The 104th Troop Command, Virgin Islands National Guard took a pause to welcome it’s new Troop Commander Lt. Col. Mike Navarro, in an assumption of command ceremony, during its annual field training exercise, Operation Forward Guardian IV, June 3, 2016.
The early morning ceremony was hosted by the Virgin Islands Adjutant General Brig. Gen. (VI) Deborah Y. Howell, just as the sun rose over the hills east of the VING Estate Bethlehem Military Compound, St. Croix, VI, where the exercise took place.
Soldiers of the 104th Troop Command assembled in formation in the middle of the designated Forward Operating Base Bethlehem, to witness the ceremony. FOB-Bethlehem was established in the Weekend Training Site (WETS) for the exercise.
The 104th Troop Command guidon was ceremoniously passed from Howell to Navarro signifying his assumption of command.
“The significance of what you just witnessed is the trust and confidence I have in your commander,” said Howell to the soldiers. “My charge to him is to take care of each and every one of you.”
Navarro, the former Army National Guard branch chief of counterintelligence and human intelligence operations, came to the unit with intentions to prepare the soldiers for their call to duty.
“I expect to train them hard,” said Navarro. “It’s an honor to be chosen by Brig. Gen. Howell to command the 104th Troop Command and to carry out her charge to ensure the soldiers are trained and ready to enter the call to our nation and territory.”
The ceremony concluded with a prayer from Chaplain Capt. Dion Christopher. He prayed for the success and protection of Navarro and the entire 104th Troop Command as training resumed for Operation Forward Guardian IV.