By Staff Sgt. Tony Foster
Division West Public Affairs
FORT HOOD, Texas – First Army Division West welcomed a new command sergeant major in an assumption of responsibility ceremony at Cameron Field near Division West headquarters Sept. 4, here.
Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick K. Akuna accepted the responsibility of the senior enlisted leader of the division from Maj. Gen. Warren E. Phipps Jr., First Army Division West commanding general.
“First, I’d like to thank Maj. Gen. Phipps. Sir, I truly appreciate your trust and confidence and the opportunity to serve as your command sergeant major in this great organization,” said Akuna. “I will increase your span of influence and enforce standards and discipline throughout the formation.”
"Together we’ll continue to build on the legacy of the division and live up to the motto, ‘First in the West,’” added Akuna.
Akuna’s most recent assignment was as command sergeant major of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment here.
The ceremony bid farewell to Brown, who served as the interim Division West command sergeant major.
Phipps presided over the ceremony and spoke highly of his counterpart and associate, Brown.
“I’d like to take a moment this morning to thank Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Brown for his commitment to the Division West team,” said Phipps. “Shortly after relinquishing responsibility of the 479th Field Artillery Brigade, Command Sgt. Maj. Brown stepped forward to serve as the interim command sergeant major of Division West.”
“Command Sgt. Maj. Brown’s leadership, enthusiasm and energy have kept the momentum of the division on pace,” said Phipps.
Phipps also paused to welcome his new division senior noncommissioned officer.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Akuna brings experience, tenacity and genuine compassion and concern for Soldiers,” said Phipps. “As many in Fort Hood will attest, I could have selected no finer noncommissioned officer for a battle-buddy to team with me to lead this fine division.”
Division West welcomes Akuna, his wife Kim, to the division family.
“I ask you to remember these three things: engaged leadership, individual and organizational discipline, and master the basics of both warrior tasks and drills and MOS proficiency,” said Akuna. “I ask all in attendance for your continued support, as Team Akuna embarks on our next mission at the Great Place – First Army Division West.”
Division West, a subordinate unit of First Army, trains and validates Army National Guard and Reserve soldiers for deployment to combat and other contingency operations. The division also trains units of the active Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps and United States partner nations, for a total of nearly 40,000 service members every year.
Division West’s eight subordinate training brigades are the 120th Infantry, 479th Field Artillery and 166th Aviation Brigades at Fort Hood, Texas; the 181st Infantry at Fort McCoy, Wis.; the 189th and 191st Infantry Brigades at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; and the 402nd and 5th Armored Brigades at Fort Bliss, Texas.