CAMP CASEY, South Korea - The 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division held a change of responsibility ceremony Aug. 4 at the Carey Fitness Center on Camp Casey, South Korea.
During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark L. Brinton relinquished responsibility of the "Thunder Brigade" to Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos G. Gonzalez Pabon, officially designating him as keeper of the unit's colors.
"Command Sgt. Maj. Brinton and Command Sgt. Maj. Gonzalez epitomize the excellence of the time-honored Corps and personify the level of professionalism we have come to expect from our noncommissioned officers," said Col. Christopher P. Taylor, brigade commander.
As the senior enlisted leader for the Army's most lethal field artillery brigade, Gonzalez was quick to share his passion and aspiration with the unit's noncommissioned officers.
"As NCOs we must provide guidance, direction, motivation and, above it all, empower our men with knowledge and training," said Gonzalez, a Ponce, Puerto Rico, native. "We will be able to do that when we train hard, build character, embrace loyalty and lead as an active leader to prevail with determination to succeed in every chance."
The ceremony also served to honor the achievements of Brinton and his wife, Shannon, for their two years of dedication to the brigade, its Soldiers and their families.
"During the past two years on his frontier, Command Sgt. Maj. Brinton has led from the front in every sense of the word," said Taylor. "He began by developing leaders, focusing on first sergeants, and giving them the tools they needed to succeed and develop their subordinates."
"The Army has recognized these talents and selected him to be the command sergeant major of the 174th Combined Arms Training Brigade at Joint Base McGuire-Dix in New Jersey where he and his wife, Shannon, will begin their next chapter of Army life," added Taylor.
While reflecting on his tenure, Brinton extended his personal appreciation to those he worked with.
"I would like to thank the officers, NCOs, Soldiers and KATUSAs for their commitment to the mission that we have over here," he said.
"Standing shoulder-to-shoulder training with our partner units, Republic of Korea Army, as well as the units of other services, we have all been ready to fight tonight," said Brinton.
"As Gen. Odierno says, 'The strength of our nation is our Army, Strength of our Army is our Soldiers, Strength of our Soldiers is our families,' and this is what makes us Army Strong."
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