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Garrison receives new command sergeant major
Public Affairs Office
United States Army Garrison at Fort Irwin welcomed a new
senior enlisted advisor to the organization and community dur-
ing a change of responsibility ceremony here, Dec. 16.
Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel O’Brien became the garrison’s
command sergeant major after being charged with that respon-
sibility by USAG Fort Irwin Commander Col. Scott Taylor.
That moment occurred in the ceremony after Taylor handed the
garrison colors to O’Brien. Taylor had just received the colors
from Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Esmurria – the outgoing
senior enlisted advisor.
Taylor hailed his new command sergeant major.
“Joining us with vast experience in leadership, most recently
serving as the battalion command sergeant major of the 93rd
MP Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas, Command Sgt. Major O’Brien
is eager to take on the challenges of his new title,” Taylor said.
In thanking Esmurria for his service, Taylor said, “Although
I’ve only assumed command of the garrison at Fort Irwin a
short five months ago, I’ve had the distinct privilege to learn
volumes from Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Esmurria … he has
been a mentor, sounding board and a friend. He has eased my
transition to this very different world of managing public works,
providing for the quality of life of a community.”
Esmurria, who served with USAG Fort Irwin since
Nov. 2013, thanked the garrison’s 522 Soldiers and civil-
ian employees.
“Over the past two years, I have seen progress across our in-
stallation and in our staff, through the building of the Resiliency
Center, the building of our new SKIES program, the installation
storm remediation project, the Soldier For Life transition as-
sistance program campus, the remodeling of the Warrior Zone,
Photo by Leslie Ozawa, Public Affairs Office
Fort Irwin United States Army Garrison Commander Col.
Scott Taylor entrusts the garrison flag to Command Sgt.
Major Daniel O’Brien during a change of responsibility
ceremony here, Dec. 16.
3High Desert Warrior
January 8, 2016
Leadership
the development of SOPs and products, such as our command Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel O’Brien
and staff briefings, and our new garrison workforce development
program,” Esmurria stated. velopment Ribbon (four), the Overseas Service Ribbon (three),
the National Defense Service Medal (two), the Army Superior
Taylor, in his remarks earlier, noted that Esmurria will be Unit Award, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal,
staying here, serving his remaining time on active duty at the the German Schutzenschnuer (Silver), the NATO Medal and
National Training Center headquarters tackling new challenges the United Nations Medal.
on behalf of Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin and Command Sgt. Maj.
Edison Rebuck, with a particular emphasis on improving and Additionally, O’Brien is a member of both the Sergeant
advancing the Soldier for Life program. Morales and Sergeant Audie Murphy Clubs. He was an Army
Combatives Championship Competitor in 2010 and 2011 and
O’Brien arrives after an assignment at Fort Bliss, Texas, as is a recipient of the Military Police Regiment’s Order of the
a provost sergeant major with 1st Armored Division. Other Marechaussee (Bronze).
assignments include: 2nd Military Police Company, Camp
Casey, Korea; Military Police Unit, Sierra Army Depot, Calif.;
98th Area Support Group and 1st MP Co., both in Wuerzburg,
Germany; 34th MP Detachment, Fort Knox, Ky., and D/787th
MP Battalion and 463rd MP Company, both at Fort Leonard
Wood, Mo.
In addition to holding all key leadership positions, he has
performed duties as a patrol/explosive detector dog handler,
company operations sergeant, basic military police training divi-
sion non-commissioned officer-in-charge and police transition
team chief. While serving in the above assignments and duty
positions, O’Brien participated in operational deployments to
Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq as well as presidential and state depart-
ment missions to: Amman, Jordan; Peshawar, Pakistan; Dakkar,
Senegal, and Zagreb, Croatia.
O’Brien is a graduate of United States Army Sergeants Major
Academy class 60. He is currently working towards a bachelor’s
degree in criminal justice.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal,
Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters), the Army
Commendation Medal (three OLC), Army Achievement Medal
(four OLC), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global
War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the
Good Conduct Medal (sixth award), the NCO Professional De-
Photo by Leslie Ozawa, Public Affairs Office
From left: Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Esmurria, Yolanda Esmurria and Col. Scott Taylor. Taylor presented Mrs. Esmurria
the Commander’s Award for Public Service at an awards ceremony that also honored her husband as he completed an
assignment at Fort Irwin United States Army Garrison. Taylor said, “Yolanda has been a tremendous friend for my wife
as we settled into Fort Irwin. Whether helping to plan a wonderful welcome, hanging out together at any number of
community relations events across Southern California or suiting up for the 11th ACR Spouses Spur Ride, Yolanda has been
a great friend to us and mentor for the young spouses in the garrison team.”
For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil