218th MEB Brigade Changes Leadership

Photo By Staff Sgt. Brian Calhoun | U.S. Army Col. Robin B. Stilwell, assumes command of the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Carolina National Guard, in front of family and friends in a change of command ceremony at the Washington Light Infantry building in Charleston, South Carolina on August 18, 2018. The change of command ceremony is a symbolic passing of responsibility and accountability from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander and is a part of military tradition. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brian Calhoun, 108th Public Affairs Det.)  

CHARLESTON, SC, UNITED STATES

08.11.2018

Story by Sgt. Brian Calhoun 

108th Public Affairs Detachment

CHARLESTON, S.C.— U.S. Army Col. Robert Carruthers turned over command of the South Carolina National Guard’s 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade to U.S. Army Col. Robin Stilwell during a change of command ceremony at the home of the Washington Light Infantry, Charleston, South Carolina, August 18, 2018.

Carruthers served as the commander of the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) from May 2017 - July 2018. During that time, the Brigade and its subordinate units responded to Hurricane Irma, participated in two multi-state joint inter-agency exercises, and successfully completed rotations to the Joint Readiness Training Center and National Training Center.

Carruthers also commanded over 500 Soldiers from four different states and all three Army components as Commander, Task Force Operations (TF OPS) for the Command and Control Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Response Enterprise- Bravo (C2CRE-B). As a result of his leadership and guidance, Task Force 46 and subordinate units received a second certification for the C2CRE-B mission at Camp Atterbury, Indiana in April 2018.

Stilwell graduated from The Citadel in 1989. He was commissioned as an Infantry officer in the United States Army and has served continuously since with the South Carolina Army National Guard. He served as an Infantry officer in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 2007-2008 and was formerly the commander of 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment.

The formal history of the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade began on July 22, 1807 at Robinson’s Hotel in Charleston. This formation, the Washington Light Infantry, is the oldest continuous unit in the lineage of the brigade. In 1846, the unit was organized with sister elements to form the Palmetto Regiment for the Mexican War.

Additionally, the brigade has continuously served with distinction and honor through the Spanish-American War, the first and second World Wars, through the September 11, 2001, attacks into Afghanistan Iraq, the Horn of Africa, Bosnia and Kosovo. As its motto states, “Steadfast of Purpose,” the brigade remains steady in its purpose to protect the state and nation abroad and at home, anywhere, anytime.

• Date Taken: 08.11.2018
• Date Posted: 08.21.2018 11:31
• Story ID: 289636
• Location: CHARLESTON, SC, US