10th Combat Aviation Brigade welcomes new commander

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers, Families and friends gathered Friday at Sexton Field to watch as Col. Michael C. McCurry relinquished command of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), to Col. Clair A. Gill.

Under McCurry's command, since May 2014, the brigade provided support to operations in different parts of the world, to include Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve / Spartan Shield, multiple combat training center rotations, and a nine-month deployment to the Republic of Korea.

McCurry also played a vital role during the execution of the Army's Aviation Restructuring Initiative by realigning the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment into a heavy armed reconnaissance squadron, which included the fielding of 24 AH-64 Apache helicopters for the 10th Mountain Division (LI).

"It's been the honor of my lifetime to serve alongside you in the phalanx," McCurry said. "I ask for the same dedication and commitment to the Gills that you showed Sadie and me."

McCurry will go on to serve as the chief of Aviation Force Development in the Army G8 in Washington, D.C.

Gill recently completed a U.S. Army War College fellowship in Washington, D.C. Before that, he commanded 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (AA), at Fort Campbell, Ky.

He has deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Enduring Freedom and other global contingency operations. His most recent deployment was in 2014, where he commanded a battalion task force to Forward Operating Base Shank to provide aviation support in eastern Afghanistan.

During his speech, Gill called it a humbling privilege to be able to command in the U.S. Army.

"Command is about Soldiers and soldiering, and I acknowledge my primary duty: to train them for war," he said. "The men and women on the field before you have volunteered to put their lives on the line for our nation and our just way of life. Today, I couldn't be more proud to stand in the phalanx with them."

During the initial part of the ceremony, the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade was officially awarded the Order of Daedalians' Brig. Gen. Carl I. Hutton Memorial Award, a prestigious honor that is given to a single Army aviation unit, each calendar year, for their professionalism and immense contribution to the advancement of flight safety in Army Aviation.