Raider Brigade welcomes new command sergeant major

By Capt. Daniel ParkerSeptember 25, 2020

Col. Ike Sallee, commander, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pins the Legion of Merit on Command Sgt. Maj. Delfin Romani's collar at the 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. Romani was awarded the LOM in recognition of his service during his tenure as the 1st SBCT Command Sgt. Maj. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Ike Sallee, commander, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pins the Legion of Merit on Command Sgt. Maj. Delfin Romani's collar at the 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. Romani was awarded the LOM in recognition of his service during his tenure as the 1st SBCT Command Sgt. Maj. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker) (Photo Credit: Capt. Daniel Parker) VIEW ORIGINAL
Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Higley, left, brigade Command Sgt. Maj., 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, passes the brigade colors to Sgt. Maj. Willie Woods, the change of responsibility ceremony commander of troops at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. The passing of the colors symbolizes the passing of responsibility from one leader to another. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Higley, left, brigade Command Sgt. Maj., 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, passes the brigade colors to Sgt. Maj. Willie Woods, the change of responsibility ceremony commander of troops at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. The passing of the colors symbolizes the passing of responsibility from one leader to another. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker) (Photo Credit: Capt. Daniel Parker) VIEW ORIGINAL
Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Higley, brigade Command Sgt. Maj., 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, gives remarks to the audience at the 1st SBCT change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. Higley's previous assignment was with the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade on Fort Carson. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Higley, brigade Command Sgt. Maj., 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, gives remarks to the audience at the 1st SBCT change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. Higley's previous assignment was with the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade on Fort Carson. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker) (Photo Credit: Capt. Daniel Parker) VIEW ORIGINAL
Col. Ike Sallee, commander, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, gives remarks at the 1st SBCT change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. Sallee presided over the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Ike Sallee, commander, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, gives remarks at the 1st SBCT change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. Sallee presided over the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker) (Photo Credit: Capt. Daniel Parker) VIEW ORIGINAL
Command Sgt. Maj. Delfin Romani, left, the outgoing brigade Command Sgt. Maj.  and Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Higley, right, the Command Sgt. Maj. for 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stand at parade rest during the 1st SBCT change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. The ceremony was smaller in scale in order to ensure proper COVID-19 precautions were taken. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Delfin Romani, left, the outgoing brigade Command Sgt. Maj. and Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Higley, right, the Command Sgt. Maj. for 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stand at parade rest during the 1st SBCT change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. The ceremony was smaller in scale in order to ensure proper COVID-19 precautions were taken. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker) (Photo Credit: Capt. Daniel Parker) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sgt. Maj. Willie Woods, the commander of troops for the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division change of responsibility ceremony salutes the brigade commander at the start of the ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Maj. Willie Woods, the commander of troops for the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division change of responsibility ceremony salutes the brigade commander at the start of the ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker) (Photo Credit: Capt. Daniel Parker) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers stand with company, battery, and troop guidons and battalion and squadron colors during the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. The ceremony was smaller in scale in order to ensure proper COVID-19 precautions were taken. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers stand with company, battery, and troop guidons and battalion and squadron colors during the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. The ceremony was smaller in scale in order to ensure proper COVID-19 precautions were taken. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker) (Photo Credit: Capt. Daniel Parker) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lt. Col. Andrew Olson, commander, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, reads the program for the 1st SBCT change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. The ceremony was smaller in scale in order to ensure proper COVID-19 precautions were taken. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Andrew Olson, commander, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, reads the program for the 1st SBCT change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 23, 2020. The ceremony was smaller in scale in order to ensure proper COVID-19 precautions were taken. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker) (Photo Credit: Capt. Daniel Parker) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. – The Raider Brigade welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Higley Maj. to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, as he took responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Delfin Romani during a change of responsibility ceremony at Founders Field, September 23.

Col. Ike Sallee, commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, presided over the event as Romani passed the brigade colors to Higley.

"Command Sergeant Major Romani, you embody the greatest attributes of a Soldier, an NCO, a leader and a man," said Sallee. "From the day you took responsibility for the BCT, you’ve been tireless."

Romani served more than 18 months as the brigade’s senior enlisted leader, and during that time he led the formation through several field exercises and a first of its kind rotation to the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California.

The Raider Brigade was the first active duty brigade to execute a rotation to NTC after COVID-19 temporarily suspended training there. The brigade also conducted expeditionary reception, staging, onward movement and integration at NTC, which was historically done through the pre-established rotational unit bivouac area.

It was during NTC that Romani forged some of his fondest memories of his Soldiers.

“My proudest moment was seeing our NCOs leading the training and development of their own teams, squads, platoons,” said Romani. “Their tenacity was tested and proven at NTC.”

He also left the Soldiers of his formation with one last piece of advice before departing the team.

“Be relentless at meeting your full potential,” said Romani. “I am humbled to have served alongside the men and women of this great brigade.”

The Raider Brigade also benefits from the experience and dedication of its new leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Higley.

In thinking about what excites him most about his new post, Higley discussed the importance of Soldiers meeting their full potential.

“Joining a new unit in any capacity is always exciting,” said Higley. “This one is special because it provides the opportunity to help a new group of Soldiers reach their full potential.”

Higley brings over 20 years of experience as an infantryman, and he most recently served as the command sergeant major for 2nd Battalion, 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade, on Fort Carson.

Sallee also expressed gratitude for the experience Higley brings to the Raider Brigade.