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Col. Todd S. Bertulis and Command Sgt. Maj. Stanley O. Richards accepted the 405th Army Field Support Brigade command team reins from Col. Christopher J. Roscoe and Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan D. Kroontje during a change of command and change of responsibility ceremony Aug. 7 at the Kaiserslautern Community Activity Center on Daenner Kaserne in Kaiserslautern.
Maj. Gen. John F. Wharton, commanding general of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command, officiated the ceremony.
Bertulis has served more than 21 years in the Army and now joins the Army Materiel Command’s 405th AFSB after attending the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.
“I am proud and truly honored to be part of such a great organization full of true professionals. The reputation of this organization is fantastic, and Command Sergeant Major Richards and I look forward to working with you in support of our vast array of mission sets throughout Europe and Africa,” he said.
Richards joins the 405th from Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he served as the command sergeant major for the Operations Group’s Sustainment Division, Joint Readiness Training Center.
“Going forward we will continue to be asked to ‘maintain the line,’ and with the great people of the 405th, we will excel,” Richards said. “My pledge to you is that I will always do everything within my power to facilitate our mission and purpose. Those are only words, I know, and I will have to back them up over time with deeds, and I will.”
The outgoing commander and outgoing command sergeant major attributed the success of the brigade to the people who worked under their leadership. They reflected on the partnership that helped shape what Roscoe referred to as the “benchmark-setting support.” This included the permanent change of station surge in 2013 coupled with the European Activity Set in 2014, which helped the brigade overcome adversity to reach the highest achievements.
“What struck me most about the 405th over the past two years is the resiliency and toughness of the team,” Roscoe said. “No sequestration, furlough, overtime bans or hiring freezes could stop the organization from executing every mission brilliantly.”
Kroontje said he has seen the mission change several times.
“I have seen us take on missions that others thought were impossible,” he said. “Through everything, the 405th has shown its true colors and has exceeded the standard in everything we have done.”
Roscoe not only passed the 405th AFSB reins during the ceremony, but he also plans to officially retire later this year after 27 years of service to the Army.
“Chris’ leadership and this brigade’s talented team provided the Army with the strategic depth and flexibility necessary to be globally responsive and regionally engaged when the nation called,” Wharton said.
Kroontje, who passed the Noncommissioned Officer’s Sword during the ceremony, also plans to officially retire later this year after 33 years of active-duty service.
“Your personal attention and enthusiastic approach vastly improved the quality of life for over 2,000 Soldiers, civilians, host nation employees and contractors,” Wharton said.
