Brigade welcomes new commander
Carrying on the traditions of military pride and precision, soldiers representing all six battalions of the 28th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team participated in a formal change-of-command ceremony Nov. 17 at the 171st Air Refueling Wing in Coraopolis.
The ceremony marked the departure of outgoing commander Col. Michael R. Evans, who passed the torch of leadership and unit colors to incoming commander Col. James F. Chisholm. Headquartered in Washington, the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 2nd Brigade primarily fills its ranks with soldiers from the western part of the state.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all of the officers, noncommissioned officers and ‘Iron Soldiers’ of the 2nd Brigade. Thank you for your incredible sacrifices and support,” said Evans, who took command in August 2009. “I’ve served with Col. Chisholm for a number of years. He will set high standards and I know he will have your interests at heart as he leads you into the future.”
Under Evans’ leadership, the brigade deployed close to 3,000 soldiers in support of the War on Terror. Here in the homeland, it helped uphold the law and dramatically limit damage done by anarchists during the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh. Additionally, battalions stationed at armories throughout the commonwealth assisted citizens during weather emergencies and floods.
The ceremony turned somber as the soldiers bowed their heads in remembrance of the three members of 2nd Brigade who gave their lives for country during Evans’ tenure. “We can never forget the soldiers’ great sacrifices and the legacies they’ve left behind,” he said.
As a former enlisted man, incoming commander Chisholm plans to expand upon his predecessor’s success and focus on developing leadership training that will prepare the young soldiers of today to fulfill the Guard’s missions both domestically and abroad. He also hopes to strengthen ties to the community.
“We will continue our level of partnership with civilian agencies and communities within 2nd Brigade’s area of operations and establish new relationships with key civilian leaders,” Chisholm said. “The bottom line is: We work for the governor and civilian leadership and we have a responsibility to help ensure that the public lives in a safe and secure environment.”
One of Chisholm’s new responsibilities is the command of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region III Homeland Response Force, of which 2nd Brigade plays a large part. The HRF acts as a quick response force to manmade or natural disasters on the scale of 9/11.
The HRF’s area of responsibility includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C. In order to be assigned to the mission, 2nd Brigade soldiers underwent a rigorous training and certification process.
Congressman Tim Murphy, who attended the change of command ceremony, knows about the sacrifices citizen-soldiers and their families make on a daily basis. As a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Murphy not only serves his country as a politician, he provides help to wounded warriors with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
As proof of its abilities, Murphy points out that the soldiers of 2nd Brigade were quick to come to the aid of Pennsylvanians during “Snowmageddon” in 2010. He also said that the unit functioned well during protests associated with the G8 Summit.
During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. John L. Gronski, 28th Infantry Division commander, bridged the gap between the old and new leadership by accepting the 2nd Brigade colors, which is a pennant representing the unit’s honor, from Evans and passing it on to Chisholm.
“Any time a unit has a change of command it can have a positive effect on morale,” Gronski said. This gives the brigade an opportunity to look back at the successes in the past and look forward with anticipation to challenges in the future.”