Photo By Master Sgt. Warren Wright | FORT DRUM, N.Y. – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alvin D. Phillips, right, the commander of the...... read more read more
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FORT DRUM, New York (Sept. 13, 2021) – The New York Army National Guard’s 10th Mountain Division (LI) Main Command Post - Operational Detachment (MCP-OD) officially welcomed its new commander during a change of command ceremony at Fort Drum, New York, Sept. 13, 2021.
During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Alvin D. Phillips assumed command of the MCP-OD from outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Brian Bonanno.
“Congratulations (Lt. Col.) Bonanno,” Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields, the New York Adjutant General and commander of the New York Army National Guard, said during the ceremony. “During your tenure, you’ve improved the overall training of the (unit) and increased its readiness. You have continued to develop the MCP-OD concept as part of the 10th Mountain Division.”
In the traditional change of command ceremony manner, Bonnano passed the detachment guideon to Shields, signifying his return of responsibility of the unit. Shields then passed the guideon to Phillips, demonstrating his confidence in the new commander’s ability and entrusting him with the responsibility and care of the detachment.
Shields welcomed Phillips to the MCP-OD team, stating he’s confident in the new commander’s ability to take the detachment to the next level while emphasizing the importance of ensuring the continued priority of mission readiness and taking care of people.
Phillips comes to the MCP-OD from an assignment in South Africa, where he served as a bilateral affairs officer for the New York Army National Guard and South Africa State Partnership Program.
“It feels full circle to take command,” Phillips said. “To command is really indeed a privilege, not a right, and I’m very proud to do so.”
Bonanno’s next assignment will take him to the U.S. Special Operations Command Central at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he will serve as an effects planner. He served as the MCP-OD commander since 2019, where he oversaw the unit through the implementation of the new Army Combat Fitness Test as well as ensuring continuous mission readiness throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s different going from being the commander making the decisions to being a staff officer again, to make recommendations for the commander,” Bonanno said. “When you’re a commissioned officer, you spend most of your time as a staff officer, not a lot of time as a commander. So, I enjoyed the last two years greatly doing this and I know I’ll enjoy my new role down there being a planner.”
The 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) MCP-OD, based in Syracuse, New York, is the reserve component augmentation detachment of the Regular Army’s 10th Mountain Division, providing personnel expansion and increased mission capabilities to the division headquarters. Augmentation by the MCP-OD provides the headquarters with added professional support in areas such as intelligence, operations and logistics.
“These are key positions that a division staff cannot do without when they deploy forward to theater,” Phillips said about the 10th MCP-OD’s mission.
The detachment previously deployed with the 10th Mountain Division (LI) headquarters to Iraq in 2018. While there, they provided augmentation to the division’s intelligence, fire control, operations, personal security, and others, enhancing the division’s overall capabilities throughout the deployment.
Phillips added how vital it is for the 10th MCP-OD’s Soldiers to maintain their skills, continue to hone their training, and stay up to date on their required military and professional coursework to ensure the seamless integration into division staff when called upon.
“At the end of the day, they’re the ones filling those positions (within the division staff),” he said. “It’s not full-time or active duty versus the National Guard. We’re all Soldiers.”
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2021 15:44 |
| Story ID: | 405405 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 691 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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