FORT BRAGG, N.C.-- "A commander is a leader that provides a purpose, direction and guidance to his subordinate units ensuring that as a team they accomplish the mission and take care of their people," said Col. Pete Edmonds, the incoming commander for the 4th Brigade U.S. Army Cadet Command.
Soldiers, Cadets, Families, friends, and members of the Fort Bragg and surrounding communities gathered to watch the change of command ceremony for the 4th Brigade U.S. Army Cadet Command where Edmonds took command from Col. Ronald P. Elrod, the outgoing commander, at Funk Physical Fitness Center Jan. 10.
The 4th Brigade U.S. Army Cadet Command provides oversight to both Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps as well as Senior ROTC programs stretching all along the eastern seaboard.
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, the commander of the U.S. Army Cadet Command, passed the colors from Elrod to Edmonds.
McDonald spoke of all the great accomplishments Elrod performed in his three years in command.
"Col. Elrod, you have performed beyond standard," McDonald said. "In all aspects you have excelled."
Although Edmonds is new to the 4th Brigade U.S. Army Cadet Command, Fort Bragg has been home to him and his family several times throughout his military career.
Most recently, Edmonds was deployed to Iraq where he served as the Chief of Plans for United States Forces Iraq with Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick, the XVIII Airborne Corps commander, who was also in attendance at the ceremony.
Edmonds, looking to the future, spoke of how he was anxious to continue the 4th Brigade U.S. Army Cadet Command's mission of producing the Army's future leaders.
"I want to continue developing competent leaders that are excited about leading Soldiers in our Army," Edmonds said.
It was the development of those leaders that Elrod learned from and would miss the most, he said.
"I learned how the most important mission of cadet command is producing quality leaders for our Army, and I believe that long term there is no important mission in the entire Army," Elrod said. "The ones I will miss the most are the cadets; they are all great Americans and full of energy."
The ceremony also included the reciting of the Junior ROTC Cadet Creed and Senior ROTC Cadet Creed by current cadets as well as the reciting of the Soldier's Creed by a recently commissioned lieutenant.
Up next, Elrod is joining the forces of the U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort Bragg.
Elrod ended his speech with a special thanks to all those who have supported him throughout his command with a special thanks to Helmick for always making the 4th Brigade U.S. Army Cadet Command feel at home here at Fort Bragg.
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