FORT MEADE, Md – Fort George G. Meade Headquarters Command Battalion held a Change of Responsibility ceremony Oct. 20 here at Club Meade.
During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Sanders relinquished responsibility of Fort Meade HCB to Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Krese.
The event was officiated by HCB Commander, Lt. Col. Chaveso Cook. After the official passing of the flag, Cook offered his thoughts on Sanders’ impact on the Fort Meade community.
“There were so many times Brian got the job done by any means necessary,” said Cook. “There was never a time a member of this battalion, this garrison or the extended team would avoid seeking Brian’s guidance and knowledge.”
Cook also offered words of encouragement to Krese as he begins his new assignment.
"I have already told you that I am professionally intimidated by you, and I do not say that lightly,” said Cook. “I have to step my game up, we all have to step our game up because of you. Our first interaction showed me and the Axe Hammer team that we are in the presence of a true professional and that matters.”
After Cook's remarks, Sanders took the podium. Sanders accredits his success as Fort Meade HCB Command Sergeant Major to his team. He emphasized that when he encountered difficulties, the ability to reach out, and the knowledge that he had a support system to rely on, was fundamental.
"Nobody in this room has it all figured out and I never try to pretend to,” said Sanders. “I really appreciate every last one of you who took the time to think of me as I venture through this journey as a Command Sergeant Major.”
During his time as a Sergeant Major, Sanders expressed that the experience has enabled him to adopt a more innovative and unconventional leadership approach. This period has encouraged him to think beyond traditional methods and explore creative solutions as a leader.
Sanders leaves Fort Meade HCB to enter retirement from his military service in the next year.
Krese comes to Fort Meade from his previous role as the Functional Management Division Senior Enlisted Advisor at Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, and the Military Pay Branch Sergeant Major at Human Resources Command.
“The truth is, I never could have dreamed of this scenario,” said Krese as he addressed the audience. “Assuming this position just down the street from the Military Entrance Processing Station that I passed through 23 years ago just feels too good to be true.”
As a Virginia native, Krese enlisted in Woodbridge, Virginia in 2000 as a Personnel Services Specialist. He attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
“To the Axe Hammer Soldiers, the sign outside of our headquarters and the administrative paperwork may indicate that I work for Lt. Col. Cook, but I really work for you,” said Krese. “My expectation is that our culture will avoid the ‘I’s’ and ‘me’s’ and focus on the ‘us’ and ‘we’s’. We go further and accomplish more when we do it together.”
The Fort George G. Meade Headquarters Command Battalion ensures Soldier readiness and provides quality support services, law enforcement, military working dog teams, force protection, and base support operations to more than 12,000 service members, 35,000 civilians, and 60,000 family members and retirees of the Fort Meade community. The unique and diverse missions of Headquarters Command Battalion make it one of the premier, multifaceted battalions in the United States Army.
Social Sharing