FORT STEWART, Ga. - The 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment’s “Garry Owen”, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, combined change of command and change of responsibility ceremony was held at Cottrell Field, July 25. The outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Lance C. Varney, transferred his authority to Lt. Col. Jason Kidder, while the outgoing command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Mingle, transferred his responsibility to acting CSM, Sgt. Maj. Carlton Maynard.
The key note speaker for the event was Col. Douglas Cardinale, the commander, 2nd ABCT. During the Ceremony, Cardinale reminisced over the outgoing command team, and the time they served in the 3-7 CAV.
“Lance, your leadership has made a difference, and has shown in every action your squadron took,” Cardinale said. “Command Sgt. Major Mingle, as we are so accustomed to seeing under your watchful eye, 3-7 CAV formation stands impressive and to standard,” he added.
Varney was also a speaker at the ceremony, and thanked many people who had helped and supported him during his time as “Saber 6”.
“None of this would have been possible without the strength and support I received from a myriad of different sources…and I thank you.”
In the end though it is doubtful that anyone has said it better than Varney when he told his Garry Owen soldiers, “Troopers, at the end of the day it is always about you…it has been an honor to serve as your commander.”