Madigan Army Medical Center's Warrior Transition Battalion welcomed new leadership April 3 when Command Sgt. Maj. Beau Buford assumed responsibility of the unit, replacing the outgoing interim command sergeant major, Master Sgt. Cindy Holt, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Buford previously served as command sergeant major of the 2nd Battalion, 382nd Regiment (Logistics Support Battalion) in Waco, Texas.
"Command Sgt. Maj. Buford, you are the right leader for this battalion, and it will be your leadership, your character, and your professional presence that will move this organization to the next level. You're the cornerstone of this battalion, and I know that you will succeed in all that you do," said WTB Commander Lt. Col. Jeffery Mosso, who presided over the ceremony.
A combat medical specialist by profession, Buford's career includes several first sergeant assignments in numerous units to include the 345th Combat Support Hospital in Tikrit, Iraq. He also served at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, and deployed to Haiti.
As the WTB command sergeant major, Buford serves as the senior noncommissioned officer and senior enlisted advisor to the WTB commander, and leads staff members while taking care of nearly 200 Soldiers. He's coming into a unit whose primary mission is taking care of Soldiers' medical needs, helping them to heal and transition either back to regular duty or to becoming successful civilian veterans.
An Army veteran of nearly 27 years and a Bronze Star recipient, Buford has a personal connection to the mission of taking care of ill, injured and wounded Soldiers. His own father was a medic in the Green Berets, and became a wounded warrior himself.
"I wish that we would've had the things that we have today and the tools that we have today for Soldiers like him and Soldiers that have come before. Because what I see today is that we have outstanding facilities, we have outstanding civilians, and outstanding cadre who really care about these Soldiers," said Buford.
He noted that it is important that Soldiers don't forget the history of wounded warrior care from past generations so that they can move forward in the right direction today.
"We all have a responsibility to our new wounded warriors and to our heroes, to make their lives the best that we can, and I am honored to accept this responsibility, and I will do my best to ensure this battalion continues to be successful," Buford said.
He pledged to do his part in taking care of the Soldiers under his care.
"To the Soldiers of the Warrior Transition Battalion, I promise you this, if there's something I can help you with … my door will always be open. I will be there for you," he said.
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