Wednesday, Jun. 15, 2011

30th AG Battalion changes command

Lt. Col. Mary Martin relinquished command of the 30th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception) to Lt. Col. Stuart Kidder in a change of command ceremony June 6 at Pomeroy Field.

“We are excited to have another great leader to take command,” said Col. Terrence McKenrick, commander of the 192nd Infantry Brigade.

“Your leadership and experience will ensure we continue to provide the best reception operations as we prepare to receive and process the first Armor OSUT Soldiers starting June 13 and complete construction and move into the new reception barracks, Soldier community center and dining facility over the next few months.”

He said Kidder’s battalion would meet the challenge and his first-class reception operations would set the stage for enforcing standards and discipline.

Kidder’s recent assignment was as the core deputy chief of staff for human resource management with 1st Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., which McKenrick said prepared him for any challenges.

McKenrick said the battalion lived up to its motto “meeting the challenge” while under Martin’s command. He said Martin led her battalion “superbly” in receiving, processing and shipping more than 60,000 new Soldiers to training battalions.

The battalion relocated to a new $44 million reception station and battalion headquarters during Martin’s command.

“This is the largest, most complex project the battalion has undertaken in 30 years, and Mary and her team handled it with ease, all while continuing to provide the best reception operations in the Army,” he said. Martin said she believes the battalion passed the test of living up to the motto of the battalion.

“The cadre and Soldiers of 30th AG are inspired to lead change and are resilient to the core for what they bring to the table to encourage and motivate new Soldiers to stay the course on a new journey — becoming Army strong,” Martin said. “And now it’s time for us to step aside and allow the new command team to assist 30th AG in doing the rest, as it may be their very best.”

Martin’s next assignment is as chief of awards at Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, Ky.