FORT JACKSON, S.C., -- The Wildcats of the 81st Regional Support Command have a new commanding general after a change of command ceremony held Sept. 20 here.
Maj. Gen. Bill Gerety took over the Army Reserve's regional command that provides base operations support for a nine-state region, commands three Army bands and a headquarters dominated by civilians ranging from lawyers, engineers, human resources and logistical specialists.
Gerety accepted the 81st Infantry Division colors that date back to Camp Jackson in 1917 from Maj. Gen. Charles E. Gorton who will retire back to his home in Lexington, Ky., after more than 39 years of service.
Gorton, a 1970 University of Kentucky graduate, said he finally completed his childhood dream.
"I always wanted to be a Soldier," he said. "That's all I ever wanted to be since high school."
As the Salute Battery from Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, pulled the artillery lanyards, the sounds of a new era echoed through the Army Reserve as the 81st RSC forges forward as the first of four RSC providing the foundation to support Army operations in the Southeast U.S.
Gerety, who is Special Forces and Ranger qualified, arrived to the Wildcat lair from the Pentagon where he served as the Chief Integration Officer for the Office of the Chief Information Officer.
Gerety told members of the community and the command that people always ask him, "Why do you serve'"
Until the early morning hours the day before, Gerety said he never really had the right answer.
During a mission to honor three fallen Special Forces Soldiers who arrived at Dover Air Force Base, Gerety said family members of the 7th Special Forces Group Soldiers gave clarity to his career and reasons for joining the military nearly three decade ago.
"The message that kept coming through from these wonderful, wonderful people was the pride that they had in their husbands and their children, and how those Soldiers felt that it was their privilege and right to serve," he said.
Gerety said Americans are so blessed to live in a country where people are allowed to serve in the military, not because they are members of an elite group or they come from the right family.
"It's our right," he said. "More importantly, it's our privilege."
He said Soldiers and civilians of the 81st RSC have volunteered to serve the Army and volunteered to serve in the Reserve.
"I am so appreciate of the fine unit that you have asked me to carry on the tradition and now have the privilege to serve with some great Americans and to support some fine people in the Army Reserve," he told Gorton.
Gerety was commissioned in 1980 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and received both a master's of science and business administration from Florida Institute of Technology.
He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dataline LLC, based at McLean Va., and the president of Amber Waves Marketing, Inc., Pasadena, Md.
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