 Command Ceremonies, all audience members, VIPs, retirees, civilians, and family members remain uncovered. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of our Presiding Officer, Major General Mark J. Schumler, the National General of Pennsylvania, welcome to today's Change of Responsibility or Change of Command Ceremonies, where Command Sergeant Major Randall Criss will hand over Command Responsibility and Authority as a Division Command Sergeant Major to Command Sergeant Major Joshua W. Porter. During our Second Ceremonies, Major General Mark D. McCormick wrote Relinquished Command of the 20th Infantry Division to Major General Michael E. Weitscheider, who will become the Division's 40th Commanding General. At this time, I would like to introduce some of the special guests with us today. Please hold your applause until all of our special guests have been announced. Former Under Secretary of Defense and former Acting General of Pennsylvania National Guard, Honorable Jessica Wright and her husband Chuck. Deputy Commanding General of Support, 20th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Jeffrey Keasley. Assistant Acting General, Army, Joint Force Headquarters, Major General James McCormick. Deputy Acting General, Army, Joint Force Headquarters, Brigadier General Lauren Q. Commanding Commander, Joint Force Headquarters, Brigadier General John Pinney. Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Carl Keith Graham. Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, and forward Chief of Staff, Chief of Joint Staff. Joint Force Headquarters and forward Chief of Staff, 20th Infantry Division, Carl Reese Lutz. Command Chief, Warren Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Chief of Officer 5, Darren Dreher. Command Senior, Analystic Leader, Pennsylvania National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Sean Phillips and his wife Sandy. Command Sergeant Major of Army, Joint Force Headquarters, Command Sergeant Major Andrew Campbell. Former Deputy Commanding General of Support, National General, Pennsylvania National Guard, Major General, Retired James Joseph. Former Division Commander, Major General, Retired Andrew Shaffer Jr. Former 20th Infantry Division Commander, Major General, Retired Randall Markey. Former 20th Infantry Division Commander and Ashen General, Pennsylvania National Guard, Major General, Retired Wesley Craig and his wife Marta. Former 20th Infantry Division Commander, Major General, Retired Walter Stewart. Former Deputy Commanding General, Maneuver, 20th Infantry Division, Brigadier General, Retired Stephen R. Galski. Former Deputy Commanding General, Maneuver, 20th Infantry Division and current Executive Deputy Secretary, Joint Force Headquarters, Carl, Retired Mark Ferraro. Former 20th Infantry Division Chief of Staff, Carl Retired Taran Humphrey and his wife Roxanne. Former 20th Infantry Division Chief of Staff, Colonel Retired Matthew Cooper. Former 20th Infantry Division Chief of Staff, Colonel Retired Andrew Ginch. Former 20th Infantry Command Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major, Retired John Jones and his wife Christine. Former 20th Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major, Retired Horace Peicher and his wife Bartlett. And to all attending family, friends, officers, soldiers, airmen and veterans, thank you for honoring us with your presence today. This first ceremony, Command Sergeant Major Randall J. Critz will relinquish responsibility as the 20th Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major to Command Sergeant Major Joshua W. Porter. Officiating Officer for today's change responsibility ceremony is Major General Mark D. McCormick, Commander of the 28th Infantry Division. The noncommissioned officer in charge of today's change responsibility ceremony is Sergeant Major Andrew P. Franklin, the Operating Sergeant Major of the Headquarters 20th Infantry Division. Bring your guests to attention. For game, attention. Attention to. Attention to. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the attention of the official pardon and remain standing for the invocation, presentation of the colors and the play of the National Anthem. Please join me at a moment of prayer. Lord God, we thank you for the strength that you have given us not just to stand here today with fellow soldiers, but to stand with those who through the generations have been part of this division, who are represented by the streamers on our guidance. At this change of command and responsibility, we ask your blessing on Major General McCormick and Command Sergeant Major Pritz, their families, their loved ones. Lord, we thank you for their commitment and dedication to this division, to its mission and to its soldiers. Lord, we thank you for Major General Wetscheider and Command Sergeant Major Porter. We ask that you give them wisdom and resolve to lead us in the new challenges that will lead us in the days to come. Lord, we ask your peace, we ask your blessing on our homes and on our communities, on our state, upon our nation. Lord, upon this world which you have made. Lord, we ask that those who would follow in our footsteps would find us faithful in all we do. This we ask in your most precious name. Amen. Sir, the colors are present. Present the command. To present arms. Present arms. Please take your seats. At this time, Barbara, wife of Command Sergeant Major Pritz, is presenting with a bouquet of red roses for devotion, dedication, and