First Team welcomes new leadership

By Master Sgt. Jacob CaldwellOctober 11, 2017

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
First Team welcomes new leadership
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gen. Robert B. Abrams, commanding general for U.S. Forces Command, passes the 1st Cavalry Division colors to Maj. Gen. Paul T. Calvert, new division commanding general, during a change of command ceremony conducted Oct. 3 on Cooper Field here. Calver... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, TX -- First Team Troopers from across the 1st Cavalry Division gathered Tuesday on Cooper field for both a change of command and change of responsibility ceremony.

The division said farewell to Maj. Gen. John C. Thomson, III, Commanding General, and Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice Jackson, the division's Command Sergeant Major. They also welcomed newly promoted Maj. Gen. Paul T. Calvert, former Deputy Commanding General -- Maneuver, and Command Sgt. Maj. Shane E. Pospisil, who came to Fort Hood from the United States Training Mission -- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Both Thomson and Jackson have moved to III Corps to assume roles of Deputy Commanding General -- Maneuver and Home Station Command Sergeant Major respectively. Both will serve as the top leaders for Fort Hood while the corps is deployed.

Gen. Robert B. Abrams, U.S. Forces Command commanding general, presided over the ceremony and spoke about the leadership of Thomson and Jackson.

"They lead this division through every success, but they also lead this division through tragedy and adversity," said Abrams during the ceremony, "and they have always lead from the front with the outstanding personal example of compassion and resolve."

Abrams also spoke of Calvert as he takes the reigns of the division.

"General Calvert is a proven combat leader with extensive joint experience," said Abrams. "He's one of the Army's premiere trainers and leader developers. He is the exact right leader at the exact right time to lead this division into the future as we face a more uncertain and a much more dangerous world than ever before."

Thomson took time and thanked numerous military and civic leaders and family members and friends for their support during his command of the division. He also spoke highly of his successor.

"To Paul and Tracy Calvert, nobody asked for our vote, but no one could have asked for a finer team to take the First Team forward. We have been privileged to serve with you over the past year and are blessed to count you as friends. Thank you for your incredible leadership and your teamwork … the reigns of the leadership are in very good hands."

Calvert spoke about the honor of commanding and his focus going forward.

"I am humbled by the opportunity to command in this historic division," said Calvert. "I'm absolutely honored to lead out nation's sons and daughters."

"Ladies and gentlemen, the mission of the formation is to provide our nation with a reliable basis for success in battle every single day," said Calvert, "We must be ready now. This is our focus. And I look forward to working with Command Sgt. Maj. Pospisil and the rest of the leaders and troopers of this division to ensure that we are ready now."