FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – Two Soldiers with a collective 52 years of service were honored at the quarterly installation retirement ceremony held Friday, Oct. 23 at Fitch Auditorium.
Col. Mike Childs, chief of staff, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, presided over the ceremony. He began his speech by recognizing the significance of the retirement ceremony.
“Every Army ceremony has a purpose,” Childs said. “Promotions recognize potential. Changes of command recognize stewardship. Awards recognize achievement. But retirement ceremonies are different. Today, we pause to recognize something that cannot be captured by rank, a ribbon rack, or even number of years served. We recognize lives devoted to something greater than self.”
The retirees honored at the ceremony include Lt. Col. Jacob Prater, chief of concepts for the Intelligence Future Capability Directorate, USAICoE, with 29 years of service; Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Benoit, senior instructor for the 35F10 Committee, 305th Military Intelligence Battalion, with 23 years of service.
Childs continued by speaking about how different the world is today compared to when Prater and Benoit began their service, but that strong leaders are still needed.
“The world changed, the Army changed, the technology changed, but the fundamentals did not,” Childs said. “Soldiers still need leaders who build teams, enforce standards, solve difficult problems, and take care of people. That is exactly what Lt. Col. Prater and Sgt. 1st Class Benoit have done.”
Next, Childs spoke about the families who played a vital role in the career of their Soldier and said, “no Army career is ever built alone.”
“Behind every move, long day, deployment, school, promotion, and challenge are spouses, children, parents, family members, friends, mentors, and teammates who carried their share of the burden,” Childs said. “[…] I want to express gratitude to the family members and friends with us today […] You have all played a role in your Soldier’s journey these last couple of decades. Thank you for the sacrifices seen and unseen.”
Childs concluded his speech by highlighting the different paths Prater and Benoit took in their Army careers but how those careers had a common purpose: selfless service.
“Years from now, people may not remember every meeting, briefing, tasking, or long day,” Childs said. “But they will remember the leaders who believed in them. They will remember you, the mentor who took the time to teach them. They will remember you, the leader who trusted them with responsibility. They will remember the example set by you, Lt. Col. Prater and Sgt. 1st Class Benoit. That is the true measure of a life of service.”
Following the speech from Childs, each retiree was called on stage, along with their family members, to receive their handshake and final salute from Childs, and to provide gifts to their family members.
Next, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Bossart conducted a final roll call to signify each retiree leaving duty.
The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Army song, and Old Soldiers Never Die. The retirees and their families were then thanked by friends, families, leaders, co-workers and fellow Soldiers.
(Editor's note: See the entire photo album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/us_army_fort_huachuca/albums/72177720336358427.)
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Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, 2-13th Aviation Regiment, Electronic Proving Ground, Joint Interoperability Test Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.
Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.
We are the Army’s Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/.
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