Soldiers and civilians of the Army Sustainment Command and Multi-Functional Support Command gathered Sept. 19 at Constitution Square on Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., for a deactivation and reactivation ceremony, a change of command, and to honor one Soldier's 29 years of service.
During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. David G. Clarkson, commander of the Army Reserve Sustainment Command, accepted the MFSC's colors for the last time from its retiring commander, Col. Mark R. Follett, before handing the Army Sustainment Command-Army Reserve Element's new colors to Col. Vicki J. Baxter.
The MFSC first stood up in December 2002 as a U.S. Army Reserve Program Unit. The unit was created from excess positions identified from the reorganization of the 19th Theater Army Area Command in Des Moines, Iowa, and transferred to Rock Island Arsenal to support the Army Field Support Command, now the ASC.
After the unit colors were cased and returned to Sgt. Maj. Eric B. Hill, the command sergeant major for the unit, they were posted.
Hill, along with Clarkson and Baxter, the commander of the newly re-flagged Army Sustainment Command-Army Reserve Element, uncased the unit colors, symbolizing the change of command.
Baxter enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard after graduation from high school. She earned her active-duty commission to second lieutenant into the Ordnance Corps in 1985. Prior to her assignment as the new commander, Baxter was commander of the 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.
"Obviously, the MFSC has a very great history," Baxter said. "The Soldiers have done well and I am counting on those Soldiers to continue that reputation. (Sergeant Major) Hill and I will be a command team that will get the mission done and take care of the Soldiers.
"We are looking forward to working with you," she said.
When Clarkson passed the command to Baxter, Follett ended a 29-year military career that began in 1980 with his enlistment in the Army Reserve. Follett achieved his active-duty commission into the Infantry branch as second lieutenant in 1983.
"Through all this time, there have been a lot of changes in the Army," said Follett. "During my career, the first company I commanded was inactivated, the first battalion I commanded was transformed with another battalion, now at the Colonel-level, this unit's being reorganized today as well. Change has been constant."
Follett also remarked about the two things that have always remained constant.
"One is God. God is always unchanging," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "The other is my family. I've known my wife for 30 years, we've been married 27.
"She's known me longer than the Army has," he joked.
"It's been a pleasure and an honor serving the Soldiers here at the Multi-Functional Support Command," said Follett. "Now it's time for Colonel Baxter to have that honor."
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