FORT HOOD, Texas - The 479th Field Artillery Brigade welcomed its new commander during a change of command ceremony July 16 at Cameron Field near First Army Division West headquarters.
Col. John Leffers assumed command of 479th FA from Col. Richard Creed Jr.
Leffers' most recent assignment was as a student at the United States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
The ceremony bid farewell to Creed and his wife, Debra, who joined 479th and the Division West Family in June 2011.
A positive command climate starts at the top and Division West was blessed to have those kinds of leaders who enable subordinate commanders to be successful, Creed said.
Creed went on to thank Maj. Gen. Warren Phipps Jr., First Army Division West commanding general, his wife, Sylvia, and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Brown, 479th Field Artillery Brigade command sergeant major, and the 479th Soldiers for their dedication and support.
Creed will move on to become the chief of the Commander's Planning Group at Training and Doctrine Command Headquarters at Fort Eustis, Va.
Leffers took the time thank his wife and children for their unwavering support, patience and understanding. He also showed gratitude to Col. Creed and Mrs. Creed their warm reception and leadership to the Soldiers that he would take command of.
The men and women of the 'Strike Hard' brigade look great, Leffers said.
Leffers future expounded on the mission to come and how he looked forward to meeting those challenges.
In the past 18 months, the 479th has provided post-mobilization to over 17,425 Soldiers from 164 units from the United States Army Reserve and Army National Guard. The Brigade's nine Training Support Battalions specialize in tasks including Counter Improvised Explosive Device, Force Protection, Mounted Gunnery, Convoy Live Fire Exercise, Liaison Officer Operations, Combatives training, Counterinsurgency Language and Culture, Urban and Mountainous Operations, Small Arms, Drivers Training and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle familiarization, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle Egress Assistance training, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Egress training, and Medical Cumulative training exercises.
Related Links:
"Like Division West on Facebook"
"See Division West photos on Flickr"
Social Sharing