SUWON AIR BASE, South Korea - He holds the paramount position in the unit, one that sets and upholds the standard and ensures the unit has everything it needs to be successful.
In the German Army, he is known as the “Father of the Unit.” In our formation, he is known as the first sergeant.
For this reason, when the 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery witnessed not one or two, but four change of responsibility ceremonies within a week, it signaled the beginning of a significant transitional journey the Iron Horse Battalion is about to embark on.
1st Sgt. Dennis Petty was one of the four new first sergeants who are spearheading this transition.
When Petty first took over C Battery, 6-52nd Air Defense Artillery Battalion last month, he offered only a few succinct words to the troops and families during the change of responsibility ceremony " “Charlie Battery Cold Steel, Let’s get to work.”
And true to the spirit, for Petty, the last few weeks have been a period of great learning and appreciation for his new duty position.
The Alabama native knew that he will never forget the moment when the battalion command sergeant major handed him the unit sword and entrusted him with the great honor and responsibility of being the unit’s top enlisted Soldier.
“Being a first sergeant is one of the greatest, if not the greatest opportunity to lead the nation’s best and brightest sons and daughters,” said Petty after his change of responsibility ceremony. “I feel truly blessed.”
Two weeks later, the former Patriot battalion evaluator finds himself facing the challenge of leading his unit through an intense week-long range density and squad tactic exercise at Warrior Base.
Petty and his Soldiers easily pulled through the week with a renewed sense of confidence and elevated level of competence.
“I can honestly tell you that I am leading a great group of Soldiers and leaders who are not only dedicated but also motivated to succeed,” said Petty, after observing his unit’s successful qualification on the range.
Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hockenberry, the battalion command sergeant major, who is perhaps the individual with the most visibility overseeing the transitional period, welcomes the changes.
Hockenberry said, “Changing out four of six battery first sergeants within a week really signaled a time of change and transition in the battalion … and I am a firm believer that change is good.”
Just as Petty quickly found out as he took over his unit, the new first sergeants are “stepping into an existing successful foundation where the unit already has established a very robust military-to-military and community relations partnership,” according to Hockenberry.
But the transition is also marked with inevitable sadness as the units bid farewell to their outgoing first sergeants with whom they have spent more than 12 months with in Korea.
1st Sergeant Michael Kern, the outgoing first sergeant for Headquarters Battery, 6-52nd Air Defense Artillery Battalion, told his troops during his farewell speech that “they [his Soldiers] are the reason why the unit is great and he will always remember each and every single one of them.”
Kern disclosed that “part of him really does not want to leave and he will truly miss the unit.”
Hockenberry reflected, “Although it was bittersweet to see some of the older first sergeants depart, it’s also an exciting time in the battalion’s history as the transition will only expand upon what the former first sergeants have left as a legacy in their units.”
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