It was the eighth day of the eighth month of 2023, which made it an ideal day to conduct an Eighth Army change of responsibility ceremony.
America's only field army said farewell to Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Cobb and welcomed in Command Sgt. Maj. Robin Bolmer as the new Eighth Army command sergeant major.
The ceremony was held at the Wightman NCO Academy on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, before a crowd of both U.S. and Republic of Korea military members, families and friends.
Cobb retires after 30 years of service to the U.S. Army. Before the ceremony, he and his wife were presented departure awards from the command and the ROK Army. Cobb has served as the Eighth Army senior enlisted advisor for more than two years.
"As I close out this assignment, it will bring a 30-year career to an end and I will forever be grateful that I was able to serve alongside you here in Korea," Cobb said. "To all of our Korean partners and Korean CSMs, you have been so gracious with your time and friendship, and I will forever carry that in my heart."
Along with Lt. Gen. Bill Burleson, Eighth Army commanding general, Cobb joined Bolmer on stage for the ceremonial transfer of the Eighth Army colors, officially making Bolmer Eighth Army's new senior enlisted advisor.
Bolmer returns to South Korea after a lengthy time in between.
"It's been 27 years since I served in Korea," said Bolmer. "Everywhere I go, everybody says a lot of things have changed since you've been to Korea, that is pretty true, but there are some things that stay the same. The professionalism, dedication and cooperation of our Korean partners was and continues to be world class. The United States cannot ask for a better partner and that is why the alliance has not only survived but has grown stronger over the past 70 years."
Bolmer comes to the peninsula from U.S. Army Futures Command. He has served for almost 30 years and is a native of Ashburn, Georgia.
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