tireless efforts to the soldiers and families of the 28th Infantry Division. Janessa, wife of Command Sergeant Major Porter, is presenting with a bouquet of yellow roses, welcoming and encouraging to the division. Yellow is the color of new beginnings and symbolizes her arrival to the 28th Infantry Division. Today, we will observe the traditional passing of the NCO sword, symbolizing the change of responsibility. The 1840 adopted a unique non-commissioned officer sword. It is an completely functional weapon, not intended for display, but rather for hard and dedicated use. While no longer a part of the Army's inventory, American sergeants wore it for over 70 years, during which occurred the Mexican American War, the Civil War, and the Spanish American War. The passing of the sword signifies the relinquishing of responsibility and authority from the outgoing to the incoming Command Sergeant Major. Command Sergeant Major may calm and go, but the sword remains razor sharp. Command Sergeant Major Pritz will receive the sword from Sergeant Major Frankel entrusted with the Sergeant Major's sword, symbol of the authority of the NCO. Command Sergeant Major Pritz, in final deference to his authority and leadership, passes the sword to Sergeant Major Cormac, signifying a relinquish of his duties and gratitude for the opportunity to care for the 20th Infantry Division's outstanding soldiers. Major General Cormac then passes the sword to Command Sergeant Major Porter, delegating command authority and entrusting him with the responsibility and care of the division. Command Sergeant Major Porter returns the sword back to Sergeant Major Frankel, symbolizing his dedication to the soldiers of the 20th Infantry Division and the continuity of the NCO support channel. Ladies and gentlemen, the 39th commander of the 20th Infantry Division, Major General R. P. McCormac. Distinguished guests, general officers, soldiers, friends and families, thank you for joining us today as we conduct this combined ceremony recognizing the outgoing command team of the 28th Infantry Division and welcoming in the new division command team. Combining these two ceremonies is a bit abnormal and we have to take a little creative license with some of the protocol, but I think it's very important to separate them as much as possible in order to highlight the two great sergeants majors that are executing today's change of responsibility. The downside is that you'll have to listen when we give two speeches today. I'm a huge believer in the command team concept and have always felt that Command Sergeant Major of an Army unit shares equally an establishing division and culture of an organization. I'm honored to officiate today's change of responsibility because it provides me an opportunity to thank my battle buddy, Command Sergeant Major Pritz for his dedication to the organization and to introduce Command Sergeant Major Porter, a leader that I have the utmost confidence in. Command Sergeant Major Pritz and I began building a professional relationship immediately after his 2019 selection to be the CSM of the 28th Infantry Division. I was the deputy commanding general for support and it was very apparent to me that Command Sergeant Major Pritz was a passionate leader that always placed the well-being of soldiers first. He was actively engaged in his duties and always on the go, ensuring leaders and soldiers at every level had face time with the division CSM. He also participated at the national level as a member of the Command Sergeant Major's National Advisory Committee Council, ensuring the 28th Infantry Division had a voice at the National Guard Bureau for actions and decisions that impacted our soldiers. His energy and enthusiasm during his first year as CSM had a tangible positive impact on all iron soldiers. After being selected to command the division, CSM Pritz and I began to solidify our command team philosophy and work jointly in instilling our shared vision for increasing soldier and unit readiness and for building on the positive command climate that we had inherited. The end result of our combined efforts was fully realized during our 2022-23 deployment to the Middle East for Operation Spartan Shield. The 565 iron soldiers that made up our division headquarters operated independently across multiple countries, upheld and enhanced the organization's culture of mission accomplishment, and they constantly lived up to the Army values and professional standards expected of an iron soldier. Command Sergeant Major Pritz, proactive and direct approach to leading and mentoring soldiers, was one of the primary contributors to building the foundation for success during that deployment. One of the unexpected lessons I learned during that deployment was how much time and energy I had to commit to making sure Randy was fully taken care of every day. I had to remind him to take his pack card out of his computer every time we went to lunch and dinner. To put his bearing aids somewhere where we would be able to find them in the morning. And to not over pack when we went on civilian flights so we wouldn't get held up in customs. He had a full-time aide so of course Sergeant Jensen had ten times the problems I had. But that's what being a bad buddy is all about. Barb, you've definitely earned that bouquet of flowers today. Command Sergeant Major Pritz, on behalf of the entire 20th and 50th Division, thank you for your leadership, your desire to always