HOHENFELS, Germany (April 11, 2016) -- Command Sergeant Major Todd R. Crawford just stepped into his new role at 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, headquartered here at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.
"I'm very excited to be here," said Crawford.
Crawford comes to the 1-4 from 3rd Infantry Division, headquartered at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He arrived just over one week ago, jumping right into Saber Junction 16.
Saber Junction is the U.S. Army Europe's 173rd Airborne Brigade's combat training center certification exercise, taking place at the JMRC, March 31-April 24, 2016.
The battalion's mission is to serve as opposing forces during exercises five times every year. The unit provides realistic, tactical training in a multinational environment. They simulate everything from conventional force engagements to guerilla warfare to chemical attacks throughout the 40,000-acre Hohenfels Training Area in southeastern Germany
The 1-4's battalion commander, Lt. Col. Matthew T. Archambault, said the command sergeant major brings a unique experience to the unit. "He's got vast experience under his belt. He's going to help make us better because one of the best things about the United States Army is that people come and go. When they arrive in the formation, they bring energy and a new look that helps us fight complacency."
His combat experience includes five deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. His previous assignments include the 82nd Airborne Division, the 3rd Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division.
This is a special appointment for Crawford, as more than 53% of his unit's combat power comes from outside of this unit.
"The 1-4 is a different type of unit for me," said Crawford. "There's a lot of diversity that comes along with being in a combat training center. We have to work with different countries, Reserves, National Guard. We have to be adaptive."
When discussing how he got where he is now, Crawford said, "I always wanted to be in the military for as long as I can remember. Here I am, 26 years later -- still in, ready to go, ready to serve and pass on whatever knowledge I have to my Soldiers."
The battalion's troops are known as the Warriors. Their mission is to train and win the fight, a sentiment Crawford takes seriously as he prepares to lead his new formation.
"He wants to make the battalion better," said Archambault. "He's going to identify things that perhaps we haven't been thinking about here in order to continue to get better.
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