BodyGRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Lt. Col. Reed Hudgins assumed command of the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion from the unitAca,!a,,cs outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Christopher Roscoe, during a change of command ceremony at the Grafenwoehr Physical Fitness Center, Oct. 22.
This change of command ceremony held special significance for the 18th CSSB because in addition to a new commander, the unit simultaneously received a new command sergeant major when Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan Witzel replaced outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan Kroontje.
Col. Martin Pitts, commander, 16th Sustainment Brigade, presided over the ceremony.
After the passing the colors, Pitts thanked Roscoe and Kroontje for their hard work leading the battalion. Roscoe assumed command of the battalion in June 2007.
Two companies from the 18th CSSB returned last month from a 15-month deployment to Mosul and Tal Afar, Iraq; of the 18th CSSBAca,!a,,cs 1,166 Soldiers, 419 are currently deployed.
Aca,!A"Our command time, both at Grafenwoehr and in Mosul, Iraq, has been an exceptional experience despite the chaotic pace,Aca,!A? said Roscoe.
Aca,!A"One of my first tasks in command was to farewell the 41st Transportation Company for their third deployment to Iraq. Yesterday, one of my final tasks as commander was to once again farewell the 41st Transportation Company, this time to Afghanistan for their fourth deployment. With all companies on different deployment cycles, the battalion has always had a unit in the fight and at least one prepping to deploy or return,Aca,!A? he said.
HudginsAca,!a,,c last assignment was at the Joint Forces CommandAca,!a,,cs Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk, Va., where he served as a joint observer-trainer. He is a 1990 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and received a masterAca,!a,,cs degree in Administration and Management from Webster University. HudginsAca,!a,,c wife Teri, who is currently activated with the 94th Division (Force Sustainment) in Fort Lee, Va., serves in the Division G8 (Resource Management). The couple also has an 11-year-old daughter, Fraser Lee.
Although new to command, Hudgins is no stranger to the 16th Sustainment Brigade.
Aca,!A"This is my second time being back in the 16th Sustainment Brigade,Aca,!A? said Hudgins. Aca,!A"I was the Brigade Support operations officer until two years ago, so for me itAca,!a,,cs like coming home again. I was gone for two years, but it doesnAca,!a,,ct seem like that long. ItAca,!a,,cs like I was on extended leave. ItAca,!a,,cs great to see that everyone has moved on and grown up and is moving forward together.Aca,!A?
Command Sgt. Maj. Witzel is a 22-year Army veteran. He most recently served as G4 sergeant major at the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force in Vicenza, Italy. He holds an associate degree from American Public University School and is working toward a bachelorAca,!a,,cs degree in Homeland Security. He brings with him his wife Kathy and their eight children: Allen, Courtney, Tyler, Valerie, Kyle, Dylan, Karyn and Lisa.
After leaving the battalion, Roscoe will serve as the Supply and Services branch chief for the 21st Theater Support Command in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Kroontje will join the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, where he will serve as the observer controller for Support Battalion command sergeants major.
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