Duran takes responsibility for Jackson Garrison

U.S. Army Garrison – Fort Jackson welcomed a new senior enlisted leader Oct. 27 as Command Sgt. Maj. R. Cesar Duran assumed responsibility for the unit from Command Sgt. Maj. Algrish Williams in a ceremony at the NCO Club.

The change of responsibility ceremony is a simple, traditional event that is centered around the passing of the unit colors from one command sergeant major to another via the unit commander.

After Garrison Commander Col. Ryan Hanson received the colors from Williams and passed them to Duran, he spoke about the two leaders.

“There’s a saying that I have and that is in our personal lives, you can judge a man by the company that he keeps,” said Hanson during the ceremony praising the two senior NCOs. “Likewise, professionally, I believe you can judge and understand an officer by the (noncommissioned officers) to which he served.”

“With that I say today that my success now and anything that happens in the future will be due in part to these two great leaders before you,” Hanson said.

Hanson lauded Williams as the “most professional leader I’ve had the opportunity to work with, who is satisfied that others receive the credit.”

Williams is a man of action who doesn’t boast and who as a mentor to the organization and helped it grow and learn, he added while speaking to post leadership and the assembled garrison directors.

Williams will be retiring soon.

“My Family and I are extremely proud and humbled to have had the opportunity to serve this community,” Williams said. Before he was the garrison’s senior enlisted leader, he was the top NCO in 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment and a mayor in on-post housing.

Duran is no stranger to greatness, Hanson added, who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and will push “this organization in the right direction.”

“Welcome to the team. You have an amazingly talented group of individuals before you,” Hanson said of the garrison directors seated in front of them. “I ask that you challenge them.”

Duran entered the Army as a logistician on Nov. 7, 1996 in Los Angeles and has served in many assignments with U.S. Army Recruiting Command and also with the 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment on Fort Jackson.

His military education includes the Basic Leaders Course, Advance Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Army Recruiter Course, Station Commander Course, Department of the Army First Sergeants Course, USAREC First Sergeants Course, Initial Entry Training First Sergeants Course, The Sergeants Major Course, Master Resiliency Course, Guidance Counselor Course, Hygiene and Sanitation Course, Army Recruiter Course, Unit Armorer Course, the Department of the Army Battalion Pre-Command Course and Airborne School.

The new garrison command sergeant major thanked his predecessor for helping him in the transition.

“From the moment I was selected for this assignment, he has not only been a great sponsor for me and my Family, but he has become a good friend of mine,” Duran said.

“I am aware I have big shoes to fill but I promise to do my very best,” he added.