General takes helm of 7th Civil Support Command

By Sgt. Daniel FriedbergJune 22, 2009

General takes helm of 7th Civil Support Command
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The outgoing and incoming commanders of the 7th Civil Support Command, along with the commander of the troops and the commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Maj. Gen. Yves J. Fontaine, salute the colors as they inspect the troops... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
General takes helm of 7th Civil Support Command
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells, the commander of the 7th Civil Support Command, addresses his troops as well as the attendees of the 7th CSC's change of command ceremony at Panzer Parade Field in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 20 shortly after taken com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
General takes helm of 7th Civil Support Command
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells, the commander of the 7th Civil Support Command, addresses his troops as well as the attendees of the 7th CSC's change of command ceremony at Panzer Parade Field in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 20 shortly after taken com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
General takes helm of 7th Civil Support Command
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Yves J. Fontaine, the commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, passes the colors of the 7th Civil Support Command to Brig. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells, the incoming commander of the 7th CSC, symbolizing his assumption of comma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - Riding in from the state of Texas, Brig. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells assumed the duty of commander of the 7th Civil Support Command in a change-of-command ceremony held at Panzer Parade Field here June 20.

The Texas native succeeded Brig. Gen. Jon J. Miller, who served nearly two years as commanding general of the 7th CSC.

In his initial address as commander of the 7th CSC, Wells said he was of simple taste, "wanting only the best" of and for his Soldiers. The general also said he expects his Soldiers to be capable to "lead, follow, or get out of the way."

Wells stressed the importance of the 7th CSC in handling future contingencies and then went on to underscore the importance of Army Reserve transformation.

"We are in a world-wide struggle with nefarious characters," he said. "These are long-term battles that will be won or lost with human skill and knowledge ... not bombs."

Wells then pointed out the unique consequence management role of the 7th CSC with its civil support teams and a civil affairs brigade.

"If our nation calls this specialized, skill rich unit to duty, it will respond as no other Army Reserve unit must," he said. "We have elements that are indeed ready, relevant and able to react to what one euphemistically could call 'consequences'."

Wells was also given the additional job of deputy commander of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, the higher headquarters of the 7th CSC.

Wells has served in a number of capacities in his 28 years of military service. Prior to coming here, he commanded the 1st Battle Command Training Brigade, 75th Battle Command Training Division, in Houston for two years.

His early military experiences include tours as an intelligence officer in Korea, an artillery fire support officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, and an infantry company commander with the 108th Infantry Division. Subsequently in his career, Wells also held operational, executive and command level positions in various maintenance, support and logistical commands. His combat experiences include participation in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada and three tours in Iraq, the last of which he spent as deputy for operations at the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office, U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Wells began his commissioned career in 1981 when he graduated with honors from Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Ga. He is also a graduate of the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, Calif. Wells has completed various special military courses to include the Korean Ranger Course, Airborne Jumpmaster Course, and Jungle Warfare Course-Panama. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Golden Gate University and a Master of Strategic Studies at the Army War College.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with one oak-leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak-leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three oak-leaf clusters, Combat Action Badge and Master Parachutist Badge.

The 7th CSC is the Army's only Reserve command stationed outside the territorial United States and is comprised of 14 Army Reserve units located in Germany and Italy. With more than 900 European-based Reserve Soldiers, the 7th CSC provides foreign consequence management and civil affairs capabilities to the U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army. The 7th CSC's unique command alignment under the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, USAREUR and 7th Army, and its new mission capabilities make it a model for active and reserve component teamwork and partnership.