Brig. Gen. Joseph Lestorti assumed command of the 78th Training Division amid music notes and solemnity at the Maj. John P. Pryor Reserve Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 11.
Maj. Gen. A. Ray Royalty, commanding general of the 84th Training Command, officiated the ceremony, while members of the West Point Band provided musical support.
"General Lestorti comes with remarkable experiences, awesome leadership skills, and one thing I love about him is his passion," said Royalty. "His passion to wear the uniform."
In assuming command of the division, Lestorti, a native of Holley, N.Y., brings a wealth of knowledge gained during his 26 years of service. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992 after graduating from The College at Brockport, State University of New York.
"This isn’t about me, it’s about you and what you’re doing for the Army," said Lestorti. "It’s never about the guy in command, it’s about the command. Thank you for what you do for your country every day; the fact that you’ve taken the oath and you wear that uniform shows your commitment to your nation, not matter what the mission is."
The 78th Training Division provides realistic sustainment and combined arms training, focused on developing leaders and unit combatant commands, in addition to planning, coordinating and executing pre-mobilization collective training for Reserve Component units up through brigade level.