FORT HUACHUCA, Arizona -- Sixteen Soldiers with a collective 330 years of service formally bid farewell to the military and the installation April 21 on Brown Parade Field during the installation's quarterly retirement ceremony.
Guest speaker Col. Wendy Rivers, commander, Information Systems Engineering Command, spoke on behalf of the Fort Huachuca community as she bid farewell to the retirees and wished them the best as they moved into a new chapter of their lives.
"The retirees here today cover a generation that begins in 1987 with over 330 years of dedicated service to this nation. What I will tell you is that in 1987 the Army active-duty strength was 780,000 Soldiers," Rivers said. "But when we look back and compare, today is a very different Army than it was 30 years ago when Colonel DuQuesnay took the oath of office."
Rivers addressed the ten NCOs in the retirement ceremony first in the opening statement.
"[NCOs] represent the backbone of the Army, and they leave us with this: 'No one will ever be more professional than I. I am a noncommissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers. I will never forget nor will I allow my comrades, active and retired, to forget that we are professional noncommissioned officers.'"
Rivers spoke about the three warrant officers next.
"They represent highly specialized experts and trainers in their field. And they leave us with this: 'We make up the technical foundation of the United States Army. We have and will always be the nation's strength of knowledge.'"
Rivers concluded with the three commissioned officers, saying they "represent managers, problem solvers, key influencers and strategic planners leading from the front. And they leave us with: 'I will always give to the selfless performance of my duty and my mission the best effort thought and dedication that I can provide. I will continue to act with candor and integrity to earn the unquestionable trust of my fellow soldiers, junior, senior and associates and employing my rank and position, not to serve myself, but to serve my country and my unit.'"
In addition to the awards for military service, each retiring Solider received a certificate of appreciation signed by the president of the United States, a certificate of retirement and a retirement flag.
This quarter's retirees include:
Col. Dwight DuQuesnay has 30 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the director of Doctrine, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE). For his service, DuQuesnay received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Lt. Col. Aaron Peck has 21 years of service to the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army National Guard. He is presently assigned as Chief of Staff, Deputy Commanding General-Army National Guard, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), USAICoE. For his service, Peck received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Maj. Nicole Lauenstein has over 16 years of service to the U.S. Army. She was assigned as an executive officer for the TRADOC Capabilities Manager-Identity (TCM-I), HHC, USAICoE. For her service, Lauenstein received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Diehl has 26 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as an instructor for the Warrant Officer Training Branch, 304th Military Intelligence Battalion. For his service, Diehl received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven Holloway has 21 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a senior network technician for the Regional Cyber Center CONUS. For his service, Holloway received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rachael Butler has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. She is presently the Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM) Assistant Chief of Staff G1, chief of Strength Management and Adjutant. For her service, Butler received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Master Sgt. Robert McCollum has 26 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the Equal Opportunity Advisor/Program Manager for NETCOM. For his service, McCollum received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Caravona Jr. has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the kennel master for the 483d Military Police Detachment, U.S. Army Garrison. For his service, Caravona Jr. received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Sgt. 1st Class Natricia Edwards has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. She is presently assigned as a senior paralegal NCO at HHC, USAICoE. For her service, Edwards received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Sgt. 1st Class Derrick Oliver has 26 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the Secretary General Staff noncommissioned officer in charge at NETCOM. For his service, Oliver received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Elorreaga has 22 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the Command Language Program Manager for USAICoE and the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Training and Doctrine Command Culture Center. For his service, Elorreaga received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Bednarz has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a senior instructor/writer for the Noncommissioned Officer's Academy, USAICoE. For his service, Bednarz received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Staff Sgt. Daniel Carnaghi has 22 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a senior instrumentalist for the Military Intelligence Corps Band. For his service, Carnaghi received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Staff Sgt. Gonzalo Ramirez has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as an instructor for Charlie Company, 309th MI Bn. For his service, Ramirez received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Staff Sgt. Brian Sladky has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned to HHHC, NETCOM G2. For his service, Sladky received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Staff Sgt. Lael Palmer served 13 years in the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned 111th Military Intelligence Brigade. For his service, Palmer received the Meritorious Service Medal.
To conclude the ceremony, spouses of each retiree received a certificate of appreciation and flowers or other tokens of a gratitude for their support.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, in time honored tradition, the audience sang Old Soldiers Never Die, Auld Lang Syne and the Army Song, accompanied by the Military Intelligence Corps Band. B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial), made their customary charge on horseback across Brown Parade Field as a final goodbye to the departing retirees.
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