improve your organization, your unwavering support to all our soldiers no matter the circumstances. And for me personally Randy, thank you for your professionalism, your team mentality, and most importantly your friendship. You have already moved down to First Army and after meeting and hearing from your new teammates during my recent visit to Fort Cabosos, I know you have made the right choice and I know the leadership in First Army is impressed with your unique perspective that you bring to the job having been a citizen soldier for more than three decades. Together everyone here wishes you and Barb nothing but continued success and we're all thrilled to know that you are part of the team that prepares our soldiers for deployments and service all around the world. Command Sergeant Major Porter, congratulations on your assignment as the 14th Command Sergeant Major of the 20th and 50th Division. Your military record of assignments and success is a clear indication that you are fully ready for this position. I'd like to think that I had a hand in getting you to stay in the Army Guard just a little bit longer. As you were getting ready to rotate out of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Command Sergeant Major position, I remember jokingly thanking you for deciding to stay in the 28th and 50th Division so that you could deploy with us for Operation Spartan. You respectfully corrected me, but I still like to think I planted a seed that day that others helped to cultivate and which led to your deployment and eventual assignment as the CSF. Your level-headed and experienced approach to leadership was critical to our operations in Jordan. You fully understood how the Division was trying to shape our mission set across Jordan and your input was always informed and supportive of soldier well-being. You have spent nearly your entire career in the 28th and 50th Division making your assumption of command responsibility today a perfect example of selfless service and dedication. And it's an example for all our iron soldiers to strive to emulate. As I close my comments, I also want to highlight the selfless service and dedication over numerous decades for both Barbara Critsch and Jenna Sepport. Thank you both for allowing your husbands to continue to serve and to support their decisions to remain in uniform in order to mold and mentor the next generation of leaders. Again, thank you all for attending today's change of responsibility ceremony and congratulations to Sergeant Major Critsch and Command Sergeant Major Porter. Iron Division, roll along. Ladies and gentlemen, the 13th and 20th Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major Randall J. Critsch. As we take the time to embrace an army tradition that represents the formal transfer and responsibility. Major General Schimler, Major General McCormick, General Off, distinguished guests, community leaders, teammates, and the friends of the 28th Infantry Division. Welcome and thank you for your presence here today. It makes this event that much more special for the 28th Infantry Division meeting back to 1747. As certain as many of our nation's important and difficult campaigns in the defense, on 9 October of 2022, the colors of the 28th were cased as we began our movement into the second column years of my tenure, the 28th, in traditional fashion, accepted the challenges and preparation to accomplish the task for a second rotation in support of Operation Spartan Shield. During that time, we developed relationships with higher headquarters at our center, San Con, and our units from across all three composts to include Idaho, Mississippi, New York, New Hampshire, and it just so happens that Colonel Ulrichson is here with us today and flew in to be here with us today and I truly appreciate that, sir. It just shows the partnerships and the relationships that we developed during our tour to Spartan Shield. We developed trained and perfected systems, processes, and procedures at home and abroad. We demonstrated proficiency during aggressive chaining exercises. CPXs, war fighters, our CTE and former-foot hood, Fort Hood, now known as Fort Cavassos. Well, team, we achieved this goal, job well done, and today, Fourscom has a strong war-flighty division at the ready. Although the division is home, we must remember our divisional soldiers abroad continuing to support Fourscom operations abroad as we enjoy this timeline. Our success is a true testament to you and your dedication to the mission. The division, the Army National Guard, you play a major role in the accomplishments and every 28th Division soldier and family member should be proud. As we all know, we could not have been successful without the support of our families. You and your families represent our nation's best and exemplify the legacy of what it means to be an Iron Soldier family. I'm proud to have shared the successes with you, not as a coach, but as a teammate. Over my time in the 28th, many of you have provided many kind words and appreciative comments regarding my leadership abilities. I do truly appreciate your generosity and kind words, but I enjoyed what most was the opportunity to work for you and with you during my tenure in the division. As a Command Sergeant Major, you do not work for me, I work for you. I have been honored to help grow any team of professionals, and for that, it was truly an honor to witness a team of consummate professionals working together in harmony, and for