FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- With misty eyes, Lt. Col. Gary Calese stood at the podium in the Davidson Fitness Center gymnasium April 11 during a change of command ceremony for the 94th Engineer Battalion "Wolverines".
"Command is the greatest gift that the Army can instill upon an officer," Calese said of his two-year command of 94th En. Bn. "Unfortunately, this gift comes with an expiration date."
Under Calese's command, the battalion has completed more than 35 construction missions across the U.S. including a new airstrip for Fort Campbell, Ky., an airfield overhaul for Fort Riley, Kan., and border patrol route improvement along the Arizona/Mexico border.
"As children we all have a love of play, of doing things in the dirt," said Col. Jay Reckard, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade commander. "What stands before you today is an Army construction battalion, they don't play with Tonka trucks, they play with the real thing."
"They do it all. And they do it all remarkably well," Reckard said.
In addition to their construction missions in the U.S., the Wolverine battalion has more than 300 deployed troops who are constructing a key forward operating base that will serve as the logistical hub for the region as well as providing skilled leaders who are participating in the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, said Reckard.
Following Reckard, the incoming battalion commander Lt. Col. Samuel Volkman provided the ceremony's closing remarks.
"Your support and efforts have shown today as the best engineer battalion," said Volkman. "I look forward to serving with you and it is my distinct pleasure to serve as part of this team."
Volkman comes to Fort Leonard Wood from 18th Engineer Brigade out of Germany where he served as the brigade design engineer and executive officer.
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