FORT BENNING GA - Col. Lance “Duke” Davis replaced Col. Sean McCaffrey as commander of the 199th Infantry Brigade during a change of command ceremony June 28 at Stilwell Field.
“It’s always an honor to speak at such an important occasion, and one I don’t take lightly,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Brown, Fort Benning’s commanding general and reviewing officer.
Brown said looking at the Soldiers before him and reflecting on the two leaders " Davis and McCaffrey " reminded him of words from Gen. George Marshall.
“He said, ‘Morale is a state of mind. It is the steadfastness and courage and hope. It is the confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is élan, esprit de corps and determination,’” Brown said.
He said those same words used to describe the word “morale,” also described McCaffrey and Davis.
“Col. Duke Davis comes to us fresh from the War College and full of enthusiasm for his new assignment,” Brown said.
Before attending the War College, Davis was the deputy commander of the 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, during Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Diyala Province of Iraq, Brown said.
“He is a proven combat leader and dedicated to the highest tenants of leader development and warrior training, warrior ethos and the Army values,” he said. “There is no one in the Army at this level who has show a greater track record of preparation and motivation for this assignment.”
McCaffrey said Davis’ time as commander will be a great adventure and congratulated him for his new assignment.
“Duke " it’s an absolute pleasure to see such a superb officer and great Army family returning both to Fort Benning and this awesome brigade,” McCaffrey said.
Davis said he was honored to have the opportunity to command the brigade.
“We’re excited about this mission,” Davis said. “Thanks goes foremost, however, to the McCaffreys " Sean and his wife, Debbie " in their stewardship of this brigade.”
Davis said the McCaffrey’s continued the traditions of command teams that have led the brigade and have made it what it is today.
Brown said McCaffrey, the outgoing commander, has seen more than 61,000 students during his time as commander, and while watching his father serve, has known about service since he was a child.
“From the time he was a boy, he knew he wanted to follow in service " valuing the qualities of those who serve in the military " their drive, enthusiasm, humor, sense of purpose and commitment to others before self,” Brown said. “Literally thousands of America’s service members who have come through Fort Benning’s gates have been touched by Sean’s leadership " whether in the Basic Officer Leader Course, the Direct Commission Course, the International Student Training Detachment, the Officer Candidate School, the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Pathfinder Course and the Jumpmaster School.”
McCaffrey thanked many Soldiers, NCOs, civilians and students for their help in the success of the battalion.
He said four generations of McCaffreys had the opportunity to serve at Fort Benning and Columbus, saying this was “a great post, a great home and no better supporters of the Soldiers than this community.”
McCaffrey has been assigned to the International Security Assistance Force, Intermediate Joint Combination Command, Afghanistan.
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