The 192nd Infantry Brigade's new commander is back in a familiar place, while the man he succeeds returns to the roots of his Army career.
COL Terrence McKenrick officially began a fifth tour at Fort Benning June 11 when he replaced COL Michael Coss during a change of command ceremony at Sand Hill's Pomeroy Field.
"We say farewell to one superb commander and welcome a new, equally gifted commander," said MG Michael Barbero, commander of the U.S. Army Infantry Center and Fort Benning. "It's really a 'welcome home' for him."
In his most recent stint here, McKenrick was the 4th Ranger Training Battalion commander. He also served as personnel chief for the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Prior to returning, he commanded the Warrior Transition Brigade at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
McKenrick graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1986 and was commissioned as an Infantry officer. He served as officer-in-charge of the joint operations center for Multi-National Corps-Iraq and supported Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.
His 23-year career includes stops in Hawaii, Germany, Fort Myer, Va., and Fort Lewis, Wash.
"He understands the fight ... and understands the impact of sending Soldiers to war," Barbero said. "Under his leadership, the 192nd will continue to train the world's best Soldiers."
McKenrick said results of the brigade's work are seen daily in the "effectiveness of our junior Soldiers" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"You have my personal commitment to continue to train Soldiers to the utmost highest standards," he said.
Meanwhile, Coss departs for South Korea, where he'll become the 2nd Infantry Division's chief of staff. In the mid-1980s, one of his first duty assignments came as a rifle platoon leader at Camp Hovey near Korea's demilitarized zone.
Barbero said the 192nd Inf. Bde. has made a "tremendous impact" on the Army in the last two years.
"We build the nation's might, and no one does it better than the 192nd Infantry Brigade," he said. "The one indispensable ingredient in this crucible is leadership."
The brigade supports the global war on terror with two Basic Combat Training battalions, a one station unit training Infantry battalion and the 30th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception).
Under Coss, who took over as commander in May 2007, the 192nd Inf. Bde. produced more than 20,000 Soldiers "ready to fight" for the Army, Barbero said.
"He has turned these young Americans into confident, competent Soldiers," he said. "He set a strong, positive example for his leaders to emulate."
Coss was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant in 1984 after completing Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. He has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia and also served at Fort Lewis; Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
He praised the "huge sacrifices" made by the brigade's drill sergeants. They guide Soldiers and recruits six days a week and never take a day off - except for Christmas, he said.
"This has definitely been the greatest and highest honor in my career," Coss said.
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