JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (July 18, 2018) -- As the summer assignment rotation continues, command of one brigade and two battalions changed hands during ceremonies across the Mission and Installation Contracting Command in July.
New leaders were welcomed at the 418th Contracting Support Brigade and its 901st Contracting Battalion both at Fort Hood, Texas, as well as the 923rd CBN at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Lt. Col. Kizzy Danser assumed command of the 901st CBN from Lt. Col. Nate Bryant in a ceremony July 6 officiated by Col. Lynda Armer, then-commander of the 418th CSB. Danser comes to the 901st CBN from Aberdeen Proving Ground where she served as a contracting management officer for the Army Contracting Command. Bryant leaves the battalion to attend the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
"I would have never imagined a tall, country girl from rural Georgia would be standing before you as a battalion commander" Danser said. "I am truly pleased to return back to the MICC formation."
Danser went on to thank Bryant for his fine job in leading the battalion, her family support team, and those making up the 901st CBN and MICC-Fort Hood for their efforts and positive attitude.
On July 12, Col. Joel Greer assumed command of the 418th CSB from Armer in a ceremony officiated by Brig. Gen. Bill Boruff, the MICC commanding general. Greer returns to the MICC after serving as the chief of force management for III Corps. Prior to that, he led the 919th CBN and MICC-Fort Bliss contracting office in El Paso before attending the Army War College.
"It is very comforting to see the level of expertise the brigade has in the formation. You are the reason the 418th has a positive reputation," said Greer to the members of his command during the ceremony on Fort Hood's Hildner Field. "Your small presence you see on the field does not reflect the great impact or reach of the 418th."
To the commanders and directors of battalions and contracting offices subordinate to the 418th CSB, Greer expressed three things they must do on a daily basis - build trust, build fitness and build discipline. "They cannot be surged or resourced in the time of need," he added.
Boruff welcomed Greer to his new leadership position with the brigade, which is aligned to support III Corps, and took time to recognize the achievements of Armer during her tenure as brigade commander.
Armer took command of the brigade in September 2018. Under her leadership, the 418th CSB executed more than 15,000 contract actions valued at more than $1.2 billion. She also led the brigade during operational contract joint exercises in 2016 and 2017. Most notably, Armer led her brigade during a nine-month deployment as the lead element for Army Contracting Command-Afghanistan, where her team provided contract support for the 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and NATO. Armer depart the brigade to attend the Army War College.
Only days after assuming command, Greer had the opportunity to officiate a similar ceremony July 26 at which Lt. Col. Robert Bartruff assumed command of the 923rd CBN from Col. Mary Drayton at Fort Riley, Kansas. Bartruff comes to the 923rd CBN from ACC, where he served as the chief of strategic operations and plans.
"I am deeply honored to be part of the 923rd Contracting Battalion and Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Riley and humbled as I consider the immense responsibilities inherent in providing effective and agile contracting support to America's oldest continuously serving regular Army combined arms division, the 1st Infantry Division," Bartruff said. "To the 923rd Contracting Battalion and MICC-Fort Riley, I and all leaders are keenly aware that our successes belong to others. Thank you for your untiring efforts to support the warfighter and enable readiness. You shoulder a significant responsibility with great demands; it is not an easy thing."
Drayton departs the battalion to attend the Army War College.
The tradition of changes of command is rooted in military history dating back to the 18th century when organizational flags with colors and symbols unique to each unit were developed. During a change of command conducted in front of the unit, the organizational flag was passed to the individual assuming command to which Soldiers of the unit would dedicate their loyalty and trust. Today, a unit's colors also represents its heritage and history.
About the MICC:
Headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command consists of about 1,500 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting goods and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon. The command is made up of two contracting support brigades, two field directorates, 30 contracting offices and nine battalions. MICC contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, facilitate training in the preparation of more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, and maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.
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