Vancouver Army Reserve Brigade Welcomes New Commander as Army Reserve Adapts

VANCOUVER, Wash. - As the Army Reserve adapts for future demands, 2nd Brigade, 95th Training Division (Initial Entry Training) welcomed new leadership Aug. 15 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center.

Col. Yolanda M. Ahmad assumed command from Col. Bryon J. O’Neil during a ceremony with Col. Crystal McCarter, deputy commander of the 95th Training Division out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, serving as the reviewing officer. The passing of the unit colors marked the transfer of authority and responsibility to Ahmad.

The leadership change comes as the Army Reserve examines how its organizations and capabilities can best support the Total Army in future conflict. Army Reserve leaders have emphasized preparing Soldiers to contribute early, while increasing integration across the Army as the character of warfare changes.

For 2nd Brigade, that larger shift is reflected in its role in helping the Army generate the Soldiers it will need when demands on the force increase.

McCarter connected that work directly to combat readiness in her remarks to the Soldiers gathered for the ceremony.

“When the balloon goes up, and our nation enters a large-scale combat conflict, the strategic spotlight will shine directly on this formation,” McCarter said. “2nd Brigade is the single most important piece of the puzzle in ensuring that we have trained, disciplined and lethal Soldiers ready to replace those fighting in combat.”

She later described 2nd Brigade as “the engine that generates combat power.”

That responsibility places the Soldiers of the 95th Training Division within a broader Army Reserve effort to prepare for large-scale combat. Lt. Gen. Robert D. Harter, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, has emphasized that Army Reserve formations must be ready to contribute early in a conflict and that the component is examining its structure and capabilities as the Army prepares for future warfare.

During his two years in command, O’Neil helped position 2nd Brigade for the responsibilities ahead while continuing to support Soldiers across the Army. McCarter praised his leadership through significant organizational change, while he directed much of that recognition back to the Soldiers he commanded.

“You heard a lot of great things that I did. I didn’t do much. I simply empowered you to let your Soldiers do their jobs,” O’Neil said. “Take care of your people; they will take care of you.”

He also thanked the families whose support makes Army Reserve service possible, acknowledging school events and sporting events he missed and the adjustments his own family made around the demands of military service.

Ahmad carried that focus on people into her first remarks as commander.

McCarter described Ahmad as an experienced leader with a background spanning signal, military police, joint communications and strategic oversight. She said Ahmad’s experience leading through complex operations fits the responsibilities she now assumes.

“Command is about serving you so that you can successfully serve the nation,” Ahmad told Soldiers.

She also thanked military families for the support and sacrifices that allow Soldiers to continue serving, describing them as the backbone of the unit. Her remarks placed people alongside readiness as 2nd Brigade moves forward under new leadership.

Ahmad also recognized the families who support the brigade’s Soldiers, describing them as the backbone of the unit and thanking them for the sacrifices that make continued service possible.

Her message to the brigade centered on two qualities she believes will matter as the organization continues adapting to future requirements: fortitude and flexibility.

She described fortitude as the strength to endure difficult circumstances over time and flexibility as the ability to adapt when plans and requirements change.

“Together, we will continue to master our fundamentals and take care of one another and execute every mission with precision,” Ahmad said.