Wood assumes responsibility as ARNORTH's senior enlisted leader; Nieves bids comrades farewell

By Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAONovember 18, 2009

Nieves and Turner
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. George Nieves (left), outgoing command sergeant major for U.S. Army North, passes the command's colors to Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner, Army North's commanding general, during a change of responsibility ceremony ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wood and Turner
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. David Wood (left), U.S. Army North's senior enlisted leader, receives the command's colors from Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner, Army North's commanding general, during a change of responsibility ceremony Nov. 17 in... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wood Turner Nieves
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. David Wood (left), U.S. Army North's new senior enlisted leader, along with Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner, Army North's commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. George Nieves, stand at attention during a change o... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Nieves Award
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner (left), U.S. Army North's commanding general, awards the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Command Sgt. Maj. George Nieves during Nieves' retirement ceremony Nov. 17 in ARNORTH headquarters' historic... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Wood assumes responsibility as ARNORTH's senior enlisted leader

Nieves bids comrades farewell following 5-years as command's top NCO, 35+ years service with U.S. Army

Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. David Wood took the reins of responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. George Nieves as U.S. Army North's top enlisted leader during a change of responsibility ceremony here Nov. 17.

Hundreds of military and civilian comrades gathered inside the command's historic headquarters at the "Quadrangle" to welcome Wood and to pay their respect to Nieves, who departs after serving five years as the command's senior enlisted advisor.

"Army North is blessed to be receiving another highly qualified command sergeant major," said Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner, Army North's commanding general. "He is a proven leader and logistician with operational combat experience in Iraq and throughout Europe. I know Command Sgt. Maj. Wood is the right man to help lead Army North as we continue to mature.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Wood - Welcome to Army North and San Antonio."

Wood arrives to the command after serving as the senior enlisted leader for 21st Theater Sustainment Command, based out of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

"I am honored to be standing here before all of you, not as the command sergeant major but as the command's sergeant major," said Wood. "Each and every member of this command is entitled to my service; your expectations are my charge."

Immediately following the change of responsibility ceremony, Nieves was presented the Army Distinguished Service Medal by Lt. Gen. Turner for his more than 35 years of service to the nation.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Nieves has seen a lot of change in the Army during his career and, without doubt, he was a part of the driving force behind much of it," said Turner. "He has been a positive influence from the team level through the Army level of command during training, in peace, operations to enforce peace, and in war."

Nieves joined the Army in June 1974 at 17 years of age. He left the Bronx, New York, to become an infantryman and has served all over the Army, to include Korea and Europe.

"Ending my career in ARNORTH has been a blessing," said Nieves. "No organization, no matter how good it is, is going to win on reputation alone. The men and women of ARNORTH continue to raise the bar with their dedicated service to the nation."

During Nieves' remarks he pointed out that he had known Wood for several years and expressed his belief that Wood is the man for the job.

"I can tell you he is the right leader - at the right time - to take this organization to the next level," said Nieves. -30-

Nieves and Turner.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. George Nieves (left), outgoing command sergeant major for U.S. Army North, passes the command's colors to Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner, Army North's commanding general, during a change of responsibility ceremony Nov. 17 in ARNORTH headquarters' historic Quadrangle. Command Sgt. Maj. David Wood assumed responsibility from Nieves. He previously served as the command sergeant major for 21st Theater Sustainment Command, based out of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO)

Wood and Turner.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. David Wood (left), U.S. Army North's senior enlisted leader, receives the command's colors from Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner, Army North's commanding general, during a change of responsibility ceremony Nov. 17 in ARNORTH headquarters' historic Quadrangle. Wood replaced Command Sgt. Maj. George Nieves, who retired following the ceremony after more than 35 years of service.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO)

Wood Turner Nieves.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. David Wood (left), U.S. Army North's new senior enlisted leader, along with Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner, Army North's commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. George Nieves, stand at attention during a change of responsibility ceremony Nov. 17 in ARNORTH headquarters' historic Quadrangle.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO)

Nieves Award.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Lt. Gen. Thomas Turner (left), U.S. Army North's commanding general, awards the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Command Sgt. Maj. George Nieves during Nieves' retirement ceremony Nov. 17 in ARNORTH headquarters' historic Quadrangle. Nieves retired with nearly 36 years in service, with the final five years with ARNORTH.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO)

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