Soldiers say 'yes' to 'Dauntless'

By Staff Sgt. Heather A. Denby, 4th MEB Public AffairsOctober 7, 2013

Soldiers amass for re-enlistment
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brigade retention team receives accolades from senior enlisted advisor
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Federico Boyce, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade senior enlisted advisor, recognizes four battalion retention specialists from the brigade during a ceremony Oct. 4 in Baker Theater. Together, the retention specialists have re-enlist... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Dauntless Brigade retention team gathers for mass re-enlistment
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. James F. Reckard III, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Federico Boyce, 4th MEB senior enlisted advisor, pose for a photo with the brigade retention team following a mass re-enlistment ceremony Oct. 4 in Baker The... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

More than 120 Soldiers of the "Dauntless" brigade re-enlisted Oct. 4 in the largest mass re-enlistment ceremony this year in the 1st Infantry Division.

"As I stand here before you today, I can't help but think that life is good in the 4th MEB and in the United States Army," said Col. James F. Reckard III, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade commander. "I'm so filled with emotion seeing the tremendous Soldiers that I've been privileged to stand on this stage with to represent the division."

Reckard administered the oath to the group.

Soldiers interested in re-enlistment must coordinate with their unit retention specialist.

The 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade retention team has re-enlisted 213 Soldiers since Oct. 1, which comprises 60 different military occupations and nine different branches.

"Together these Soldiers have over 640 years of service to the nation and they have re-enlisted to serve 400 years more," Reckard said. "Today we are re-enlisting not just the Soldiers but the Families that are here as well."

Along with the Soldiers and Families present, 22 Soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan also re-enlisted with the brigade.

"It's all about taking care of the Soldiers," said Master Sgt. Justin Brand, senior career counselor of the 4th MEB, who stressed that enlistment is not about the numbers. "We want to make sure that life truly is good here in the 4th MEB."

More than half of those re-enlisted chose to stay Dauntless.