FORT RILEY, Kan. -- According to military traditions, the command team of the 923rd Contracting Battalion at the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Riley, unfurled the flag attached to the guidon during an uncasing of the colors ceremony July 20.
The uncasing of the colors by Lt. Col. Mary O.B. Drayton and Sgt. Maj. Kimala Cox signifies the unit's reassignment and permanent change of station to Fort Riley, Kansas, from Warren, Michigan.
"We humbly accepted the responsibility to relocate the battalion to Fort Riley, Kansas, for the purpose of realigning the battalion with the 1st Infantry Division," Drayton said during the ceremony. "The alignment brings a deployable battalion headquarters and three contracting teams -- the 633rd, 634th and 719th. Today is about aligning the 923rd with the 1st Inf. Div. to ensure direct operational contracting support."
When the headquarters of a unit undergoes a relocation, the colors are cased to signify that the command has ceased operation at that location. Days before the ceremony at Fort Riley, Drayton and Cox cased the colors before departing for Kansas. The colors are then uncased at the new location to signify the command is operational.
Col. Lynda R. Armer, commander of the 418th Contracting Support Brigade, was present for the ceremony. She said the relocation of this unit fills a gap in our support to the warfighter and accomplishes the brigade mission to support III Corps and its missions.
"The battalion is here and is prepared to provide effective and agile contracting support to the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley installation," she said.
Drayton thanked everyone in the audience for their support of the battalion and said she looks forward to supporting the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley.
"As the colors are uncased today at Fort Riley they serve as a constant reminder of the selfless service, commitment and sacrifice of each and every Soldier, officer and noncommissioned officer of the 923rd contracting battalion," Drayton said. "The colors link us together to carry out one purpose and that is to provide the utmost contracting service to our warfighters."
Drayton previously served as the executive officer for the deputy assistant secretary of the Army (procurement) at the Pentagon. Armer said she has an abundance of contracting experience to share with the battalion at Fort Riley.
"Take it and make it stronger," Armer told the command team. "You have my full support and confidence."
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