Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith | The 166th Regiment – Regional Training Institute held a change of responsibility...... read more read more
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The 166th Regiment - Regional Training Institute (RTI) held a change of responsibility ceremony here Sept. 19, 2025, where Command Sgt. Maj. Oscar Laughman III relinquished responsibility of the regiment to Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Trofe.
Laughman served as Command Sergeant Major (CSM) of the regiment for just under three years, from June 2022 to April 2025. During that time, he led the 166th Regiment as it went through an Army accreditation cycle in 2025 with the best evaluation scores the RTI has ever received. Additionally, the regiment was the number one RTI for total students trained across all 84 RTIs in the nation during fiscal years 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The transition in enlisted leadership was symbolized with the traditional passing of the NCO sword, signifying the resignation of responsibility from the outgoing CSM and the passing of that responsibility to the incoming CSM.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Laughman is exactly the kind of professional that young Soldiers should look up to and strive to emulate,” said Col. John Wenzel, commander of the 166th Regiment. “He’s the type of person who would take the Army Fitness Test with students at least once a month, not only challenging himself to maintain top physical condition, but challenging students themselves to do their best.
Wenzel thanked Laughman for his dedication and contributions to the Regiment during his time as CSM. Laughman was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, then Wenzel charged Trofe with the authority that comes with being CSM of the 166th Regiment.
“The number one thing we can do for Soldiers here is to model the right way to do things,” Wenzel said to Trofe. “I challenge you to ensure every Soldier coming through here knows what right looks like before they leave this building. I know you’re up to the task, and I look forward to making it happen alongside you.”
Laughman then addressed the formation, thanking Soldiers and families of the RTI for the opportunity to serve alongside them and for trusting him as a leader.
“It’s been the greatest honor of my career to serve as the command sergeant major of the 166th Regiment,” said Laughman. “This isn’t a final goodbye, but a transition.”
Laughman now serves as Command Sergeant Major of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, a senior enlisted leader and advisor to Army Soldiers throughout the state. Additionally, he will return to the Regiment as commandant of the 3rd Battalion Noncommissioned Officer Academy, which instructs the Basic Leader Course and Battle Staff NCO Course, in November of this year.
“I’m honored to be handing the reigns over to Command Sgt. Maj. Trofe,” Laughman told the formation. “I know he will continue to build on the strong foundation we have established here and will lead the Regiment to even greater heights.”
Trofe, who began his CSM assignment with the 111th Infantry Regiment in 2023, recently returned from a deployment with the unit to the Horn of Africa in July. He addressed his formation for the first time as the Regiment’s new CSM, telling Soldiers, “I am here to work with you and for you, and to support both you and your families whenever possible.”
Trofe then thanked Laughman for his contributions to the Regiment, promised to carry on with the high level of dedication that he’d put forth, and thanked Wenzel for the opportunity to lead the Soldiers of the 166th Regiment.
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2025 09:40 |
| Story ID: | 549260 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 145 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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Fort Indiantown Gap
Ceremony
Pennsylvania
Army National Guard