that, I thank you for the bottom of my heart. To all the leaders in this room, I have had the privilege of working with, as a Command Team, and to recognize a few, Colonel Farr, thank you so much for the time that we spent together in the CAC. You helped to develop me who I am today. For General Schaefer, thank you so much for picking me to be the 13th, 28th Infantry Division CSM, and General McCartney, thank you so much for everything that you've done for me. Thank you for your support, and your part in developing me and providing me the proper guidance to lead our great resources in the Army, which is our soldiers. As Command Sergeant Major guards in the RSN CSM would remind us, we are all soldiers, and I can't be reluctant to thank the Sergeant Spagers that are in this room, every single one of you, that have made me and helped develop me as well, and I would really like to recognize this Command Sergeant Major, E.T. Jones, and Command Sergeant Major Clayson. Thank you for your mentorship and your guidance along my path and put me where I'm at today. Sir, General McCormick, it was absolutely an honor to serve with you, and I am absolutely humbled to have had the opportunity to serve beside you as a Command Team for this historic division. I am forever thankful for your guidance, your mentorship, and more so the freedom of maneuver after your priorities. Your friendship and mentorship will absolutely last forever. And I personally want to thank you for the many evenings that we spent enjoying our evening's cigar time and our faked year beers, which I continue to do every other night now. Sorry, honey. To my family, I could not have done this without their unwavering support. None of us could do anything without the backbone of our Army, which we know as the NCO, but the true backbone of me is my wife. They have been the rock and foundation to allow me to serve in the capacity to have the ability to serve. And from that, I love you so dearly. At the conclusion of this weekend, Barton and I will return back to Fort Kvossos as we finish our ride together with our first Army family and Compo 2-3 partners as the Division West Operations Sergeant Major. We have absolutely been blessed to have had the opportunity to serve the 28th Division over the past 40 years. With every departure there is an arrival. And for that, I am pleased to welcome Commence Sergeant Major Porter and his wife, Janessa, to the 28th Division team. They are the right team at the right time to take this trained, ready, focused, more fighting organization into the future to meet the needs of our nation. I wish you all the best as you settle into this new opportunity. I leave you with two things to remember. There was an old Sergeant Major that brought these to my attention. Guide the Division as you are at the tip of the spear and always, always, always promote the tradition of this division through the 28th Division song. Thank you, Sergeant Major. Barton and I are now and always will be part of the 28th Division family. Thank you all for being with us today. In closing, I quote Jimmy Dean, I can't change the direction of the women. I can't adjust myself to always reach my destination. Today, Barton and I will adjust ourselves as we close one chapter and begin another. I will always, always and forever be a 28th Division soldier. God bless, Army strong, 28th, for all, one keystone, 7th. Ladies and gentlemen, the 14th 25th Infantry Division Command Sergeant's Major, Command Sergeant Major Joshua W. Port. Thank you, sir. So as we begin, I'd like to thank General Schindler, Sergeant Major Phillips for being in attendance today, General McHugh, Sergeant Major Hannibal. It's great to see you so much at this state leadership here today. To our retirees, retired Agents Generals, Division Commanders, Command Teams, Command Sergeant Major, Senior Officers and NCOs, it's always great to see so many of our retirees at these events. You know, we started putting this weekend together. There was kind of a lot going on. So one of the first things I did was reach out to one of our retirees to ask them to do a little favor, help me out a little. Of course, like a soldier for life, retired 28th Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major, Sergeant Major, is he decided that he would jump in and help me without a crawl. So I'm crying. I had to Sergeant Major Price to agree to do that for me. I said, whenever I'm fortunate enough to advance forward, I'm always going to try to drag something by forward mentors along. Then I paused and said, although I don't know if you're yelling at me every time you saw me for 18 months, counts as mentorship, and he gave me a quick Sergeant Major answer. He said, well, it must have worked. So I even, I can't argue with that Sergeant Major, but I want to make sure that the retirees know they're always going to be welcome at every 20th Infantry Division event, and of course we'll always do our best to remember your service and the contributions you made to this division. To our family and friends that are here today, I'm sure you know without your support and understanding we would never be able to accomplish the things that we do. Probably a good time for me to thank my wife, Janessa, as well, for her continued support and understanding through all the years. Never thought this would go on as long as she's been with me every step of the way. So thank you, babe. And of course, General McCormick, General Wakesher, I