Transfer of Authority Ceremony held at JMTG-U

Photo By Staff Sgt. Justin Navin | Lt. Col. Michael Starz, Commander (left), and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Manley, Command Sergeant Major (right), uncased their unit colors during a ceremony here, May 2.  

YAVORIV, UKRAINE

05.02.2019

Story by Sgt. Justin Navin and 1st Lt. William Trout

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Transfer of Authority Ceremony held at JMTG-U

YAVORIV, Ukraine – Soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101 st Airborne Division (Air Assault) took authority of the Joint Multinational Training Group – Ukraine here, May 2.

The 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee National Guard, “Task Force Saber”, transferred authority of the JMTG-U to “Task Force Carentan”.

Task Force Saber deployed to the Yavoriv Combat Training Center in July 2018 with over 200 troops in support of CTC cadre development.

Col. Timothy Cleveland, outgoing JMTG-U commander, commented on the progress of the CTC, and encouraged the incoming Task Force in its future endeavors.

“Our CTC branch Soldiers transitioned to company level and above,” said Cleveland. “To Task Force Carentan, you too will have challenges, but if you look around this field, you will see that you are not
alone.”

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team has deployed about 150 Soldiers as part of Task Force Carentan. The Task Force is named for the battle of Carentan, France, during which the town was liberated following the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.

Lt. Col. Robert Tracy, commander of 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment and incoming JMTG-U commander, expressed his gratitude to the 278th ACR, and spoke to their great achievements.

“Task Force Saber has set a new standard of excellence at the JMTG-U,” said Tracy. “We look forward to the opportunity to build on their success by integrating our efforts with all of our partners here to strengthen the capabilities of the Yavoriv Combat Training Center.”

Along with the U.S. and Ukraine, partnered and allied nations of Canada, Denmark, Lithuania, Sweden and the United Kingdom were represented at the ceremony. Distinguished guests in attendance included Lt. Gen. Pavlo Tkuchuk, commander of the Ukrainian Land Forces Academy.

As the 278th ACR cases its colors and prepares to return home, the Soldiers of Task Force Carentan are eager to continue to build the strong relationships forged at the JMTG-U.

• Date Taken: 05.02.2019
• Date Posted: 05.02.2019 07:36
• Story ID: 320387
• Location: YAVORIV, UA