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OKLAHOMA CITY – Guardsmen and their families gathered Saturday at the 45th Infantry Division Museum in Oklahoma City for a change of command ceremony with the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s (OKARNG) 90th Troop Command Aviation Battalion between outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Michael Koval, and incoming commander, Lt. Col. Robert Walker.
“The 45th represents the best of the best,” Koval said. “No other state in the union deploys more Soldiers per capita than Oklahoma, and no other battalion deploys more units than this aviation battalion.”
Koval addressed the formation of Soldiers as commander for the last time, where he spoke of the bravery and dedication of the battalion.
“You are the ones who are the true heroes here today,” Koval said. “You are the ones who answer the call time and time again.”
In his closing remarks, Koval praised his fellow Soldiers for making his time as battalion commander so memorable.
“This is the last time I’ll be able to say this, I am one extremely proud battalion commander,” Koval said. “To the Soldiers, the staff and my commanders, you have provided me with 18 of the greatest months of my 28 years of service.”
The floor was then turned over to Walker to address his Soldiers for the first time as battalion commander.
“It’s all of us working together that makes a difference,” Walker said. “I’m here to serve, the same as you. We all have one reason we wear this uniform, and that is to serve.”
In his closing remarks, Walker spoke of the role of his Soldiers and the 45th itself.
“We are here for the citizens of Oklahoma, which is the reason I love the National Guard,” Walker said. “And we are here for the United States of America.”
The change of command not only brings in a new commander, but also a new mission. As of Oct. 1 of this year, 90th Troop Command’s Aviation Battalion, now known as 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment (Fixed Wing), oversees all Fixed Wing detachments and companies in each state throughout the Army National Guard.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.17.2016 08:47 |
| Story ID: | 213105 |
| Location: | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Oklahoma Army National Guard aviation unit changes command, by SSG Bradley Cooney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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