Twitter
Facebook
It was standing room only for the large number of Soldiers, family members, guests and civilian employees attending the assumption of responsibility ceremony for the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s highest ranking enlisted Soldier.
Maj. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion, 21st TSC commanding general, administered the oath of office to Command Sgt. Maj. James Spencer during the Feb. 22 ceremony at the Kleber Gymnasium on Kleber Kaserne.
First, General McQuistion thanked Sgt. Maj. Tomas Gonzales for serving as the interim command sergeant major in addition to fulfilling his regular responsibilities as the sergeant major of the 21st TSC’s plans and operations section.
“I thank you for all your hard work, dedication and commitment,” General McQuistion said.
Next, General McQuistion highlighted some of Command Sergeant Major Spencer’s accomplishments while serving as the command sergeant major for the 21st TSC’s 16th Sustainment Brigade in Bamberg.
She noted the brigade truly left a mark in the sand during its 15-month deployment to Contingency Operating Base Qayyarah-West, where it supervised the relief in place and transfer of authority of more than 140 company- and detachment-level transitions and was responsible for more than 4,200 Soldiers.
“Under Command Sergeant Major Spencer’s experienced and skilled leadership, the Soldiers and NCOs of the 16th did an exceptional job of executing full spectrum logistics support for stability operations across Northern Iraq – in an area (that) is roughly the size of Pennsylvania,” General McQuistion said.
Furthermore, she noted that while Command Sergeant Major Spencer’s accomplishments, awards and citations are impressive, there was another vital and impressive indicator of his leadership style.
“In addition to having the skill set and experience I was looking for and having successfully held all the key leadership positions, there is another less tangible but vital aspect of his career,” she said. “Throughout his tenure, Command Sergeant Major Spencer has continuously emphasized the fundamental importance of leadership engagement.”
General McQuistion also stressed the Spencer family is an “Army Strong family” and a “tremendous and most welcome addition” to the command.
“We are thrilled you already live our motto first in support,” she said.
When Command Sergeant Major Spencer took the microphone to enthusiastic applause, he thanked General McQuistion for entrusting the responsibilities of the position to him and the many friends from previous assignments for attending the ceremony.
Additionally, he made a promise to the Soldiers and leaders of the 21st TSC.
“Here is my commitment to you: I will provide consistent and predictable leadership. We are an Army at war serving a nation at war, and the mission we have is serious,” he said.
During his short address, he also thanked his family for their support and ensured General McQuistion he is “ready to go to work.”
