CHIÈVRES, Belgium -- Army Command Sgt. Maj. Samara Lyn Pitre took the U.S. Army Garrison Benelux flag from garrison commander Army Col. Kurt Connell signaling her assumption of responsibility as the garrison senior enlisted advisor during a ceremony held Oct. 24 at the Community Activity Center on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium.
Pitre, a native of Staten Island, New York, enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1990 as a split-option trainee reservist, completing Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in September 1990, and advanced individual training as a legal specialist, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, in October 1991. She transferred to active duty in November 1991 and completed her second AIT as an administrative specialist at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in June 1992.
Before assuming responsibility of the garrison, she recently completed a tour as the CSM for the Special Troops Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade.
"I was inspired. I was inspired that once again I would be given the opportunity to take care of people. When I say 'people' I don't just mean Soldiers. Just because I'm wearing a uniform that doesn't mean my job stops with those wearing uniforms. When I say I'm here to take care of people I mean I'm here to take care of everyone in the Benelux community, all Army professionals, military and civilian personnel alike," she said.
Army Command Sgt. Maj. William L. Majors, who assumed responsibility of USAG Benelux in June 2015, said his farewell address at the event. He spoke about the Benelux team.
"The most self-disciplined, the most highly-trained professionals. Everyone looks out for one another…I really appreciate the fact that you continue to move the ball forward," he said. "Allies and partners, I thank you for building a strong community of friends and family members. That's necessary for keeping us going forward."
The garrison commander spoke about Majors. "You need that best friend, that partner who will bolster you up when you need it. That's what CSM Majors did for me over the course of the last year and a half…That's why I'm so grateful to the Army for putting someone like CSM Majors in my path to provide me with the true coaching you get from your peers," Connell said.
A retirement ceremony honoring Majors' career followed the Change of Responsibility that day.
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