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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Jan 5, 2009 - 8:24:33 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Capt. Philbert J. Palmore, outgoing commander of Company A, Task Force Dragon, XVIII Airborne Corps Special Troops Battalion, gets a congratulatory hand shake form XVIII Abn. Corps Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. Daniel Allyn, following the change-of-command and re-designation of Headquarters and Headquarters Co. to Co. A, in which Palmore relinquished command to Capt. Marshall E. Cooper Nov. 12 at the Joint Visitor's Bureau on Camp Victory, Baghdad. |
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - One of the Army's largest company-sized elements made history Nov. 12 in Baghdad with a change of command and re-designation ceremony; thus taking the transformation of the XVIII Airborne Corps and its Special Troops Battalion one step closer to its final end state in 2009.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, STB, led by Capt. Philbert J. Palmore for the last two-and-a-half years, changed command to Capt. Marshall E. Cooper while simultaneously re-designating as Company A amidst a crowd of Soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers at the Joint Visitor's Bureau at Camp Victory.
More than two years ago, the STB (deployed now as Task Force Dragon) consisted of one company in which to support the Corps' staff. That company was HHC, which consisted of more than 350 Soldiers. Under the Army's transformation plan, the battalion began to branch out into other support companies, and the re-designation of HHC completed the ‘forward' transformation of the STB, with the final transformation process of the Corps taking place upon redeployment in 2009.
The battalion staff knew it was in for several thousand man hours of work to get to the point of transformation, said Lt. Col. William J. Wanovich, the STB commander.
"Planning and execution [of the transformation] went to strong company grade leaders, NCOs and Soldiers; using their time well and applying common sense," Wanovich said. "All the parts of the future corps resided under the HHC, and from it came [Headquarters Support Company] last November, and then the final pieces of Charlie Company just this past August, with Bravo Company splitting out right at the end of August. So today we are taking our final step for the forward deployed portion of STB, to our end state under Army transformation."
HHC grew to the size of a large battalion before heading out the door on its second Iraq deployment in January - with Palmore leading a company of 850-plus servicemembers.
Now, the newly designated Co. A provides support services for TF Dragon, and is also the operations company for part of the Multi-National Force -, Multi-National Corps - Iraq staff. The company supports more than 2,600 servicemembers while deployed, including all aspects of supply, logistics and administration of the MNF-I staff and Corps' sections including: Inspector General, Chaplain, Public Affairs, Provost Marshall, Retention, Combat Camera, Chemical, Operations and more.
Cooper is no stranger to the STB, as he is a signal officer formerly with the Corps' C6 (communications section). He thanked God and family upon taking charge of Co. A.
"I would like to thank my family, who has supported me and kept me grounded though out my military career," Cooper said. "This is not just my moment, but theirs as well. To 1st Sgt. [Demont] Roberson and the Soldiers of Alpha Company; I'm excited about the new responsibilities, opportunities and challenges ahead, and I'm looking forward to leading the way with your support."
The outgoing commander reflected pride in his unit upon taking the lectern and wished them all the best.
"Regardless of the circumstances, these NCOs and troopers standing here are the reason why I, as the outgoing commander of HHC, STB, have been so successful," Palmore said. "The past thirty months have been fast and rewarding. Marshall, I wish you the best and I know you will do well. To my NCOs and Soldiers, thank you for your tireless work."
During Palmore's tenure, the company maintained 100 percent accountability for more than 600 assigned weapons and sensitive items, with a more than $400 million property book. They managed and distribute over 300,000 rounds of ammunition, maintained the serviceability of over 200 vehicles in rolling stock and executed weapons ranges in which more than 2000 personnel were trained.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| The new guidon for Company A, Task Force Dragon, XVIII Airborne Corps Special Troops Battalion, is unfurled by Capt. Philbert J. Palmore, the company's outgoing commander, and 1st Sgt. Demont Roberson, Co. A 1st sergeant, during a change-of-command and re-designation ceremony Nov. 12 at the Joint Visitor's Bureau, Camp Victory, Baghdad. Palmore relinquished command to Capt. Marshall E. Cooper following 30 months as commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, which was re-designated as Co. A during the ceremony. |
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| Capt. Marshall E. Cooper takes the guidon as the new commander of Company A, Task Force Dragon, XVIII Airborne Corps Special Troops Battalion, from Lt. Col. William J. Wanovich, commander, TF Dragon, during the change-of-command and re-designation ceremony of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Nov. 12 at the Joint Visitor's Bureau, Camp Victory, Baghdad. |
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| Capt. Philbert J. Palmore, outgoing commander, Company A, Task Force Dragon, XVIII Airborne Corps Special Troops Battalion, unfurls the new company guidon with the help of 1st Sgt. Demont Roberson, the company's first sergeant, during a change-of-command and re-designation ceremony Nov. 12 at the Joint Visitor's Bureau, Camp Victory, Baghdad. Co. A was formerly Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in which Palmore was the commander for two-and-a-half years. |
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Comments
Diane
23 Nov 2008, 18:07
gege
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