Oklahoma Army National Guard's 160th Field Artillery Battalion hosts change of command

Photo By Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones | Lt. Col. Scott Holt of Mannford, Oklahoma, address the Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during his farewell speech. Holt relinquished command of the battalion to Lt. Col. Paul Harris of Edmond, Oklahoma, during a ceremony in Chandler, Oklahoma on Aug. 6th. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Jones)  

CHANDLER, OK, UNITED STATES

08.06.2016

Story by Sgt. Anthony Jones 

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

CHANDLER, Okla. - Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), held the time-honored tradition of a change of command ceremony in Chandler, Oklahoma, to welcome incoming commander, Lt. Col. Paul Harris of Edmond, Oklahoma and honor outgoing commander Lt. Col. Scott Holt of Mannford, Oklahoma on Aug. 6th.

During the ceremony, the Battalion’s colors, the flag symbolizing the unit, were passed from one commander to the other, symbolizing the change of command.

After taking command of the Battalion, Harris challenged the Soldiers to ask themselves at the end of each day what they have done to make themselves better.

“Ask, ‘What have I done today to make my family safer; what have I done today to make my unit better.’” Harris said.

Harris joined Active Duty Army in 1987 and served six years before joining the Oklahoma Army National Guard (OKARNG) in 1993. He reached the rank of sergeant before commissioning through the state's Officer Candidate School in 1995. Harris mostly served with the 45th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB). However, he has a versatile career serving with the 90th Troop Command, Joint Force Headquarters and now the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in multiple positions.

He deployed twice with the 45th FAB, once as part of Operation Noble Eagle and once for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Currently, Harris works full-time at Joint Force Headquarters in Oklahoma City as the Training Division Branch Chief.

"He is one of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s most well-rounded field artillery officers," said Col. David Jordan, commander of the 45th IBCT, as he passed the colors to Harris.

Jordan also took time to honor Holt, “The Thunderbird and the legacy of this Battalion are in Scott’s DNA. Scott was the perfect officer to lead this Battalion at the time he did.”

Holt joined the military in 1985 as an aircraft power plant repairman with the Army Reserves in Norman, Oklahoma. He earned his commission as a field artillery officer in 1990 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Northeastern Oklahoma State University. After earning his commission, he was assigned to the 160th Field Artillery where he has served in many positions.

Holt was assigned as the 45th IBCT fire support coordinator in 2009 and served in that position until being assigned as the 160th’s commander in 2012.

Holt, a United States History teacher and football and wrestling coach at Mannford High School, has deployed four times in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Holt’s new position will be as the deputy commanding officer of the 45th FAB. During the ceremony, he told the Soldiers of the 160th it has been the highlight of his military career to be their commander.

“Thank you to the men and women of the Battalion who have sacrificed so much and asked for so little in return,” Holt said. “You are what America stands for.”

• Date Taken: 08.06.2016
• Date Posted: 08.24.2016 08:45
• Story ID: 206329
• Location: CHANDLER, OK, US
• Hometown: EDMOND, OK, US
• Hometown: MANNFORD, OK, US