Not everyone has what it takes to be a garrison commander, said Vincent Grewatz, the Director of Installation Management Command -- Training before the reins of Fort Jackson's garrison was given to a new commander June 30.
It takes "… patience to be able to deal with things you don't know in real time and delivering services with no margin for error," Grewatz added.
Col. Stephen Elder became the installation's Garrison Commander during a change of command ceremony with Col. James Ellerson, Jr. at the post's Officer's Club.
The ceremony is "the legal transfer of responsibility and authority between to great commanders," said Maj. Gen. Pete Johnson, Fort Jackson and Army Training Center commander during the ceremony. "It's a great tradition and great symbolism."
The ceremony was so important there were two senior Army officials speaking at the event, Johnson added. Those two officials were Johnson and Grewatz.
Garrison commanders "not only have to lead within an Army-wide enterprise of installations, but you have to support all the separate missions that arrive for your post and enforce the intent of a senior commander like myself," Johnson said.
Grewatz said ceremonies like these are "more about continuity than change."
Fort Jackson and IMCOM didn't need to go far to find "another great" commander. Elder brings to Fort Jackson "an excellent track record" of passion for people and the mission, Grewatz said.
Elder, a native of Dexter, Missouri, came to Fort Jackson from the U.S. War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He has served in numerous tactical command positions including the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Iraqi Resolve's counter IED chief; deputy commander of the 52nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group; and the 192nd EOD Battalion commander.
He has deployed numerous times including to Operation Desert Fox in 1996, Desert Thunder Kuwait in 1997, three tours in Afghanistan, and OIR.
Elder said during the ceremony that he was looking forward to working with the "best military friendly community in world" and thanked Ellerson and the Garrison staff for making the transition smoothly.
Ellerson, who is slated to become the next Area Support Group commander in Afghanistan, was lauded by Grewatz and Johnson for his efforts over the past two years.
"James you did a magnificent job leading the efforts, wrestling all the alligators in an environment during that flood," Johnson said.
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