JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.— The 597th Transportation Brigade welcomed Lt. Col. Paul Reyes as the incoming commander of the 832nd Transportation Battalion at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. June 9.
The event was marked by a Change of Command ceremony that symbolized a transition of authority from outgoing commander Lt Col. David Walters in front of friends, family and a formation of Soldiers at the TRADOC Parade Field and was followed by a welcome luncheon at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum.
During his remarks, Lt. Col. David Walters, the outgoing commander of the 832nd Transportation Battalion, thanked his Family, the battalion staff, his leadership, the command team, his Soldiers, friends and supporters for everything accomplished in the past two years and highlighted the importance of the unit's mission.
As battalion commander, Walters was tasked with leading the 688th, 689th and 690th Rapid Port Opening Elements (RPOES) at Fort Eustis. The RPOEs are the first active-duty Army units created specifically to provide surface transportation expertise for the U.S. Transportation Command’s Joint Task Force-Port Opening (JTF-PO) mission and rapidly deploy as part of a joint expeditionary logistics force to establish an air or sea port of debarkation and forward distribution node under expeditionary and/or austere conditions in support of combatant command contingencies and humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations throughout the world.
Walters said he was proud of the 832nd Transportation Team and was grateful for the opportunity to work with them.
"My goal was to make a difference in your life and I am proud of everything you have accomplished in the past two years," Walters said.
The RPOEs participated in regular training exercises throughout the pandemic alongside their Air Force and Navy counterparts to build on fundamental port opening skills and apply them to the ever-changing operational environment.
"Your commitment and competence to the profession speaks volume about your character," Walters added.
Next, Lt. Col. Paul Reyes thanked the event organizers, his Family, his Aunt and was grateful for the smooth transition.
"Thank you for what you have done and what you will continue to do. We are humbled and blessed to be part of this special organization. Know there is no place I would rather be than here with you. We will take care of each other, continue to train and remain ready to deploy anywhere at a moment's notice. When called upon, we will go, and America will win."
"To the entire Rapid Support tam, trust in us, we are all in."
The 597th Transportation Brigade is a part of the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, responsible for integrating and synchronizing surface deployment and distribution capabilities in the Continental U.S, deploying and sustaining the Armed Forces off the East and Gulf coasts in support of global operations and U.S. Southern Command.
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