want to thank you both for the basic confidence you have to be to choose me for this position. Probably some of you are my best to continue on the great traditions of the 28th Infantry Division. And then finally, probably most important to the soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division, I appreciate your continued efforts in supporting and making this division worthy of its moniker, the Iron Division. You know, I came back from the first deployment where I was awarded a combat clutch. I obviously chose to go with the double keystone. As I traveled around and met soldiers of the deployment that I hadn't seen in a while, I always asked the question, you know, what made you choose that? What made you want to be a keystone sandwich? And I've always generally answered that question in the same way by channeling the path and saying, we're not in the 28th Infantry Division. We are in the 28th Infantry Division. You know, me and the commander are fortunate to be at the top of the chain of command in the NCO support channel in the division. But it's always the soldiers in this formation that are the ones that are going to make this division successful. As leaders, we should all strive to remember that the most important people in the division are the formation. We should be honored to be leaders in this division. Leadership positions are a privilege and not a right. Advancement in the ranks is not an opportunity to be rewarded for your past accomplishment, but rather an opportunity for you to be a more service to your soldiers in the future. Thank you all. God bless. We're on 28th. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the change and commitment responsibilities ceremony. Please stand for the departure of the official party. Bring your units to attention. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin our chain of command ceremony. The officiating officer for today's change command ceremony is Major General Mark J. Schindler, the Ashen General of Pennsylvania, and the commander of troops is Colonel John D. Farr, the Chief of Staff, 28th Infantry Division. Today's official party is the outgoing commander of the 20th Infantry Division, Major General Mark D. McCormack, the Ashen General of Pennsylvania, Major General Mark J. Schindler, and the incoming commander of the 20th Infantry Division, Major General Michael E. Kwaychev. Please stand for the entrance of the official party. Please take your seats. At this time, Warrior Mark White of Major General McCormack is presented with a bouquet of red roses for devotion, dedication, and tireless efforts to the soldiers and families of the 20th Infantry Division. Don White-Schiner, while White of Major General White-Schiner is presented with a bouquet of yellow roses while being converted to the division. Yellow is the color of new beginnings and symbolizes her arrival to the 20th Infantry Division. Also being presented with our pink roses to Major General White-Schiner's daughter, Ivy. The tradition of a passing organizational colors comes from the outgoing to the incoming commander, symbolic of the transfer of command responsibility and indicative of the sacred trust and confidence that the nation places in its capabilities of the leaders. The ceremony begins as a custodian of colors, commands Sergeant Major Porter, the senior non-commissioned officer and Major General McCormack. Then Major General McCormack passes the colors to the agile general, Major General Schindler. Major General Schindler passes the colors to the incoming commander, Major General White-Schiner, thus demonstrating his trust and confidence in the incoming commander. The time-ordered process is complete when General White-Schiner returns the colors to command Sergeant Major Porter, indicating the trust and confidence held in the unit and senior non-commissioned officer. By authority of the paragraph 3-1, Army Regulation 600-20, Major General Michael E. White-Schiner assumes command of command-quarter 20th Infantry Division, effective, March 1, 2024. Ladies and gentlemen, my pleasure to introduce the agile general of Pennsylvania, Mark Schindler, Major General Mark J. Schindler. Major General Schindler is nominated to continue to serve as the 54th Asselin General of Pennsylvania and was conferred by the Senate in 2016-2023. In this cabinet-level position with the Department of Military and Metro Affairs accorded a 48-town cap and bill Pennsylvania, General Schindler oversees a combined state and federal budget of over $966 million. He is responsible for the command and control of over 18,000 Army, Air, National Guard members, the third largest National Guard organization, a complement of 2,500 commonwealth employees, care of residents of Cadets and state and challenge Academy and six state-owned veterans homes and programs for Pennsylvania for more than 700,000 veterans. Good morning. