FORT SILL, Okla., June 9, 2016 -- A double change of responsibility (COR) for commandants and command sergeants major occurred for the Army's two artillery schools here, June 3.
Brig. Gen. Randall McIntire succeeded Brig. Gen. Christopher Spillman as the new commandant of the Air Defense Artillery School and chief of ADA. Fort Sill then welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Finis Dodson who replaced CSM Harold Lincoln. McIntire arrives from Headquarters, Department of the Army, where he was deputy director of Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate. Spillman will be commanding general of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort Bliss, Texas.
The ceremony also welcomed Col. Stephen Maranian as the new Field Artllery School commandant and chief of FA, replacing Brig. Gen. William Turner. Maranian previously served as U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Task Force's chief of staff. Turner moves on to become the deputy division commander at Fort Riley, Kan.
The FA School also welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Berk Parsons who filled a position vacant since December.
The ceremony began with the posting of the colors and an invocation by Chap. (Col.) John Morris, installation chaplain, who said, "Our Fires family is saying farewell to a significant part of our brain trust who take with them hard-earned experience."
Two Soldiers from the Fort Sill Artillery Half Section presented bouquets of flowers to the spouses of the outgoing and incoming command teams. Sgt. Scott Gamble, Half Section noncommissioned officer in charge, and Sgt. Bryant Ray also received a traditional gift in return from Alissa Turner and Joanne Spillman: a bucket of apples and carrots for the equine Soldiers of the Half Section.
After the traditional four-part transfer of the unit colors from the outgoing commander, to Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, to the incoming commandant, to the new command sergeant major, Rossi addressed the gathering. He praised Spillman and Turner for their abilities to implement his vision and to work together as a Fires team.
"One of things I asked them to do is to make Fires relevant and instill confidence in us as the Army reduces, to make us indispensable," said Rossi. He said the Army wants a better quality officer produced with "less time in the classroom and less money to do it with and (fewer) instructors." Spillman approached his task from the top down, said Rossi.
He said Spillman's Patriot and THAAD forces are the most deployed units in the Army.
"He started figuring how in 20 years from now that force could be adjusted to stay as relevant it is. At the same time he pushed and reinforced the need for a short-range air defense force. He pulled the maneuver world into it and so now he has infantry and armored leaders saying 'I need what Spillman is advocating.' Like a skilled architect, piece by piece, Chris built this from the top down and he absolutely hit a home run."
Turner used a different tactic, said Rossi, starting from the bottom up.
"(Turner) took a field artillery force and he leveraged back in history to where we were 15, 20 years ago with a division artillery base. Because of his work there we now have Army maneuver leaders say 'That's the capability I can't live without.' No one has done more for the Field Artillery Branch to bring the King of Battle back where it needs to be in the eyes of not just the Army, but of the Joint Force. Another home run."
Rossi referred to the outgoing commandants as "phenomenal teammates," and said it wouldn't surprise him if one of them returned to stand in his shoes one day. Rossi's charge to their replacements was simple. "Make it better than you found it."
Spillman and Turner each received the Legion of Merit medal, and their wives received Outstanding Civilian Service medals from Rossi, as well as Governor's Commendations, signed by Mary Fallon, Oklahoma governor, "in recognition of their genuine care and concern for the Army family and Soldiers, for their support of the Fort Sill Council of Advisors, the Patriot Spouses Club, the Growing Spouses Army Strong, and the historical tours."
Spillman thanked "soon to be Lt. Gen. John Rossi" for setting a good example for him when he was "a brand new general officer."
Spillman said, "I think we're at the very beginning of a new era of Fires for the United States Army. There is no better pick to be the ADA commandant in the Army than Randy McIntire. He worked up in the Army staff in the plans and handled many complex air defense issues with other senior leaders, and he did it spectacularly well."
Turner thanked Rossi for "challenging us to find innovative ways to achieve our objectives while meeting your intent.
"From the start our focus has always been on training and educating adaptive and innovative leaders and Soldiers, the reintegration of our division artilleries, modernizing our capabilities while also seizing opportunities to converge within the greater Fires force, and finally on recruiting and retaining quality Soldiers into our ranks," said Turner.
"During the last couple of years the 17th, the 75th and the 18th Field Artillery brigades have deployed to CENTCOM (U. S. Central Command) areas of responsibility expertly conducting mission command of firing units throughout the region," he said. "Simultaneously the 210th Field Artillery Brigade continues its mission to deter North Korea aggression and maintain peace on the Korean peninsula. These units are performing exceptionally well."
Turner said they were especially proud to have established a Fires Targeting Center.
"The FCoE is now a proponent in joint targeting accreditation, developing targeting doctrine and policy, and also managing our Army's targeting certification programs. We have developed a comprehensive 13 Series MOS review that effectively integrated technological advancements and leveraged the phenomenal capabilities of our Soldiers."
McIntire said of his new job, "My overarching goal for the Air Defense Artillery Branch is simple: Ensure we do our part to contributing to warfighting readiness, which is achieved by focusing on the basics and setting that foundation. Creating air missile defense leaders and subject matter experts all starts here at Fort Sill. It's an honor to know that I am part of a branch that has a very bright future."
Maranian praised Turner, in whose footsteps he follows.
"Under his watch field artillery has made great strides in regaining competencies that have eroded over the last 15 years Field artillery has an amazing legacy as the King of Battle. We're an essential, trusted and reliable part of the Army's combined arms team, and in the months and years to come we will continue to hone our tradecraft. We'll modernize, organize and frame the force to deliver timely and precise, joint and combined arms fires enabling unified land operations."
To remind them of their time leading their respective schoolhouses, Sgt. 1st Class Scott U'ren and Spc. Brett Nelson of the Fort Sill Salute Battery, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery, presented the departing generals with canisters, which represented the last artillery shells of their commands.
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