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A change of responsibility ceremony for the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz took place Dec. 16 at Armstrong’s Club on Vogelweh.
Command Sgt. Maj. Ulysses D. Rayford assumed responsibility of the garrison from Command Sgt. Maj. Edward J. Williams III during the ceremony.
Much of the ceremony’s motivation and emotion came by way of Williams, who will retire soon from the Army with more than 30 years of service.
“I am a Soldier, and today like every day is a great day to be a Soldier,” Williams said.
During the ceremony the USAG Rheinland-Pfalz commander, Col. Keith E. Igyarto, offered nothing but praise and respect for Williams, talking specifically about his service as the garrison’s command sergeant major.
“He spearheaded changes to Soldier and family programs and services, including in- and outprocessing sponsorship, barracks, the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program and the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program,” Igyarto said. “His efforts supported the readiness and resiliency of thousands of service members and their families.”
Igyarto also noted Williams’ support of Soldiers and families comes from the home front as well. Besides always being there for her husband, Vanessa Williams, provided countless Soldiers and spouses with much-needed service and support for the past 26 years, the commander said.
“You have touched many lives with your service and (have) been a source of inspiration to many more,” Igyarto said to Vanessa. “Command Sergeant Major Williams, Vanessa — thank you … not only for your service here at USAG Rheinland-Pfalz but for a lifetime of dedicated service to our nation and her allies.”
During his speech, Williams’ lifelong dedication to the Army was evident when he touched upon an emotional subject — what it takes to be a Soldier.
“I am a Soldier, and like many Soldiers, endure hardship as a good Soldier should. I am a Soldier, and like so many Soldiers, suffer from survivors’ remorse,” Williams said. “I subscribe to the belief that if everyone does not come home, none of the rest of us can ever fully come home either.”
Igyarto told Rayford and everyone present at the ceremony that he is excited about the new command sergeant major’s arrival, and he looks forward to working together as the new USAG Rheinland-Pfalz command team.
“We’ll need strong, enlisted leadership for our Soldiers to navigate change, and I’m confident we will have that in Command Sergeant Major Rayford,” Igyarto said.
Rayford responded during his speech by simply stating that he’s excited to be a part of the team, and even though he’s coming off the bench, “he’s ready to be a star.”
Rayford’s last command sergeant major assignment was with the Information Systems Engineering Command at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
He entered the Army in 1992 as a multi-channel telecommunications operator and served at every level of leadership for a noncommissioned officer from team chief to brigade command sergeant major. Some of his assignments include Fort Hood in Texas, Germany and the Republic of Korea as well as multiple assignments to Fort Gordon in Georgia and Kuwait.
In addition to obtaining a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College, Rayford completed every level of noncommissioned leadership training, culminating with the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in 2011.
Rayford is married to Tammy Taylor Rayford, and they have two children — a 21-year-old son, Chauncey, and a 17-year-old daughter, Alyssa.
Williams entered the Army in 1986 and served in numerous locations throughout the course of his career to include Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, South America, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., and Fort Campbell, Ky., among others. He held leadership positions ranging from team chief to brigade-level command sergeant major.
Williams is a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy and completed all levels of noncommissioned leadership training. Williams also holds a master’s degree from Northcentral University with a concentration in organizational leadership.
Williams is married to Vanessa, and they have three adult children — Edward IV, Josselyn and Eric.