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to all our distinguished guests, service members, veterans, family and friends. Today is an important day in the illustrious history of the 28th Division. Today we've witnessed a timeline or tradition, the passing of a command from one officer ensuring the continuity of authority. We say goodbye to Major General Mark McCormick and welcome Major General Michael Wekscheider to command. Both of these men are great citizens, great soldiers, great patriots and great leaders of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Lieutenant General Trudeau once said only by full use of your imagination and your initiative will you ever know your own capabilities as a leader. You'll never know your capacity until you stretch yourself or are stretched beyond what you think you can do or should do. Major General McCormick has stretched himself. He leans forward and uses imagination. He's commanded the 28th Infantry Division in an outstanding manner. He's mentored and stretched those within his command to do great things never to be satisfied with the status quo. Mark, your leadership has been absolutely key. You maintained steady, intense focus on people, performance, and professionalism. You emphasized leader development, mission command, disciplined initiative and unit readiness. You focused on the use of the operation process, training guidance development and predictability built readiness in the division and ensured success in all mobilizations federal and state. Recently, your leadership ensured the division's success as Task Force Spartan in Kuwait where the division distinguished itself again by setting conditions for strategic success throughout the region. Your passion for soldiers and leader development combined with your enthusiasm for the history and legacy of the 28th Infantry Division will undoubtedly endure for years to come. Major General McCormick, well done. Your soldiers, commanders and staff remain magnificent and their duty performance superior. The division's story history remains intact with a great new chapter added. Your leadership ensured the 28th Division was always ready and always there whenever our nation or Commonwealth called. To Major General McCormick his wife Lori and his entire family thank you for your sacrifice and service. We are in your debt. Major General Wegsheiter, Dawn and the entire Wegsheiter family congratulations. I know you're up to the challenge every moment together in continued service to our soldiers and their families. My congratulations are in order for assuming command of the best division in the entire Army, our 28th Infantry Division. Having commanded at multiple levels and serving at every echelon from platoon through division Wegsheiter is an outstanding proven combat leader and brings a tremendous amount of tactical experience operational knowledge and personal management skills to command. I've no doubt you and your family will pick up where Mark has left off and will continue to build on the magnificent history of the 28th Infantry Division. To the soldiers of the Keystone Division thank you thank you for your dedicated service to our Commonwealth and country you represent the best in America hometown service men and women of the Pennsylvania's 28th Division answering duty's call boots on the ground with courage sacrifice and inspiring commitment to our freedom and the freedom of others we can be proud of these men and women in our military and the Keystone soldiers who serve for something larger than themselves take care of each other leaders take care of your soldiers together we will continue to build the tough, resilient and well trained formation that is the 28th Division for we must remain always ready always there roll on 28th roll on Ladies and gentlemen the 39th Commander of the 28th Infantry Division Major General Mark E. McCormick Major General Schindler thank you very much for the kind words and as always thank you for your continued support to the Veterans of the Commonwealth and the Veterans of the 28th Infantry Division Distinguished guests family, friends, my comments this morning were pretty straightforward to express my profound gratitude for being allowed to command the 28th Infantry Division over the last three and a half years and to thank everyone for their constant support during my time of assignment always on the top of the list of people I need to thank my wife Lori, my three children Max, Mary Ann and PJ I met my wife Lori on three weeks before I was a commissioned a second lieutenant and I told her don't worry baby it's only three years three years I've been done with all this well here I have 36 years later three kids and now the pinnacle assignment that anyone can hope for thank you for your continued support and thank you to the kids as well next week I start drawing out all their stuff now that I'm in touch I also need to thank the senior leadership of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard especially former agent and general Anthony Carelli for granting me the opportunity to command the division and to continue to serve side by side with soldiers the support I received from the Pennsylvania National Guard leaders including the advice and mentorship from the 28th Infantry Division great leaders has been critical and greatly appreciated the Iron Division had an extensive list of requirements during my tenure more fighter exercise the National Training Center rotation deployments civil disturbance response and multiple levels of support to the commonwealth during the fight against COVID none of the 28th Infantry Division missions would have been successful without the unwavering support of senior leaders both past and present I owe a huge thanks to the 28th Infantry Division general officers and staff it's great to have so many of the former chiefs of staff here today I count all five as considered an 06 fire team in the Army I could spend the rest of the afternoon detailing the multitude of accomplishments of the 28th Infantry Division