ASC's reserve element welcomes new commander

By Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Wright, ASC Public Affairs OfficeMarch 4, 2014

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1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Phillip Jolly, commander of Army Reserve Sustainment Command, speaks at the Army Sustainment Command-Army Reserve Element change of command ceremony in Heritage Hall at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., March 1. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shannon W... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Vincent Barker, outgoing ASC-ARE commander, speaks during a change of command ceremony in Heritage Hall at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., March 1. Barker commanded the ASC-ARE for two years. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Wright, ASC Public Affair... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Sue Henderson, incoming ASC-ARE commander, speaks during a change of command ceremony in Heritage Hall at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., March 1. Henderson is coming from battalion command at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Wright, A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Vincent Barker, outgoing ASC-ARE commander, passes the unit colors to Brig. Gen. Phillip Jolly, commander of Army Reserve Sustainment Command, during a change of command ceremony in Heritage Hall at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., March 1. (Photo by ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Sue Henderson receives the ASC-ARE colors from Brig. Gen. Phillip Jolly, commander of Army Reserve Sustainment Command, during a change of command ceremony in Heritage Hall at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., March 1. Henderson replaces Col. Vincent B... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Phillip Jolly, commander of Army Reserve Sustainment Command, presents Col. Vincent Barker, outgoing ASC-ARE commander, with an award during a change of command ceremony in Heritage Hall at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., March 1. Col. Sue Hend... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Soldiers from Army Sustainment Command-Army Reserve Element said goodbye to their commander and welcomed a new leader during a change of command ceremony March 1 in Heritage Hall here.

The ASC-ARE provides Reserve Component Soldiers in support of ASC's missions.

After commanding the unit for two years, outgoing ASC-ARE commander, Col. Vincent Barker, handed over the reins to Col. Sue Henderson. Brig. Gen. Phillip Jolly, commander of the Army Reserve Sustainment Command, hosted the ceremony.

"Change of commands are always bittersweet," said Jolly. "We have to say goodbye to a team member, but we also get to welcome someone new.

"I can't say enough about you (Barker)," he continued. "You are going to be missed."

Barker and his family move on to Arlington Heights, Ill., where he will serve in the 85th Support Command as the training division operations officer.

"Not only have I met great Soldiers," said Barker, "but I've met great friends.

"And, Sir, I don't know what to say," he later added, "I will work for you anytime, anyway."

During the ceremony, Jolly presented Barker with an award for his service as the ASC-ARE commander.

Henderson joins the ASC-ARE team after serving as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 399th Regiment at Fort Knox, Ky. She's held assignments in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Illinois, and mobilized or deployed for Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

"I can't tell you how excited I am to take the reins from Col. Barker," said Henderson. She explained that she had worked in an ARE previously and found it to be rewarding.

"I've missed the day-to-day focus of being in an ARE."

During the ceremony, Barker relinquished his unit colors to Jolly, who then passed them to Henderson, symbolizing the passing of authority and Henderson's new leadership role.

Since obtaining her ROTC commission in 1989, Henderson has served 11 years in the National Guard, 30 months as an individual mobilization augmentee, and 11 years in the Army Reserve.

Maj. Gen. John Wharton, ASC commander, and his senior enlisted adviser, Command Sgt. Maj. James Spencer, and other senior leaders of the ASC, attended the ceremony.

Commanders and other representatives from the ASC-ARE detachments at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Bragg, N.C.; and Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Wash., were also at the ceremony to honor Barker's service and to welcome Henderson.