Commandant promoted to brigadier general

By Ms. Marie Berberea (TRADOC)October 16, 2014

general officer salute
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Ismael Garcia, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery, carries a symbolic round during Brig. Gen. William Turner's, Field Artillery School commandant and chief of FA, promotion ceremony Oct. 9 on Old Post Quadrangle. 2-2nd FA fired an 11-... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
One star
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brigadier general
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FORT SILL, Okla. -- The field artillery branch has one of the Army's newest brigadier generals as its leader. Brig. Gen. William Turner, FA School Commandant and chief of FA, was promoted Oct. 9 on Old Post Quadrangle.

As part of the ceremony, Turner's wife, Alissa, replaced his colonel rank with the one star on his chest. Turner then put on a new beret with the proper rank and unfurled his one-star flag.

"It's very special for the field artillery branch. Bill is our 51st FA commandant and the chief of field artillery and it's intended to be commanded and run by a brigadier general, so the fact that we're getting to do that here today is unique and it's probably well overdue," said Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general.

The CG said Turner has the heavy task of ultimately being responsible for all field artillery institutional training across the Army.

"Every artilleryman, from private all the way up to colonel is going to pass under his wings here in some form or fashion," said Rossi.

Turner has held many hectic positions before leading the FA school house. He was an executive officer in several capacities: to the vice director of the Army staff, to the Army director of operation and to the vice cheif of staff of the Army. He then became the chief of the initiatives group for the vice cheif of staff of the Army.

"He's well past the tactical level. He's multi-dimensional,"said Rossi. "This guy is a steady hand. He brings natural leadership from his days as a quarterback in Army football all the way up to what he's done as an officer in the Army. He's calm under pressure and I saw that in D.C. on a daily basis where there's a lot of high stress, but this guy never gets flustered."

One of 156 brigadier generals in the entire active Army and one of three generals on Fort Sill, the installation commander said Turner's promotion is not only special for Turner and his family, but for the Fires Center of Excellence as well.

"That tells us that what we do here at Fort Sill is extremely important to our Army; enough so that we want to provide that amount of general officer leadership to Fort Sill," said Rossi.

Turner said every day of his service starts and ends with family. He had many relatives and friends in attendance and he thanked them for helping shape his path.

"As a young boy growing up mostly in northern Virginia I was fortunate enough to have two very caring and attentive parents. Some times you might say they were too attentive," said Turner.

He said they were able to identify his misgivings and faults and when they weren't able to, he was also fortunate enough to have three older brothers who would step in do to so.

"In all seriousness my brothers have been the example for me throughout my life. Their character, their leadership, their examples as husbands and fathers have meant the most to me. To each of them and their wives I want to say sincerely thank you it means a great deal to me," said Turner.

Turner said any success he has enjoyed in life can be attributed to the actions of a team.

"Be it growing up playing sports or having the good fortune here to be a part of a an Army organization that's so professional and folks that serve so well, serve so selflessly to our nation ... Nothing gets achieved singularly on our own. And it's to those Soldiers I owe a great deal of gratitude."

B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery, set off an 11-round salute in Turner's honor.

While the plumes of smoke settled, Turner asked those in attendance to share in a moment of silence for service members who are currently in harms way.

"It is indeed an honor to be serving here at Fort Sill to be serving as the commandant, to be a member of another great, great team of folks here that have achieved so much and we look forward to the many exciting things ahead."

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Photos from ceremony