FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Sgt. Maj. Micheal Horton relinquished responsibility of the Fort Leonard Wood Garrison to Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Faulk during a ceremony in Lincoln Hall Auditorium Friday.

"This installation and community has grown so much since I first stepped foot on Fort Leonard Wood in 1988," Horton said. "I am so very proud to be a part of this growth and community outreach that has been an instrumental part in our Soldiers' lives."

Horton said when she was asked to take over as garrison command sergeant major, she decided to make sure she performed to the best of her ability and kept the best interests of the post in mind at all times, which usually meant long hours and late nights.

"I thought I could really make a change in the lives of the Soldiers on post," Horton said. "(But) the most challenging thing was remembering to leave the office at a decent hour."

Horton will leave Fort Leonard Wood and become a part of V Corps in Wiesbaden, Germany. She will deploy with V Corps to Afghanistan during the summer and hopes she can find the same community and installation spirit at her new duty station.

"Many people come together from all walks of life, all ranks, (and) all races (at Fort Leonard Wood), to make a difference, a change, a better community and organization," Horton said.

"It has been a pleasure to serve as the sergeant major of the garrison command,

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, and to assist the commander in the discipline and welfare of the Fort Leonard Wood community," Horton added.

During the ceremony, Sue Halter, garrison deputy commander, told those in attendance that this change of responsibility was special due to the caliber of Horton and Faulk.

"Sgt. Maj. (Micheal) Horton has performed the duties of garrison sergeant major in an outstanding fashion over the past year. She took the duties of sergeant major to a whole new level," Halter said. "Everything she did was about taking care of Soldiers, Families and civilians, not only in the garrison, but the entire installation as well."

Halter said Horton set the standard for excellence, which ensured the post was fully prepared to support the full spectrum of normal and surge operations.

"During this year, she supported and sustained a multi-service community of over 36,000 military, civilian and Family members," Halter said.

Halter welcomed Faulk and his Family to Fort Leonard Wood saying, "We are indeed blessed to have a great NCO replacing (Sgt. Maj. Micheal Horton)."

"Sgt. Maj. Faulk is officially joining the Fort Leonard Wood garrison today," Halter said. "If you read his bio ... you will see his long line of key and critical sergeant major positions. He is well qualified to fill the garrison sergeant major position and I personally look forward to working with him during his tour."

Faulk thanked everyone for their attendance at the change-of-responsibility ceremony and thanked Horton and the previous garrison sergeant majors for their unwavering leadership.

"I say as I have studied and observed and read the history of Fort Leonard Wood ... to all the previous garrison command sergeants majors ... of this great installation, we thank you for the lineage and honors, we thank you for your leadership, your memories, your counsel, your countless hours, your sweat, your lessons learned, your storytelling and your sacrifice and your customer service," Faulk said.

Faulk entered the Army in August 1982. He has served in 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Fort Bragg, N.C.; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Ill.; 5th Battalion, 5th ADAR in Korea; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La.; Headquarters USA TRADOC, Fort Monroe, Va.; 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C.; 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery in Fort Hood, Texas; as the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (Rear) Command Sergeant Major and as the CSM for Phantom Command, III Corps Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion.