one commander departed while another stayed, continuing the cycle of leadership of the Pacific Army Reserve.
“The 9th Mission Support Command has such a strong reputation here in the Pacific,” said Curda. “I am really looking forward to working with everyone, both Soldiers and Families,”
The 9th wrapped up an exciting year with welcoming the final part of the command team Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Lindung, and wishing all their best to Command Sgt. Maj. David Yamamoto.
“Never forget where you came from, be the best Soldier you can, help others reach their potential, execute with perfection, and train for excellence.” Lindung said. “Leaders, coach your subordinates; and lead by example, even in the face of adversity; do what’s right – always.”
The dynamic team of 9th MSC Soldiers, Civilians and leaders continued to execute their diverse mission sets throughout the command’s vast area of operations, maintaining a relevant and ready force for the U.S. Army Reserve in the Asian-Pacific region. With vital support from their families, they truly live up to the motto, “Pride of the Pacific.”
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2016 18:48 |
| Story ID: | 201468 |
| Location: | HI, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Pacific Army Reserve – many drums one beat, by SGT Jessica DuVernay, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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