Fort Jackson bids farewell to commanding general

When Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood passed the Army Training Center and Fort Jackson colors to Lt. Gen. Johnny K. Davis, U.S. Army Recruiting Command commander, in a ceremony Sept. 25, he stepped down as post commander.

It was the last official act of his four decades long career.

The passing of the colors symbolizes the transfer of authority from the departing commander to his next higher headquarters, signifying the conclusion of a successful tenure as commanding general of the Army Training Center and Fort Jackson.

Davis returned the colors to Post Command Sgt. Maj. William M. Shoaf for safekeeping until the new commanding general assumes command.

Davis thanked everyone in attendance “for joining us here today as we bid farewell to the Hood Family and celebrate their remarkable tenure at the helm” of Fort Jackson.

He lauded Hood for his career and work leading the Army’s largest Basic Combat Training post.

“I’ve known Daryl for a long time, and when you look at his career, you’re looking at the absolute gold standard of what an American Soldier can achieve,” he said. Hood would spend roughly 40 years in service culminating in his tenure as Fort Jackson commander.

“What an achievement, what an accomplishment,” Davis added.

While at Fort Jackson, Hood would dedicate himself to leader development and shape the doctrine, and training for thousands of Soldiers, said Davis, who is charge of the Army’s Force Generation Pipeline. “So, when he assumed command at Fort Jackson in August 2024, he was ready, and I knew our premier training post was at in the absolute best hands.”

Fort Jackson isn’t just about what is inside the wire, it positively affects what goes on in the Greater Columbia, South Carolina area as well.

“He understood that the strength of this installation is tied to the strength of our partnerships across the community, civic leaders, local business owners,” Davis said. “You fostered an environment of trust, shared goals, and support. You ensured Fort Jackson remained not just an economic driver, but a beloved neighbor and a vital pillar of the entire South Carolina community.

“Daryl, your legacy is forever etched into the physical infrastructure of this post, and most importantly, into the thousands of disciplined and highly trained warfighters you have sent to our ranks. The entire Fort Jackson and Midlands community will miss you and your Family immensely.”

Hood, who was commissioned as a first lieutenant in 1991, said the success of his tour at Jackson was because of the people.

“I didn’t do this; they did,” he said. “They did it. The ones on the field, the ones that are in the classroom, (the ones) working behind the scenes. I’ve just had the privilege and honor to be charged with commanding.”

He used the Leader Training Brigade as and example to highlight some of the achievement accomplished under his tenure.

He said “almost 10,000 went through the leadership training there for the company commander’s course, the pregnancy and postpartum physical training, and also holistic health and fitness.”

He said he would not only miss the people he worked with but also hearing Reveille and cadence.

“I will miss it in person each and every day, as I reflect over the last 41 years,” he said. “It’s something that, again, I’ve come to appreciate and look forward to.”

He also lauded the Soldiers standing in formation.

“Someone that’s standing here now in the rear, as a younger noncommissioned officer, you’ll be out there as a brigade command sergeant major, and one of you officers will be a brigade commander,” he said.

Col. Robin D. Husted, deputy commanding officer for the Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, will lead the post until a new commander assumes command.