 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of our host for today's ceremony, Colonel Robert L. Killam, commander, 598 Transportation Brigade, welcome to today's assumption of responsibility ceremony. Today, Command Sergeant Major Neil D. Ruiz will assume responsibility of the 598 Transportation Brigade. At this time, we would like to acknowledge our special guests attending today's ceremony virtually and in person. Major General Lawrence, Command Sergeant Major Brown, Brigadier General Reagan, Command Sergeant Major Primus, distinguished guests, friends, family, and soldiers of the 598 Transportation Brigade. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the playing of the German and U.S. national anthems and remain standing for the invocation delivered by the Medical Readiness Command Europe Chaplain, Chaplain William Lovell. ["Caplain William Lovell"] I invite you to pray in the manner of your tradition as I pray in the manner of mine. Let us pray. Eternal God, we pause and invite your presence into this assumption of responsibility ceremony for Command Sergeant Major Neil Ruiz. I ask that as he assumes his duties that you grant unto him an unlimited measure of your wisdom and all things, please continue to guide the 598 Transportation Brigade as they serve our nation, our allies, and our military community. I ask all these things for the welfare of our nation and the furtherance of your purposes here on earth. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. The assumption of responsibility is a simple yet traditional event that is rich with symbolism and heritage. The key to the ceremony is the passing of the callers. The very soul of a military unit is symbolized in the callers under which it fights, for they represent not only for the lineage and honors of the unit, but also the loyalty and unity of its soldiers. The custodian of the callers is the Sergeant Major, who is the senior enlisted soldier in the unit and principal advisor to the commander. The passing of the unit callers is significant in many ways. The history, tradition, and accomplishments of the 598 Transportation Brigade are embodied in these callers and with the transfer, the unit legacy is passed. Historically, these callers served as the point around which the soldiers of the organization rallied as they moved forward in battle. The callers have traditionally been at the side of the commander and were carried forward even when the commander fell in combat. And as with tradition, the command Sergeant Major is entrusted as the keeper of the callers. All others within the organization might perish, but the callers live on forever. And so with the passing of the callers goes the transfer of responsibility for the accomplishments of the mission and the welfare of the soldiers. The caller Sergeant, Massa Sergeant Hintz will pass the callers to Colonel Killam, who in turn will pass the callers to Command Sergeant Major Ruiz, charging him with the responsibility and authority that comes with this position. Charge orders for Command Sergeant Major Neil D. Ruiz. Let it be known from this day forward that the commander of 598 Transportation Brigade and confident dedication, integrity and leadership abilities. Therefore, you are hereby appointed as the Command Sergeant Major 598 Transportation Brigade. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the commander of the 598 Transportation Brigade, Colonel Robert L. Killam. Please don't ever want to pause it once. Good morning, Major General Lawrence, Command Sergeant Major Brown, Colonel Alexander, Colonel Lane, Mrs. Lane, Command Sergeant Major Towns, Command Sergeant Major Brison Team and Command Sergeant Major Aguin. Distinguished guests, family, friends, here as well as watching and listening online. Thank you all for coming to another historic event for the 598th Transportation Brigade. This assumption of responsibility serves not only as the official ceremony that brings Command Sergeant Major Ruiz on board as the next top non-commissioned officer to this brigade, but it also counts as several other events in one. We can say that we've knocked out his brigade hail because we're gonna have cake and punch later. You can laugh, it's okay. And we can also say that we've got a community event here because we're in the Community Activity Center for SIMBOC, so yeah, I guess I tried. But seriously, it's great to have my new senior enlisted advisor on board, as well as my new battle buddy. The Army's definitely done a great job at selecting NCOs that have had the extremely important job and at times difficult job in keeping me straight. So far I can say the Army's batting a thousand. In the short time I've known Command Sergeant Major Ruiz, I can say, I can tell you that he is gonna be a great addition, not only to this command team, but to the brigade, SDDC, and Team 21 as well. He's coming straight out of a very successful battalion Command Sergeant Major Billet from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, where his leadership and experience will help him insurmountably here and in all of his future assignments. Command Sergeant Major Ruiz is well-prepared to assume responsibility. Not only as my senior enlisted advisor, but also as a key member of the shadow government, I'm putting quotes, shadow government, that I jokingly called the Sergeant Major Mafia, I mean, I mean network. He's already made great connections with many of the Command Sergeant Major here in Europe and was a classmate with several brigade and battalion sergeants major in preparation for this assignment. The network here in Europe is strong. And each unit relies on each other to do