achieved during the last three and a half years but the one consistent factor would always be our success because of the leadership from the chief of staff and the experience execution from the division staff both officers and NCOs no matter what we called ourselves the Iron Division Task Force Iron or Task Force Spartan the staff members that made up the team have been an absolute all star team and the foundation for everything we accomplished my deepest gratitude to all of you and thank you I also want to thank all the brigade and battalion command teams for their dedication and leadership Command Sergeant Major Critz and I developed the Iron Division leadership triad as our lines of effort people, performance and professionalism but it was the leaders at the lower echelons that made that catchphrase come to life developing well trained soldiers and engaged leaders right on down to the squad level I've always felt that commanders should be allowed to command and try to constantly support the brigade and battalion command teams in achieving their goals and their intent you have all done an outstanding job building readiness and taking care of soldiers most importantly I must thank all the Iron Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division I have had the absolute honor of representing all of you and bragging about your professionalism and your accomplishments for three and a half years I have proudly watched our Iron Soldiers selflessly serve the citizens of Pennsylvania in hospitals, nursing homes COVID test sites and vaccination centers I experienced a feeling of deep respect as I witnessed the personal courage from hundreds of our Iron Soldiers as they responded to civil unrest in Philadelphia and Washington DC I have witnessed the anxiety and desire in soldiers' eyes as they boarded buses and planes traveling all around the globe to execute military operations on behalf of the nation and I have seen those same soldiers return home filled with personal pride for their service and the joy of re-uniting with their families and loved ones the reputation of the 28th Infantry Division is well known and respected in the United States Army and all around the world and it is a reputation earned in war fostered in freedom and built on the commitment, service and sacrifice of thousands of dedicated soldiers leading this formation and the great Iron Soldiers in it has been one of the single greatest of my military career Major General Weichreiter my congratulations to you for being selected as the 40th commanding general of the Iron Division we have worked together for the last seven years and while we were deployed we made up two parts of the Magnificence 7 that's what we call ourselves for something new I have always admired your desire and your ability but more importantly your loyalty to the mission your experience will be greatly needed and appreciated as the 28th Infantry Division embarks on becoming a multi-domain capable organization fully trained to execute large large-scale ground combat operations all the best to you as you take on this pinnacle of sight a final thanks to the Division SGF's team and the 20th Infantry Division Band today's combined ceremony is remembered as a showcase event due to your precision planning and the musical inclusion of military tradition as I close my comments I want to remind everyone that we have over 1,000 Iron Soldiers currently deployed throughout the Horn of Africa and nearly a thousand more ready to deploy in the coming months I ask that all of you keep them in your thoughts and prayers and they continue to speak and highlight the selfless sacrifices that they make on behalf of this nation Iron Division Roll Along Ladies and gentlemen, the 40th Commander of the 20th Infantry Division Major General Michael E. E. Weichach Good morning, fighting the formation try to take a little bit of position of that ease I'm trying to stress we have about three to five minutes left for mission complete and then you can continue on Major General Schindler Charles Friends and family of the 28th Infantry Division former members and most importantly Sergeant Division Soldiers I thank you and I believe that covers everyone in the room Thanks for attending I have the honor of accepting command of arguably the oldest and one of the most decorated divisions in America today Tracing our lineage back to 1747 and established in 1879 Just a few words of thanks traditionally provided by the incoming commander to four or five groups or individuals First, I want to thank my family my wife Dawn my daughter Heidi my three sons Tim, Colin and Gunner Tim has served before and after duty Gunner is currently a private first class in Texas and AIT I thank my whole family they've been with me well at least my wife has been to multiple activations and they've missed me a lot and I've missed a lot of events just like all of us so I thank them and ladies and gentlemen for being here Secondly, I want to thank the Agents General for his confidence and trust every decision that we make myself, Sergeant Major Porter and the command team will be made with careful thought on how it affects the Army the state, the division and most importantly our soldiers and the families I want to thank the team that put this event together with no small task you've made a difficult transition much easier, your hard work your attention to detail is much appreciated and that's specifically the SGS team the division