FORT GORDON, Ga. - (June 13, 2014) Soldiers of the 447th Signal Battalion cased their colors and formally reflagged as the 551st Signal Battalion during a redesignation ceremony June 5 at Fitness Center 5. Three of the battalion's four companies cased colors with its fourth company to follow suit on Monday.
The redesignation signifies another step in the direction of Fort Gordon's transformation to the United States Army Cyber Center of Excellence.
Lieutenant Colonel John M. Kostur welcomed Soldiers and family members to the historic occasion.
"We are excited about what you will be contributing to our organization and look forward to overcoming future challenges and making the most of the many opportunities that lie ahead together as a team," Kostur said.
The mission of 447th Sig. Bn. was to "train and graduate highly motivated, disciplined, physically fit, technically knowledgeable 'warrior communicators' signal Soldiers who live the Army values and embody the Warrior Ethos." That mission will stay the same and transfer to its new home under 551st Sig. Bn.
"Our Soldiers will maintain the training they have always done until transformation occurs or we come down on orders," said Command Sgt. Maj. Thao Kamakahi-Watson, 551st Sig. Bn. command sergeant major. "When it comes to mission command, we can go ahead and better train and develop our Soldiers for operational units."
Along with units here at Fort Gordon, 551st Sig. Bn. gained the United States Army Signal School Detachment out of Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, making it the largest battalion in 15th Regimental Signal Brigade. Kamakahi Watson said the SSD is crucial to the overall success of the battalion's mission to provide worldclass Advanced Individualized Training to Soldiers in the school houses on both installations.
During a recent command inspection of the SSD, Lt. Col. Bruce Mumford said he was impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the students and staff.
"They are the perfect fit for a geographically dispersed subordinate unit," said Mumford, 447th Sig. Bn. commander.
Mumford also recognized the Information Technology Directorate, which is responsible for managing the training plans of the school's cadre. He credits the ITD with playing a key role in producing confident and competent "Soldiers of character."
"Students are getting industry standard certifications well above the pass rate of our seasoned professionals with years of experience on the job," Mumford said. " The Soldiers are arriving to their first units of assignment with elevated privileges and making a difference the day they arrive."
The 447th Signal Bn. will formally deactivate in a ceremony June 26 at 8 a.m. on Barton Field.
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