Big changes at the Cal Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Photo By Maj. Jason Sweeney | 79th Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) incoming Operations Officer (S3) Maj. Atip Viskul, left, is seen here with outgoing S3 Maj. Edwin Rodriguez on June 20 at Camp Roberts, California, during Annual Training 2019. Viskul was formerly the executive officer for the 1-18th Cavalry Regiment and recently returned from a deployment to Jordan. Rodriguez is now at 40th Infantry Division headquarters. He recently returned from a deployment to Kosovo. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Jason Sweeney, 79th Infantry Brigage Combat Team)  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

08.18.2019

Story by Staff Sgt. Katie Grandori 

79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) is currently experiencing a leadership shuffle as key roles change hands.

The brigade’s headquarters has been in reset mode since returning from a deployment to Kosovo late last year. The return placed the 79th IBCT in year one of the Army’s five-year Sustainable Readiness Model cycle. Those leaders assuming responsibility for the brigade will set the tone for the next five years of the cycle.

“First and foremost, I am grateful to take on the challenge of the brigade S3,” said Maj. Atip Viskul, incoming 79th IBCT operations officer (S3). “Planning over the course of the next three years is going to set the tempo and foundation for the brigade to be able to deploy in 2023.”

Viskul went on to explain the importance of leaders seeing the bigger picture even if they are not personally going to be in the same role at the end of the cycle for the deployment. “In a leadership position, it is the right thing to do to set the organization up for success so that it is meeting the larger Army intent or the larger organization intent.”

Mirroring Viskul’s statements, Lt. Col. Dennis Keener, outgoing 79th IBCT executive officer, stressed the importance of backwards planning for the 2023 deployment. He specifically encouraged those sergeant to sergeant first class ranks to take ownership and prepare their subordinates through training.

“The success of even the best plans hinge off of that Soldier on the ground. I’m not the subject-matter expert for everything that we are going to need for this deployment,” said Keener.

Keener is moving on in his career to take a position at a higher echelon as the 40th Infantry Division’s G3 operations officer. He has left the executive officer position in the hands of Lt. Col. Jeramy Hopkins. His advice to Hopkins was to work carefully with the new Administrative Officer, Maj. Anthony Bangloy, and keep an open line of communication.

Viskul has also passed to his subordinates the importance of sharing information. Viskul said, “No position in the military allows you to work within a vacuum and create things on your own that are going to be fully executable without the collaboration of others.”

He explained further that just because something might make sense doctrinally, it did not mean that it was realistically possible pending logistics, personnel, and other warfighter functions.

Changing personnel is a constant reality within the military. As Soldiers move on to different positions or even leave the California National Guard, the organization attempts to reward them for a job well done.

Maj. James Mendoza served as the 79th IBCT personnel officer. The brigade celebrated his 35 years of service to the military on Aug. 11. Col. Richard Mifsud, 79th IBCT commander, rewarded Mendoza with an Army Commendation Medal. The brigade also gifted him with a shadowbox displaying items representing his many years of service.

Mendoza said that he is looking forward to traveling and visiting family that he has not seen in a long time. While retiring is an exciting new chapter for him, he also said, “I am probably going to miss the camaraderie of the people. Just thinking, I’m not going to put this uniform on and be in this capacity again.”

The 79th IBCT is also losing Sgt. Maj. Thomas Dalton, who will be taking a position as sergeant major for the 40th Infantry Division’s G-3 Operations Section. Additionally, Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew McKindley has moved on to the 224th Sustainment Brigade. He handed over responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney Plamondon in August.

Keener summarized the sentiments for departing leaders by saying, “When you start to realize that you are leaving, you appreciate it a little bit more. When you are in the day-to-day grind, you tend to passively overlook that sometimes.”

• Date Taken: 08.18.2019
• Date Posted: 08.20.2019 17:09
• Story ID: 336345
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US
• Hometown: SAN DIEGO, CA, US