Field artillery school welcomes new CSM

By Mr. Jeff Crawley (IMCOM)September 26, 2013

Change of responsibility
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Legion of Merit
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Outgoing Army Field Artillery School Command Sgt. Maj. Sam Young is presented the Legion of Merit medal by Col. Christopher Bentley, FA school commandant and chief of FA, during a change of responsibility ceremony Sept. 19 outside McNair Hall. Young'... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla. -- The Army Field Artillery School welcomed its new command sergeant major during a change of responsibility ceremony, and the Lawton-Fort Sill community said good bye to the schoolhouse's outgoing CSM during a retreat ceremony Sept. 19 near McNair Hall.

Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Moriarty took the reigns from Command Sgt. Maj. Sam Young during the change of responsibility in front of hundreds of family, friends and fellow Soldiers.

Moriarty, who is a native of Horseheads, N.Y., arrived at Fort Sill in February. He was most recently the FA Proponent Office sergeant major here. Before that he was the 17th Fires Brigade CSM at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

"Colonel Bentley, thanks so much for having the confidence in me, in selecting me to be the 10th field artillery command sergeant major," said Moriarty, who re-entered the Army in 1987. "I'm looking forward to serving with you especially as we continue to modernize field artillery."

"Although Sergeant Major Young left some big shoes to fill, Carol (Moriarty's wife) and I are very excited and honored to serve the Fires Center of Excellence and the surrounding communities," he said.

Many senior leaders look to go into a next assignment where everything is running smoothly, but can never find it, Moriarty said. "I can honestly say thanks to Sam Young's efforts and his team I found that assignment. I'll do my best ... to continue moving the ball down the field."

During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. David Carr, 428th FA Brigade CSM, handed the noncommissioned officer sword to Young, who then passed it to Bentley. The colonel then passed the sword to Moriarty symbolizing the transfer of authority and responsiblity.

In his speech, Bentley said some decisions in life are easy.

"Sergeant Major Moriarty was easy," the colonel said. "It's easy because it is right. And, when it feels right you know that you've made the right decision."

Bentley thanked Young, who, he said, had the ability to lead by presence alone.

"He's not only led from the front, but he's provided an example of what looks right, what is right," Bentley said. "He's mentored and coached more than 30,000 Soldiers and leaders who comprise the field artillery branch."

The colonel also thanked Young's wife, Rhonda, and their daughter Chelsea, 10.

"Future Army Soldiers and families will be the benefactor of what the Young family continues to do for families and Soldiers in this great country," Bentley said.

In the ceremony, Bentley presented Young with the Legion of Merit medal for his oversight that developed and implemented modern programs that instilled the warrior ethos in thousands of Soldiers, and significantly improved the skills and competence of field artillery Soldiers. Rhonda received the Outstanding Civilian Service award, and Order of the Red Legacy for her exceptional volunteer service in numerous Lawton-Fort Sill organizations.

In his speech, Young said that as a Forces Command Soldier he was reluctant to come to Fort Sill, but now he did not want to leave.

"I've always heard that the difference between a good assignment and a great assignment is the relationships between the units, the leaders, the Soldiers and the community," said Young, who will become the First Army CSM at Rock Island (Ill.) Arsenal. "Fort Sill proves that to be true. The Lawton-Fort Sill community is what right looks like."