The Army Contracting Command activated a new battalion during a July 30 ceremony at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan.
Guests from across the Detroit Arsenal were on hand as Crystalyn Kirkpatrick, wife of the 923rd's Staff Sgt. Eric Kirkpatrick, sung the national anthem, followed by the uncasing of the unit's colors.
"Today is a great day for the Army Contracting Command and also for the 923rd Contingency Contracting Battalion," said Maj. Gen Ted Harrison, ACC commanding general, who officiated the ceremony.
Along with the activation of the 923rd came the assumption of its command by Lt. Col. John M. Cooper. Harrison passed the colors to ACC-Warren's acting executive director, Ken Bousquet, who then passed the colors to Cooper.
Cooper comes to the 923rd after serving as Headquarters, Department of the Army, organization integrator for acquisition, logistics and technology operating force organizations.
As commander of the 923rd, Cooper will be responsible for four contingency contracting teams: the 628th CCT, the 671st CCT, the 739th CCT and the 740th CCT.
Cooper said that the battalion's number one priority is to deliver the best contract support possible to Soldiers globally and to be prepared to conduct its mission in a wide range of physical, social, political and economic environments.
"Though small in the context of our greater Army, today's activation is a great step toward assuring our preparedness to support future operations," said Cooper. "Today's activation will improve our Army's overall readiness and, of even more importance, our ability to support our nation's sons and daughters in harm's way."
Bousquet stressed the importance of this new battalion and its mission. He described what the activation of the 923rd means to ACC-WRN.
"It is recognition of the kind of work that we do, both complex and diverse," Bousquet said. "It is recognition of the exceptional talent that exists here to help train these Soldiers in their important mission. It is a great opportunity for our civilian workforce to interact with the military members and to put a face to the Soldiers that we support every day."
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