 Transfer of Authority
Maj. Gen. Perry L. Wiggins assumed command of Division West from Maj. Gen. Charles A. Anderson, who held the reigns of the command since Oct. 15, 2009. Wiggins most recently served as deputy commanding general of United States Army North (Fifth Army) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, since April 2009. The ceremony also celebrated Anderson’s retirement from the Army after 32 years of service. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy in 1980 and was involved in the planning and execution of the United States military drawdown in Iraq and the build-up in Afghanistan before he commanded Division West. "It's a great day to be a Soldier," said Anderson as he opened his remarks. "I do want to thank God for this day. He has provided me the strength and the opportunity to serve alongside our nation's best ... and that, of course, is the American Soldier. I would not trade this experience ... this education ... and way of life for anything. "Those that wear the big "a" patch," he continued, "have a sincere passion for the training mission and fully understand that their contributions to the battlefield are not based on the proximity." "There is no doubt the reserve component is a key component of our national defense and we could not fight this war without them. They have demonstrated time and time again, they are well lead, well equipped, and well trained....and you have heard me say before...our commitment in Division West, is that before they get on a plane to go into harm's way, that they have received the best training our nation can provide." Anderson will enter retirement and his initial plans are to establish a new home with his family in Colorado Springs, Col. Wiggins told the change of command audience that his arrival to command the division was like a homecoming, because his first Army duty assignment was Fort Hood as a member of the 2nd Armored Division in the same headquarters building. "Command is a distinct privilege," Wiggins said. "To the Soldiers of Division West, I make one simple promise: You can count on my continued commitment to service before self, to ensure that this division and its great Soldiers continue to make a distinct difference in the lives of those who continue to stand on point for this nation." First Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Michael "Mick" Bednarek, pointedly said to both two-star officers, "It’s never easy to hand the colors over as an outgoing commander...at any level. And -- Chuck - you know, like I do, that the ‘First in the West’ will be in great hands with (Major General) Perry Wiggins at the helm. "Our Army senior leadership got this right," continued Bednarek. "Perry, you are the perfect fit at the exact right time to continue to take this command to the next level. He brings a mastery of training to this team." Division West trains and validates Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers for deployment to combat or other contingency operations and is subordinate to First Army at Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, IL. The division also trains units of the active Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps and United States partner nations. Since October 2007, Division West has mobilized more than 1,500 units and more than 85,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. Division West’s eight subordinate training brigades are the 120th Infantry, 479th Field Artillery and 166th Aviation Brigades at Fort Hood; the 181st Infantry Brigade at Fort McCoy, Wis.; the 189th and 191st Infantry Brigades at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; and the 402nd Field Artillery and 5th Armored Brigades at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Division also has operational control of the 85th Support Command, a U.S. Army Reserve headquarters based at Arlington Heights, Il. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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