Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood | U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Tracy A Thompson, the outgoing commander, presents Maj....... read more read more
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VICKSBURG, Miss., -- The 412th Theater Engineer Command (TEC) said farewell to its 15th commanding general in a relinquishment of command ceremony at the Command headquarters outside of the George A.. Morris Reserve Center here March 4, 2017.
Maj. Gen. Tracy A. Thompson and his wife, Sheri, leave the Command after leading it since July 2014.
The 412th has three Brigades and more than 100 other assigned units with approximately 12,000 Soldiers throughout the southeast and northeast United States.
The TEC’s primary mission is to provide theater–level engineer support to the Combatant Commander in the event of a contingency operation.
Maj. Gen. David J. Conboy, deputy commanding general (Operations), United States Army Reserve Command (USARC), officiated the ceremony.
Conboy pointed out to the audience who included the Vicksburg Mayor and former TEC command teams, that the TEC does a “phenomenal job around the world.”
“Today as we have this ceremony, we’ve got Soldiers from the 412th that are deployed and serving with distinction in harm’s way in Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq and doing an absolutely phenomenal job,” said Conboy.
He noted that the TEC also has chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense units, firefighting units and urban search and rescue construction elements able to respond to homeland defense missions in a timely manner.
“Every day through his leadership, Tracy has made this unit better,” said Conboy who commanded Thompson while Conboy was the 416th Theater Engineer Command commander. “Particularly impressive has been the
outstanding work he has done with our combatant commands and our Army Service Component Commands.”
Conboy continued to note that Thompson has also helped build Army Reserve Readiness daily which is the primary focus of the Chief of the Army Reserve and USARC.
“Also building relationships and continuing relationships between the 412th and the 416th with ERDC (U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center) and other engineer units around the world,” said Conboy.
Conboy also said Thompson did a “superb” job in ensuring the TEC Soldiers maintained their individual medical and administrative readiness.
Conboy finished his speech by thanking Shari for her hard work in supporting the TEC Soldiers and Families.
Thompson stepped to the podium and commented on how the aforementioned former command teams could probably sympathize with what he was feeling on this day.
“I am just trying to soak it in, make it last a little longer, said Thompson as he glanced over at the audience sitting underneath two canopies while holding his clenched fists near his chest.
He noted that despite Conboy’s overly generous comments,” it’s one of those things that’s a journey and you are never quite done with it,” said Thompson. “So you are not done.
“It is clearly the honor of my career to command the 412th and that includes my professional career as a lawyer,” continued Thompson. “This is by far the pinnacle.”
He thanked his wife for her support always and taking over the responsibility of raising his two teenage children in his absence.
“Honey there is no way I could have come to this point here today and be where I am today without your love and support and I really appreciate that, so thank you very much,” said Thompson.
Thompson also thanked his brigade and battalion senior command teams who were present for making his job “not only extremely enjoyable but much easier than it could have been.”
Thompson also pointed out how he appreciated that the full time support staff at the TEC headquarters always completed every task he asked of it despite some tasks being difficult.
“You do one of the best jobs in the entire USARC of sending the right folks to those missions at the right strength where it builds real readiness.
Thompson closed with, “Essayons and as the boss says Keep Pounding.”
Brig. Gen. Daniel Christian, deputy commanding general (Operations) will be the TEC interim commander.
Conboy acknowledged that he and Christian have served together in several units.
“He is just a phenomenal leader,” said Conboy. “He gets it. He will do a superb job with this command.”
Thompson echoed Conboy’s thoughts.
I couldn’t have any higher confidence in a Soldier and leader than I do in Dan,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.12.2017 17:28 |
| Story ID: | 226589 |
| Location: | VICKSBURG, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 633 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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