A chapter in the history of Fort Meade's 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) closed on Friday as Soldiers in the unit bid farewell to the companyA,A1s first female first sergeant.
After two years with the militaryA,A1s largest combat photography unit, 1st Sgt. Samantha Shirley turned over responsibility of the company to 1st Sgt. William Armstrong during a change of responsibility ceremony held at McGill Training Center.
Shirley thanked the assembled Combat Camera Soldiers for the honor to lead them.
"You challenged me in ways I never thought possible and helped me to grow," she said. "Each of you holds a special place in my heart.A,A2"Leaders from both within the company and the unit's higher headquarters at Fort Detrick attended.
"She's a stern person, very driven, always willing to stand on the stage ...
to lead Soldiers," said Command Sgt. Maj. Roderick Mitchell of the 114th Signal Battalion at Fort Detrick.
"Shirley did an absolute bang-up job," said Maj. Mark Boeke, a former Combat Camera commander who now serves as a presidential communications officer.
"She has the very invaluable quality of being able to lead with both the carrot and the stick." Shirley's leadership contributed to the unit's involvement in a variety of military media competitions that it had not competed in for years, said Combat Camera Commander Maj. Donald Reeves.
For her Soldiers, Shirley was a resource and a support, said Pfc. Jacob Warren, a photographer and graphic designer who joined the company about 18 months ago. "Any time I was in trouble or another Soldier or one of my friends [was in trouble], she did everything in her power to help out," he said.
Shirley is scheduled to take a position at the Yongsan Visual Information Support Center in Korea in May.
Armstrong, a 19-year military veteran, is no stranger to Combat Camera.
From 2002 to 2006, he served as everything from a squad leader to a platoon sergeant, even filling in as an acting first sergeant for more than four months.
"This guy brings back a wealth of knowledge," said Reeves.
Armstrong returns to the unit after serving with the 742nd Military Intelligence Battalion at the National Security Agency. There, he was responsible for about 160 Soldiers in the Headquarters and Operations Company, said Capt. Michelle Anderson, his former commanding officer.
"He was highly regarded and respected throughout the battalion," she said.
"A lot of Soldiers and leaders looked up to him and sought his advice." Armstrong's return to Combat Camera comes at a time when the unit has grown to about 220 Soldiers who regularly deploy in support of operations abroad.
Even with the increase in strength and regular deployments, Armstrong promised to learn each of his Soldiers' names and focus on their needs.
"I'm not the big guy [just] sitting in my office," he said. "It's always good to know the most you can about them."
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