many of the events, activities, and missions, not only here in SEMBOC, but in the greater KMC area, as well as mission locations. I'm definitely excited to see you continue to provide the necessary leadership and partnership with the NCOs throughout Europe. We know that none of us could get here on our own and Command Sergeant Major Ruiz is no exception. His family and mentors have supported him and guided him along the way. And this assignment will definitely require that support. I wanna thank your family, especially your wife, Juicy and daughter, Juliana, in advance and appreciate their support to you. Although they're not here physically with you in Europe currently, I know they feel the importance and weight of this assignment, and they're always with you. And we were looking forward to meeting them in the very near future when they come to visit. I wanna give my sincere thanks to Master Sergeant Hintz, who's our Brigade S3 NCIC. He stood in the breach as the Command Sergeant Major for the Brigade for the last two months. And I drug him with me all over Europe for pretty much the entire month of October. I do appreciate your help and assistance for sponsoring Command Sergeant Major Ruiz, as well as coordinating this event and everything else you've done for the Brigade. I know you're very happy that Command Sergeant Major Ruiz is here. It's rare occasions like this that we're able to bring our entire Brigade leadership here together. So I'm gonna take a minute and recognize some of the things they do. So our battalion leaders for being here and thank them for all their units and efforts over the past several months. Lieutenant Colonel Acevedo and Sergeant Major Baker from the 838th battalion headquartered here at Claybrook Stern, where y'all raise your hand for the audience, there we go. Not yet, wait. The battalion's AOR is all ports north of the Alps and they've been very busy deploying and redeploying multiple Brigade and below-sized elements, as well as PD cargo and ammunition for the war in Ukraine. They and their company and detachments have operated ports from Kleipa to Lithuania, Gdynia, Poland, Arhus and Espeer, Denmark, Bremerhaven and Nord and Nordenham, Germany, Lisigan, Netherlands, and Zabruz, Belgium. And I'm missing a few, I know. Then down south of the Alps and Africa, we have with us Lieutenant Colonel Harold and Sergeant Major Lawrence, where y'all at? Right there. They command the 839th Transportation Battalion and last month, they and their detachment's leadership reestablished the port of Livorno in Italy to receive Brigade Unit cargo. They've not operated out of that port in several years. So they've had the opportunity to operate in Izmir, Turkey, Thessaloniki and Aleksandropoli, Greece, Bar Montenegro, Valencia and road to Spain and assisted across the brigade in both Espeer, Denmark and Kleipa to Lithuania. Needless to say, the current environment in both of our battalion AORs and the ports I mentioned are just a few highlights. What we do is definitely a team effort, a team of teams effort, and we're very proud of their efforts to support Team 21 in coordination with 16th Sustainment Brigade, 5th Corps Units and USERAF. Please, let's give them a big round of applause for their efforts and being here today. I have to say it's also a great honor and privilege to have the commanding general and command sergeant major from STDC here today for this event. Cool. Because STDC brigades are spread out all over the world, it's a rare occasion that they're able to be at events like this. And we truly appreciate you both being here and taking the time to attend today's ceremony and hosting an LPD following this event. With the logistics community here in the area, we are all really looking forward to the next week of allowing us to showcase the brigade, battalion and Team 21's efforts across Europe. Command Sergeant Major Ruiz will have about eight months, a very busy months together as a command team and I can't wait to get started. So on that note, I'll go ahead and stop delaying the process and close my remarks with saying on behalf of the entire brigade, welcome aboard and let's get this started right now with be all you can be, surface warriors, first in support and warrior logistics in motion. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Command Sergeant Major of the 598 Transportation Brigade, Command Sergeant Major Neil D. Ruiz. Thank you. What a great day to be a transporter. What a great day. Good morning, General Lawrence, General Reagan, Command Sergeant Major Brown, Command Sergeant Major Primus, Mr. Swift, brigade and battalion command teams, friends, family and other distinguished guests. Thank you, Mass Sergeant Hintz and the entire team for making this ceremony possible. And I know he is the most excited person probably after Colonel Kellum that I am now here. He made sure my flight was on time and was waiting at the airport and I appreciate everything. I appreciate all the hard work and attention detail that you put into this. As I stand up here today, I see many friendly familiar faces. Colonel Lane, I cannot believe that 20 years ago I was a young private in your platoon. Sir, you and I are the last rough riders still wearing the uniform today. It really means a lot that you were in attendance today, sir and ma'am, and I'm truly proud of all that you have accomplished throughout your career. I would like to thank Colonel and Mrs. Kellum, Mr. Swift, Sergeant Major Baker, Mass Sergeant Hintz and the entire 598th Transportation Brigade for making my transition to this brigade and to Germany seamless. This was my first O'Connor's PCS in my career. So that is probably