band and the entire command team led by the commander of troops Chief of Staff John Farrer The most important person I want to thank is my predecessor, Major General Mark McCormick I've watched him carefully over the last six or seven years not in a creepy way but I've watched him very carefully and I've learned a lot from General McCormick he's impressed me both with his tactical acumen as well as his administrative and organizational skills he's been an incredible mentor throughout national emergencies activations divisional warfighting exercises most importantly our recent divisional deployment to the same common AOR in support of Operation Spartan Shield he's left the division in a great place and I would never be so presumptuous as to say that Sergeant Commander Porter and I are going to take the division to the fabled next level we are absolutely not going to take the division to another level that will be ignorant to say something like that in my opinion Sergeant Commander Porter and myself we will have different priorities we will have different challenges potentially we will focus on nuances and changes in lines of effort but not very divergent but neither of us think that we will take the division to a higher level our major crates and Major General Cormac have already established we will take the division we will modernize and transform wall and contact we will support supporting units who are near deployed or preparing to deploy and we will attempt to increase readiness and leaf outing while we will simultaneously conducting exercises overseas preparing for a division of warfighter and being ready to execute any task get and whether or not tonight three years from now from the state or from federal authorities and finally I want to thank everyone for being here if I went mentor by mentor rank by rank I would miss people and would be here for a long time traditionally I would thank everyone on this side but I am not so traditional so I want to thank more importantly some of the special guests over here are aligned units for sure there are four brigades and we have aligned units now three brigades 256 IDCT from Louisiana 32nd IDCT from Wisconsin and 371 support brigade from Ohio I think this shows the modern army concept of aligning teamwork and the fact that we have attendance from the majority of our friends here to include 1st Army 174th shows that they truly are a committed team working together on the forefront of modern army doctrine but finally I want to thank to me personally the most important people have been NCOs that I've worked with and made friends with in a non-fragmizing way over the last 35 years within the division as I've worked in 55th ADCT, the MEB 56th SPCT, the 7th IDCT and division on my court and the 7th IDCT I want to thank in no special order the best master counter in the 2nd brigade Sergeant Major Tim sorry, Sergeant Tim Snyder his wife Amber one of the best family brigades coordinators in the state Sergeant Kovacs from the 2nd brigade always been a stellar supply sergeant one of the first infantry women leading that effort the best striker vehicle commander in the entire fleet Sergeant First Class Travis Senseny who's here my first battalion command Sergeant Major Dan Murphy from the 11th who's for bad or for good is responsible for me who's also here all the way back to Sergeant Major Travis Sturder who drove from Colorado to be here Sergeant Major Critch who's my brigade's army major and Sergeant First Class Chuck McGovern and Jack Mcgregor who I've served with probably 35 years ago together in different battalions so I know I missed a lot of people and that's always the risk of thanking people but I think you understand the point is I placed a huge emphasis and great value on the mentorship I received from the NCO court this side's obvious that has been for that I thank you and I want to put in the oldest the oldest E4 in the army Special Sam always continually serving Special Sam always appreciating the counsel and the doctor Special Sam with that I thank you from the bottom of my heart Sergeant Major Porter and I have a lot of work to do but we have been a great organization Thank you very much Ladies and gentlemen please stand for the benediction playing on the 20th we've achieved division song and the army song and the departure of the official party Our benediction this morning are the words of the division prayer Our father creator of beauty and life spare this earth from wants and strife 28 soldiers who through history long to thy kingdom now belong bless and abide with them there God in heaven eternal love protect our homes with grace from above our loved ones who thy will endure comfort their hearts keep them secure bless and abide with them here we on earth who await thy call help us to keep the faith with all with banners high and hearts in line in your holy light may the keystone shine bless and abide with us all Thank you sergeant of the division Ladies and gentlemen this includes today's ceremony please welcome and congratulate the 23rd Division Commander, Major General Michael Wekscheider and Command Sergeant Major Porter and Biff Darwell the Major General Mark McCormick and Command Sergeant Major Randall Prince Please join us in the vestigial to the back for cake and refreshments courtesy of the 40th Commanding General Major General Wekscheider Thank you and have a pleasant afternoon Bring your units to the order of arms and take charge of your units