KATTERBACH, Germany - In a ceremony performed predominately by warrant officers, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kristopher W. Cornelius assumed responsibility of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade's warrant officer corps from retiring Chief Warrant Officer 5 Thomas R. Walton May 5, 2015, at hangar two on Katterbach.
"The position of the brigade command chief warrant officer was established by the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade command group in June, 2011," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mark L. Duplessie, the narrarator of the ceremony."The brigade command chief warrant officer is a critical assistant and advisor to the commander on all matters concerning warrant officers and their families. The command chief warrant officer monitors, mentors, and assists in the assignment and training of warrant officers."
Walton assumed the position in April, 2013, and is looking foward to retiring after 24-years in the military.
"I will miss chasing tail rotors around the night sky as a part of a large air assault formation," said Walton. "I will miss the pressure of making split-second decisions as an air-mission commander. I will miss training young aviators. I will definitely miss serving with the greatest people in Army aviation, the crew chiefs, who sit behind me without even a set of flight controls."
Cornelius, previously the brigade's master gunner, is excited to move down the hallway into his new office, and assume responsibility as the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade senior warrant officer.
"Thank you for trusting me with this amazing position to continue to serve the men and women of the 12th CAB," said Cornelius to Col. Vincent H. Torza, the brigade commander. "I will not fail you."
Before the change of responsibility, a brief retirement ceremony was held at which Walton was presented his retirement award, the Legion of Merit, his Certificate of Retirement, and his wife was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for her "unselfish, faithful and devoted service" to her husband and to the Army.
"What I will truly miss the most is the comraderie of being a part of the greatest Army in the world and the pride I feel when people ask me what I do, and I simply reply 'I am a Soldier!,'" Walton said.
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