Pioneer Battalion changes command

By Cheryl Rodewig, The BayonetJune 10, 2010

2-29
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga. - "Today marks another chapter in the history of this great unit," said LTC Edward Houston, outgoing commander of 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, after ceding the leadership of the battalion to LTC Jody Miller June 8 on Stilwell Field.

"Jody is a phenomenal guy," Houston said. "He and his family are dedicated to Soldiers, dedicated to serving Soldiers. He is going to pick up the torch, and he is going to do fantastic."

The Pioneer Battalion provides training assistance for snipers, small or long-range marksmanship, mortar leaders, TOW and javelin anti-tank gunners, small unmanned aerial vehicle operators and combatives.

"To say the battalion is busy is an understatement, but the Pioneers have never turned down a request for assistance," said 197th Infantry Brigade commander COL Ryan Kuhn, reviewing officer for the change of command ceremony.

The battalion's complex mission is something Miller is familiar with; he has served for the last year as the deputy commander for the 197th Inf. Bde.

"I feel like it prepared me well to take command because I've done all the missions and talked with everybody," he said. "I look forward to the challenges that we have before us, (and) I am eager to get started."

Houston, whose family will remain at Fort Benning as he PCSes to Fort Stewart, Ga., said he was "proud and honored" to have served with the Pioneers.

"The greatness in this unit does not lie with the mission or statistics about training or equipment or weapons - it lies with the greatness of the Soldiers, noncommissioned officers, officers and warrant officers, and civilians - and especially with their families," he said. "The Soldiers and the families of this unit have made sacrifices the average citizen of our country will never realize.

These Soldiers and their families live to serve our nation and keep it free."

2nd Bn., 29th Inf. Regt., has trained more than 120,000 Soldiers and conducted 282 mobile training team missions in 30 locations, "all under the calm and brilliant command of LTC Buddy Houston," Kuhn said. "Daily, I watched with amazement as Buddy led his battalion. No matter the complexity of the mission, Buddy always found the 'yes' to accomplish every task. From Iraq to Afghanistan, when the calls went out - LTC Houston's answer was 'yes.' He ensured that our operational Soldiers were provided with the best critical combat skills training our Soldiers needed to dominate and win in combat."

Houston's next assignment will be as the deputy commander with 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, which will soon deploy to Iraq.