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U.S. Army Col. Christine Anne Fiala and Col. Otto Fiala, both members of the 7th Civil Support Command, participated in separate brigade change of commands, as one relinquished command of a medical brigade the other took command of a training brigade.
Colonel Otto Fiala passed the reins off to Col. Sandra Alvey, commander of the 196th Medical Support Unit, during an official ceremony March 5 in Mannheim, Germany. Colonel Christine Fiala took command from outgoing commander Col. Melvin Jones Jr., a member of the 7th Warrior Training Brigade, March 6 in Grafenwöhr, Germany.
The 196th Medical Support Unit and the 7th Warrior Training Brigade are part of the 7th CSC, Europe’s only Army Reserve command, headquartered in Kaiserslautern. Brig. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells, commanding general of the 7th CSC, officiated over both ceremonies. The ceremony was attended by Maj. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion, commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, and her senior enlisted adviser, Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Spencer, as well as Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Biere, the 7th CSC’s command sergeant major, and commanders, Soldiers and civilians of each 7th CSC headquarters and both brigades.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored military tradition representing a complete transfer of responsibility and authority from one individual to another and provides formal recognition in front of the entire unit. General Wells thanked Colonel Otto Fiala for his leadership of the command. He then praised the unit on their accomplishments under the command of Colonel Otto Fiala.
General Wells welcomed Colonel Alvey to the command and expressed confidence in her to fulfill the duties as the brigade commander and her personal sacrifices and commitment to the unit.
Colonel Otto Fiala approached the podium and put the Soldiers in formation at ease before addressing the unit, when he thanked them for their support and professionalism during his tenure. He mentioned that his background in military infantry and civil affairs was unusual preparation to lead a medical unit, but the support he got from the Soldiers standing in formation made the difference.
Colonel Otto Fiala gave praise to his wife, Colonel Christine Fiala, thanking her for professionally mentoring him in the time he led the 196th MSU.
Colonel Otto Fiala is currently pursuing a doctorate in strategic studies at the University of Reading in the U.K.
Although the Soldiers of the 196th MSU will miss the outgoing commander, they understand that commanders come and go.
“The last commander was excellent,” said Sgt. Juan Morales, a medical administration specialist at the 196th MSU, referring to the guidance and organization Colonel Otto Fiala provided the command during a transitional period.
More than 100 Soldiers and family members gathered at the Grafenwöhr Field House for the 7th Warrior Training Brigade’s change of command ceremony.
After the passing of the colors from the outgoing to the incoming commander, General Wells, again walked to the center of the stage with the mic in hand and addressed the audience.
Though Colonel Christine Fiala is the new commander of the brigade, she is “no stranger to the command,” he said.
Colonel Christine Fiala previously served with the unit as an operations officer, course instructor, course director and battalion commander.
After thanking her superiors for their trust, confidence and support, Colonel Christine Fiala thanked the Soldiers of her new brigade.
“It’s an absolute honor to come home as your commander,” said the colonel, who returned last month from a yearlong deployment to Iraq.
During deployment, she served as the chief of staff and director of strategic communication for the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission-Ministry of Defense, U.S. Forces-Iraq, and as the director of the English Language Training Program.
As the outgoing commander took the podium, he made several references to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and Colonel Jones said it was fitting that Colonel Christine Fiala was assuming command in March, effectively bridging the gap between Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March.