why it took the entire village to get me out here. I am truly honored to be standing here today as the newest CSM of the 598th Transportation Brigade. There are some amazing CSMs that have had the privilege of serving in this esteemed organization. I am humbled to see the wall of photos that depict the giants that have come before me. I would do all that I can to honor all that they have done and to cherish every moment that I have in this organization. Colonel Kellum, I cannot express just how excited I am to be your Commence Sergeant Major. I look forward to working side by side with you to take this brigade to the next level of excellence with the continued support from the officers, NCOs and civilians of this amazing organization. Lastly, I would not be as successful today if it were not for my amazing support system at home. Unfortunately, they cannot be here today, but you see you've been with my side for the last 20 years, pushing me to be the best version of myself every day. Juliana, you're the best kid a parent can ask for. I cannot thank you enough for all your love, support, and most of all, laughing at all my funny dad jokes. I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives together, so start packing, and I will see you guys soon. I love both of you so very much. Be all you can be, surface warriors, first in support, warrior logistics in motion, Poseidon 7 signing on. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Commanding General at the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Major General Gavin Lawrence. Distinguished guests, family, and friends of the 598th Transportation Brigade. Thank you for being here today and to Colonel Kellam and the 598th team. Thank you for affording the opportunity for Commanding General Major Brown and I to be a part of this wonderful day, this ceremony as we saw Commanding General Major Ruiz assume the colors of the 9598th Transportation Brigade. Being a student of history, I thought I'd take a couple of minutes just to talk about the significance of this morning's events. As we saw Command Sergeant Major Ruiz assume the colors, assume responsibility for this phenomenal brigade and write another chapter in the lineage and history of this organization. You know, the history of the 598th goes back to the 7th of June, 1945. 7th of June, 1945, under the 17th major port, activities were established in Bremenhaben, Germany. At the end of World War II as the United States made the decision to maintain a presence in Europe and rebuild Europe under the Marshall Plan. And then the 17th major port played a crucial role in the deployment, reception, and distribution material, the units that would contribute to the rebuilding of Europe post World War II. Since then, names have changed going from McMick Europe to 598th Transportation Group to now, you know, 598th Transportation Brigade. Names have changed, but the mission has remained constant, right? And that is ensuring the coordination, synchronization of service deployment and distribution support and support of the United States Army, our Joint Force, our NATO allies, on time, on target, as we like to say in SDDC, to meet mission requirements. And this organization has done that. I talked a little bit about First World War II. We can talk about all that this organization executed in the face of Soviet presence during the Cold War. Talk about what this brigade did in terms of supporting U.S. actions in Bosnia. Most recently, in support of the Afghan refugee crisis and then what you're currently doing in the face of Russian aggression, supporting our NATO allies, supporting U.S. forces as we compete and deter further Russian aggression. That, ladies and gentlemen, all I just talked about is what these colors represent, what this mighty brigade represents and what it does as a part of U.S. Army, Africa, Europe, what it does as part of military service deployment and distribution command. Command Sergeant Major Ruz, you've assumed responsibility for a phenomenal organization with a rich lineage in history. And I know that you are more than up to the task as acting as the Command Sergeant Major of this great organization. Command Sergeant Major Brown and I wish you and all the very best, and your family all the very best as you assume this responsibility. And to the 598th team, thank you for what you do each and every day as a part of military service deployment distribution command. Thank you what you do every day as you support our war fighters on two continents. You know, one-third of our nation's geographical combatant commands responsibility delivering on time, on target, every time. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. And congratulations, Command Sergeant. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the playing of the transportation course song and the Army song. You will find the words printed on your program. We've got a little twist and not a single man to play along the road along the track. You're riding deep in the air, we're waiting for that. You'll be on the scene, I'm sure. Always waiting for the right to say good-nation. The Army transportation is for the love of God. In our song, you'll be joined and to build a nation's life and the Army goes rolling along. Down the ball, we have done right until the battle's won and the Army goes rolling along. Then it's high, the army's on its way. Down off the gate, it's not a storm. Over the air, we go. In motion. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's ceremony. Please join us in welcoming Command Sergeant Major Ruiz for light refreshments. Thank you and have a great day, service warriors in motion.