Page 3 - Fort Huachuca Scout 5-29-15

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 The Scout 3A

USAG welcomed its new command sergeant major Wednesday

Story and photos by Natalie Lakosil Wilkerson, who served as in-
Staff Writer
terim command sergeant major
Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Carmelo Cruz, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Hua-
chuca, was welcomed with open arms Wednesday afternoon during the change of for the last three months, said
responsibility ceremony in Fitch Auditorium, Alvarado Hall.
serving as USAG command
Outgoing interim USAG Command Sgt. Maj. LaVander Wilkerson relinquished
responsibility to Cruz in front of the assembled crowd. sergeant major was a great op-

“The great news is that we don’t have to say farewell to anyone today which is portunity for him. “I was able
a common occurrence at a [change of command or] assumption of responsibility,”
said Col. Thomas A. Boone, Fort Huachuca Garrison commander. “In the interim, to work with so many great ci-
Sergeant Major Wilkerson stepped into the breach as our sergeant major for the
garrison. Sergeant major, thanks for stepping up; you provided sound guidance and vilians and was also able to get
continued with the mission. You have served the garrison well and I’m sure DES
(Directorate of Emergency Services) is happy to have you back full time.” a better picture of how things

From left, outgoing interim U.S. Army Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. LaVander Wilkerson, Directorate work inside garrison — things
of Emergency Services, USAG; Col. Thomas A. Boone, Fort Huachuca Garrison commander; and
incoming USAG Command Sgt. Maj. Carmelo Cruz stand on stage in Fitch Auditorium, Alvarado I did not know before.
Hall, after participating in the change of responsibility ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
“It was a great opportunity

for me to have the opportunity

to be the interim garrison com-

mand sergeant major,” Wilker-

son said. “I thought I brought a

little bit of diversity to the role

due to the fact that I am a mili-

tary police officer. Overall, it

was a great experience for me. I Col. Thomas A. Boone, U.S. Army Garrison commander,
worked for a great colonel, and right, passes the noncommissioned officers’ sword
it was just a great opportunity.” symbolizing the change of responsibility for USAG to
the incoming USAG command sergeant major, Command
Cruz, who has been sta- Sgt. Maj. Carmelo Cruz, during the change of responsibil-

tioned at Fort Huachuca twice ity ceremony Wednesday in Fitch auditorium, Alvarado
before, recently returned from +DOO7KHSDVVLQJRIWKHVZRUGVLJQL¿HG&UX]DFFHSWLQJ
Fort Benning, Georgia, to take
the role as USAG’s command sergeant major.

on his new role. “I call Fort Huachuca my second home and I’m looking forward

to working with all of the units and the civilians who make this post the great place

that it is,” he said.

Cruz hopes to make a positive impact on the installation while serving as gar-

rison command sergeant major. “I want to assist Soldiers who are coming into …

and leaving the Army to make sure they get all of the benefits and assistance offered

to them and to help make their transition to the civilian world [easier], if that’s what

they choose,” he said.

“I have been blessed to work with four phenomenal command sergeants major in

my career and Sergeant Major Cruz is no exception,” Boone told the crowd. “You

have hit the ground running and I want to thank you for that. It is great to have you,

[your wife] Nilda, and the family on the garrison team as I know you will continue

to make us all better.”

JITC gains new senior enlisted leader, one retires

By Joint Interoperability Test the beginning of another for Sgt. Maj. responsibilities as JITC’s senior enlisted In response, Denkins said, “I am tru-
Command Public Affairs Lewis Brown and Sgt. Maj. Monekia leader to incoming senior enlisted leader ly honored and humbled to be joining
Denkins, at the Greely Hall auditorium Denkins. this most distinguished team of Service
The Joint Interoperability Test Com- May 21. members and civilians. I pledge to give
mand change of responsibility ceremony Using the noncommissioned offi- this organization my absolute best by en-
marked the end of a chapter for one and As family, friends and colleagues cers’ sword to symbolize the change of suring that every member of this team is
gathered in attendance, Brown passed responsibility, Brown passed the sword able to continue to provide joint warfight-
to U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Antonio ing IT capabilities.”
From left, Sgt. Maj. Lewis Brown, outgoing senior enlisted leader for the Joint Interoperability Test Vizcarrondo, the Defense Information
Command, stands with Sgt. Maj. Antonio Vizcarrondo, U.S. Marine Corps, senior enlisted advisor Systems Agency’s senior enlisted advi- Immediately following the change
for the Defense Information Systems Agency, and Sgt. Maj. Monekia Denkins, incoming senior sor. Vizcarrondo then passed the sword of responsibility, Brown retired, having
enlisted leader for JITC, after the change of responsibility ceremony at Greely Hall auditorium to Denkins, who accepted his charge to serving 30 years in the U.S. Army with
May 21. After the ceremony, Brown retired, serving 30 years in the U. S. Army and nearly three provide advice to guide JITC and for the the last three at JITC.
years of service to JITC. well-being of JITC Service members, ci-
vilians and their families. Col. Douglas Orsi, commander of
JITC and host of the retirement cer-
Following the formal passing of the emony, addressed the audience and the
sword, Vizcarrondo provided remarks Brown family.
welcoming Denkins to JITC.
“Sergeant Major Brown is the epitome
“Sergeant Major Denkins, you have of a noncommissioned officer. He makes
a great reputation,” Vizcarrondo said. things happen,” Orsi said. “In the Army
“We are excited that you are here and we say the noncommissioned officer is
we know that you are going to do great the backbone of the Army. They run the
things within JITC and within DISA. I Army, and Sergeant Major Brown runs
look forward to working with you and JITC. He’s a man of integrity. He pro-
the best of luck to you and your family vides sage wisdom and council to every-
during your tour here at Fort Huachuca.”
See JITC3DJH$