FORT SHAFTER FLATS, Hawaii - The 9th Mission Support Command welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Jessie Baird as the new senior enlisted leader of the U.S. Army Reserve of the Pacific with an official Assumption of Responsibility ceremony Oct. 20, 2018.
Baird assumed responsibility of the command from Sgt. Maj. Stuart Coupe, the 9th MSC acting command sergeant major. Coupe maintained the position following the recent retirement of former 9th Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Lindung.
The event was presided by Brig. Gen. Douglas Anderson, 9th Mission Support Command commanding general, who thanked Coupe for a superb job, for serving the command with excellence, and welcomed Baird.
"Command Sgt. Maj. Baird is more forward thinking, she understands the Pacific, has the drive and potential and that is why Command Sgt. Maj. Baird is the best person for the position," Anderson said. "She is the protector and guardian of the colors and her words and actions represent mine."
The ceremony, hosted by the 4960th Multi-Functional Training Brigade, centered around the Army tradition of passing the unit colors between the outgoing and incoming command sergeant major. The command sergeant major is the senior enlisted advisor in the unit and the principal advisor to the commander on all facets of the units operations. The physical passing of the flag, referred to as the unit colors, symbolizes the exchange of the responsibility for the care and keeping of the unit and its Soldiers.
After the ceremonial actions, Anderson presented Baird with a framed copy of the NCO Creed as a reminder to her charge as the senior noncommissioned officer of the Army Reserve of the Pacific.
"We hold NCOs to this creed, and supporting the words it says, it is a great counseling for NCOs, as a new era begins with Command Sergeant Major Jessie Baird," he said.
Following the presentation of the gift, Coupe addressed the audience with some parting words.
"I appreciate everything you do every day; we didn't have the opportunity to do this when Command Sgt. Maj. Lindung retired, so on behalf of him, thank you to all the Soldiers, thank you to your families. I have truly appreciated being your command sergeant major and everything you have done to support the command; we have literally made this the best command in the United States Army Reserve," said Coupe.
The 9th MSC is the most ethnically diverse, geographically dispersed command in the U.S. Army Reserve, crossing seven times zones, two states, two territories, a commonwealth and two foreign countries. Its Soldiers speak 29 different languages.
Baird also spoke of the position and opportunities.
"I am proud, honored and excited to serve as your command sergeant major, and to be in such a proud and storied organization," Baird said. "I am grateful for the opportunity."
Baird thanked her peers, her leadership, mentors and many more. She thanked her husband Scott, her parents for their influence, and her children Becca, Mitch, Libby, and John. "My parents not only preached the value of hard work but also the value of example," she said.
"No one is successful alone. Family, friends, coworkers, superiors and subordinates helped shape me to who I am today. Leaders helped me shape my leadership style," Baird said. "I cannot guarantee you 100 percent success in every endeavor, but I can guarantee you 100 percent effort. I love serving my country and our Soldiers and they will get my maximum effort. "
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