Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Kiefer assumes responsibility at USAG Ansbach

By Mr. Bryan Gatchell (IMCOM)March 11, 2014

Bouquet
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Passing the saber
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Christopher M. Benson, right foreground, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach commander, passes a saber to Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Kiefer, incoming command sergeant major for USAG Ansbach, during an assumption of responsibility ceremony Feb. 28 at the V... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Assumption
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Christopher M. Benson, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach commander, addresses attendees of the garrison's assumption of responsibility ceremony Feb. 28, 2014, at the Von Steuben Community Center at Bismarck Kaserne. During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Applause
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Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Kiefer
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Command Sgt. Maj. William E. Funcheon
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. William E. Funcheon, center, U.S. Army Garrison Bamberg's command sergeant major, talks to attendees at the USAG Ansbach assumption of responsibility ceremony Feb. 28, 2014. For more than three months, Funcheon served as the interim... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
New arrivals
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Kiefer, right background, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach's new command sergeant major, and Patricia Kiefer, right foreground, wife of Command Sgt. Maj. Kiefer, greet guests at the assumption of responsibility ceremony Feb. 28, 2... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ANSBACH, Germany (March 11, 2014) -- U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach hosted an assumption of responsibility ceremony here, Feb. 28, at the Von Steuben Community Center.

The garrison welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Kiefer to the role of garrison command sergeant major as well as to the role of command sergeant major of the Franconia Military Community, which is comprised of USAGs Ansbach, Bamberg and Schweinfurt.

Usually changing the post of garrison command sergeant major happens in the course of one symbolic ceremony, wherein a saber is passed from the hands of the outgoing command sergeant major, to the commander, to the incoming garrison command sergeant major. But in the case of USAG Ansbach and the FMC, the process was a transition lasting months that ended with an assumption of responsibility.

Throughout most of 2013, Command Sgt. Maj. Leeford C. Cain was the command sergeant major of the garrison and the FMC. Cain left Ansbach in November to become the nominative command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Because of the suddenness of the appointment and the necessity for a command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. William E. Funcheon, command sergeant major of USAG Bamberg, assumed the role as the senior enlisted person for USAG Ansbach and FMC in addition to continuing to serve as USAG Bamberg's command sergeant major.

Because the position was interim, the decision was made for no full change of responsibility to take place when Kiefer took over the role.

"I regret that decision now because Sergeant Major Funcheon did not, does not and has not ever acted like an interim or part time command sergeant major," said Col. Christopher M. Benson, USAG Ansbach and FMC commander, during the assumption of responsibility ceremony.

Benson cited Funcheon's "get-after-it spirit, gracious demeanor and utmost devotion to caring for our Soldiers and doing what's right for the community."

"Command Sergeant Major Funcheon quickly earned my highest respect, and that of the entire workforce and our community," continued Benson. "He could very easily have played the interim and part time card. He traveled back and forth between here and Bamberg. And he could have kicked the proverbial ball of all of our decisions and challenges down the road. But he didn't. He jumped in with both feet, got after it every single day and more than earned his weight in gold."

During his speech following the flag-passing, Benson elaborated on the challenges inherent in garrison command. Kiefer, according to Benson, will be the correct person for the position.

"There will be situations and circumstances that will require difficult decisions," said Benson. "He (Kiefer) has lived and operated in tough and challenging conditions, and he has the experience and background necessary to provide the requisite leadership, guidance and care for our community and for our workforce and to make a difference in our hometown."

Enlisting in the Army in 1986, Kiefer became a tank loader, driver and gunner. He accumulated leadership experience throughout his Army career, living and serving at various locations throughout Germany and the United States, eventually becoming a command sergeant major. He served three tours of duty, including Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baqubah, Ramadi, and Tikrit. He toured in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Regional Command East in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. His most recent assignment was as brigade command sergeant major for the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley, Kan.

Kiefer, before this assignment, had never served as a garrison's command sergeant major.

"As my arrival neared, I will admit I had reservations about the mission, task and purpose of a garrison assignment," said Kiefer. "The complexity and scope of this assignment were absolutely foreign to me until I found a simple statement on the garrison web page by the commander. It said he would like to make Ansbach the best hometown in Europe. Now that's a clear, concise statement that even a tanker can understand.

"That mission statement," continued Kiefer, "will be what I use to guide me in the execution of my duties while I'm the garrison sergeant major."

Related Links:

USAG Ansbach, FMC assumption of responsibility Flickr photo set