ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Command Sgt. Maj. Sam K. Young was welcomed by First Army in a change of responsibility ceremony held today at the Rock Island Arsenal's Heritage Hall.
Young accepted the responsibility as the unit's senior enlisted leader from Lt. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, First Army commander. He replaced Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse L. Andrews Jr., who has served since October 2010. A command sergeant major is the senior enlisted leader and advisor to the commander. Young will provide counsel and input for all matters pertaining to the health, welfare and discipline of all First Army Soldiers.
"The formal transition of responsibility reaffirms the Army's steadfast commitment to provide superior leadership and senior enlisted oversight to our First Army Soldiers who are responsible for the training of our Nation's Reserve Component Forces," said Tucker.
"The mission of sustaining Reserve Component readiness is a tough and demanding job," added Tucker. "Our Soldiers execute that mission to a high standard, the Army standard, day in and day out and Command Sgt. Maj. Andrews led this effort everyday from the front."
First Army mobilizes, trains, deploys and demobilizes all Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve forces throughout the continental United States, providing trained and ready forces for diverse missions worldwide. First Army effectively trained and mobilized more than 93,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen while Andrews was assigned to First Army.
"Thank you Quad Cities for the warm welcome and the reception I received when I arrived here," said Andrews. "It's really been a unique experience serving here at the Rock Island Arsenal. How many people can say they go to work in the middle of the river?"
"I consider myself blessed in so many ways, and being stationed here with First Army has been one of them." added Andrews. "First Army observer controller/trainers are the best in the business. They are smart, they are sharp, they work some crazy hours, but most of all, they care about each and every troop they're training to go downrange. I am proud to have been on their team."
Young, who joined the Army in 1986, most recently served as the command sergeant major at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla. He has served more than 27 years in various Army assignments. His other previous assignments included overseas deployments to Operation Golden Pheasant in Honduras; Operation Just Cause in Panama; Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Young went on to acknowledge the Quad City community and the First Army Soldiers. "We're extremely excited to be a part of the Rock Island Arsenal and the Quad Cities area." said Young. "First Army team, I look forward to working with you. The responsibility of training our Army's reserve component units is a huge task. I'm proud to be on your team and ready to meet the challenge of training our Nation's Reserve Component for today's requirements and tomorrow's contingencies."
Social Sharing