FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (July 16, 2015) -- The 3rd Chemical Brigade's commander has returned to Fort Leonard Wood from the Air War College, Montgomery, Alabama.
Col. Daryl Hood replaced Col. Jon Drushal as one of only two active-duty colonels who command a brigade-level chemical unit in the active-duty Army, during a change-of-command ceremony held Friday on Gammon Field.
Drushal leaves the brigade for I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he will serve as the unit's chemical officer.
"I hope I was able to take a few rocks out of your ruck sack," Drushal said.
Drushal emphasized trust, respect and influence, as it relates to the human dimension of leading Soldiers.
"Continue to treat those you lead and train with dignity and respect," he said.
The Tampa, Florida, native concluded with the words of Gen. Melvin Zais, a retired combat officer and former NATO chief for Southeast Europe in the 1970s.
"You cannot ask for respect and obedience and willingness to assault hot landing zones, hump back breaking ridges, destroy dug in emplacements, if your Soldier has not been treated with the dignity and respect that fosters unit esprit and personal pride. Beware that you do not fall into the category of the little man with a little job with a big head. In essence, be considerate, treat your subordinates right, and they will literally die for you," he said.
Brig. Gen. Maria Gervais, U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School commandant, said, "Over the last two years, Jon and Terry Drushal have poured their hearts and souls into this brigade, its mission and taking care of Soldiers, Families and civilians.
"If they were asked to give more, they would have found a way to make it happen."
Gervais mentioned accomplishments that were attributed to the brigade during Drushal's two-year command, which included:
-- Basic Combat Training mission. "34,000 civilians have been transformed into Soldiers for our Army."
-- Advanced Individual Training and motor transportation AIT. "He's ensured that our AIT Soldiers are tactically and technically proficient. Ten thousand motor transportation operators have passed through the 58th Transportation Battalion and 3rd Chem. Bde."
-- Training CBRN Soldiers. "He worked closely with the CBRN School to transform the regiment's professional military education, including implementing a dismounted reconnaissance course in support of the regiment's expanding countering weapons of mass destruction mission, and the development of a 16-week pilot CBRN warrant officer course, which began on June 1 of this year. He coordinated for officers attending the Captain's Career Course to receive instruction by DOD-leading scientists at Dugway Proving Grounds and the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and to execute missions in the Defense Nuclear Weapons School."
-- Resetting the force in CBRN readiness. "He was the impetus behind the operational force, specifically, the 82nd Airborne Global Response Force units in utilizing the Incident Response Training Department and the Chemical Defense Training Facility, to train their chemical/biological entry teams."
-- Chemical Surety compliance. "He did all of this while ensuring the CDTF and Fort Leonard Wood's Chem Surety program not only met Chem Surety compliance criteria, but exceeded the standard in every case."
As Hood took command of one of the most diverse brigades within Training and Doctrine Command, he said, "To whom much is given, much is required.
"It is indeed a privilege to command at any level, but especially this first-rate organization. I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity."
In closing, Hood said, "I am truly honored to be part of this distinguished unit and its history. I will do my utmost as your commander."
Hood, an Athens, Georgia, native, began his career as an enlisted Soldier from 1985 to 1989. He was at Fort Leonard Wood as the 3rd Chem. Bde. deputy commander from July 2013 to July 2014.
His deployments include Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Endeavor and multiple deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
"We know the Army does a great job in ensuring that the right leader is at the right place at the right time to assume command of this organization," Gervais said. "Hood is the right leader to take this brigade to the next level."
"We're fortunate to welcome the Hood Family," Gervais said. "There is no question that he will continue the momentum."
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