479th Field Artillery Brigade receives new command sergeant major

By Capt. Javita Facion, 479th Field Artillery Brigade, Division West Public AffairsJuly 22, 2013

479th Field Artillery Brigade receives new command sergeant major
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Brown, left, 479th Field Artillery Brigade's outgoing command sergeant major, Col. John Leffers, center, 479th Field Artillery Brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. James Higgins, 479th Field Artillery Brigade's incoming c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
479th Field Artillery Brigade receives new command sergeant major
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Brown, right, 479th Field Artillery Brigade's outgoing command sergeant major, receives the Legion of Merit medal from Col. John Leffers, 479th Field Artillery Brigade commander, before a change of responsibility ceremony on ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
479th Field Artillery Brigade receives new command sergeant major
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Brown, left, 479th Field Artillery Brigade's outgoing command sergeant major, Col. John Leffers, center, 479th Field Artillery Brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. James Higgins, 479th Field Artillery Brigade's incoming c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
479th Field Artillery Brigade receives new command sergeant major
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. James Higgins, 479th Field Artillery Brigade command sergeant major, speaks during a change of responsibility ceremony on Cameron Field at Fort Hood, Texas, July. 18. Higgins assumed responsibility of the 479th from Command Sgt. Ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas -- The 479th Field Artillery Brigade held a change of responsibility ceremony on Cameron Field near Division West headquarters here July 18.

Command Sgt. Maj. James R. Higgins assumed responsibility of 479th from Command Sgt. Maj. Steven B. Brown.

Higgins' most recent assignment was a command sergeant major of the 916th Support Brigade in Fort Irwin, Calif.

The ceremony bid farewell to Brown and his wife, Tanya, who joined the 479th Family in June 2011.

"This ceremony is to say thanks to the real heroes within the brigade who spent tireless time and effort to ensure that we were successful," said Brown.

Brown also commented on his gratitude for the leadership he had received over the years.

"To the present and past battalion commanders I served with in the brigade, thanks for being commanders who truly commanded and created an atmosphere for all of your Soldiers to learn and grow," said Brown

Brown stated that the noncommissioned officers are the strength and motivation of a unit is achieved on the ability of the Soldiers to execute the moral and legal orders given by the officers, and an NCO corps that dominates both in peace and combat.

It is you, the corporal, the sergeant, the staff sergeant, the sergeant first class, and the master sergeant that have made this brigade successful, said Brown

Those very Soldiers welcomed Higgins and his wife, Denise, into the brigade team and Family.

"I am proud and honored to be chosen as the 479th Field Artillery Brigade's command sergeant major," said Higgins.

The 479th Field Artillery Brigade, a subordinate unit of Division West, trains and validates Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers for deployment to combat or 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.

Related Links:

"Like Division West on Facebook"

"See Division West photos on Flickr"

"Visit Division West on the Web"

"Watch Division West on YouTube"