11th Engineer Battalion welcomes new commander during ceremony

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Jan. 14, 2015) -- Soldiers, Family members and civilians congregated for a change of command ceremony Jan. 8 on York Field as Lt. Col. Bryan Sizemore relinquished command of the 11th Engineer Battalion (Jungle Cats), 20th Engineer Brigade, to Lt. Col. Jayson Putnam.

For logistical reasons, the ceremony also included a change of responsibility of the 20th Engineer Brigade from Command Sgt. Maj. Bruce Machado to Command Sgt. Maj. Roderick White.

"Welcome to the 20th Engineer Brigade, team, Family and the Jungle Cats," said Col. Jayson Gilberti, commander of the 20th Engineer Brigade and reviewing officer for the ceremony. "The Soldiers and Families of 11th Engineers stand ready to take on any mission or challenge that may lay ahead under your steadfast leadership."

Both Putnam and Sizemore were commissioned into the Army Corps of Engineers through the U.S. Military Academy at West Point one year apart. Putnam pointed out Sizemore was his company executive officer when he was a platoon leader.

"It really is unique when the Army throws two long-time friends back together," Sizemore said of Putnam. "Our Family looks forward to watching you push these great Soldiers to new, greater heights."

Putnam comes from his previous assignment at the Pentagon where he served as the executive officer for the Director of Operations for the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management.

White comes from his most recent assignment in the garrison command, Directorate of Public Works sergeant major in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Gilberti commended both Sizemore and Machado for their time in command.

"Throughout the last 24 and 30 months, respectively, you've demonstrated exceptional competence, confidence and leadership, not just as Engineers but as a command team," Gilberti said. "You trained, forged and lead this battalion ...correction, this Jungle Cat Family, with an inspirational passion to serve and always lead from the front."

Gilberti addressed the battalion's Soldiers and praised the Jungle Cats for their efforts.

"These Soldiers, or better yet, Engineers, live their battalion's motto of 'Jungle Cats forward' by taking charge at every opportunity and always ensuring that we get there and back," Gilberti said.

The Soldiers of the battalion won the 2014 Commander's Cup and saved the installation millions of dollars through troop construction projects, Gilberti said.

They were also Partners in Education Volunteer Unit of the Year, Armed Forces Blood Program Major Giving Unit of the Year, Red, White and Blue winners as well as donors of thousands of gifts to Santa's Castle, thousands of pounds to the local food bank and thousands of hours volunteered to Habitat for Humanity, Sizemore said.

"When anyone, anywhere assesses a unit as trained and ready to complete the mission, I would place you up with any of them," Sizemore said. "Jungle Cats, you have achieved so much and I thank you for all your efforts."

Sizemore will transition to the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania this summer. Machado will take of the command sergeant major responsibilities for Joint Task Force-Bravo, located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras.

"There is one constant in life, and that is change," Sizemore said. "I think change is a great thing; it keeps our profession bright, vibrant and a constantly learning institution."