 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today's ceremony. As a reminder, place all electronic devices on silence. The ceremony will start in two minutes. Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen and distinguished guests. The officers, non-commissioned officers and service members of the Ohio National Guard would like to welcome you to the change of responsibility ceremony between Command Sergeant Major William A. Workley and Command Sergeant Major Scott M. Bargy. Today, Command Sergeant Major Workley will relinquish responsibility to Command Sergeant Major Bargy. Please rise for the recognition of the official party and remain standing for our national anthem and the invocation. To join me this afternoon in a prayer. Lord, we do pause at this time of change of responsibility to seek your leadership in your blessing upon this ceremony, our lives and our service in the military. We thank you for the leadership. Our NCO Corps gives to our entire Army and especially to the leadership of Command Sergeant Major Workley and Command Sergeant Major Bargy, the service they give to this state. We thank you for their wisdom, their experience that has enabled them the lead to mentor and to serve as examples for each of us to follow. Continue to use them to do great things. As they continue to serve at the highest levels, may all of us seek to serve at our greatest potential and ability as we follow the Army values and as we live out our faith in our military service. In your name we would pray, amen. Thank you, Chaplain Burris. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Again, I'd like to welcome you to today's change of responsibility ceremony. I am First Sergeant Desiree Lane and I will be your master of ceremony. Presiding over today's ceremony is the Adjutant General, Major General John C. Harris Jr. Joining him on stage is Command Sergeant Major William A. Workley and Command Sergeant Major Scott M. Bargy. Command Sergeant Major Bargy will now introduce his family and special guests in attendance today. Thank you, Command Sergeant Major Bargy. Now I'd like to recognize our distinguished military guests in attendance today. Please hold your applause until the end. The Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Brigadier General David B. Johnson. The former Chief of Staff for Air, Brigadier General Retired Rebecca O'Connor. State Command Chief for Air, Chief Troy R. Taylor. The former State Command Sergeant Major for Ohio, Command Sergeant Major Retired Albert Watmell. The Chaplain for the State of Ohio, Colonel Daniel Burris. A heartfelt welcome to you all. I'd also like to thank all the other commanders, Command Sergeant Major and leaders in attendance today. The change of responsibility ceremony is a military tradition that is rich with symbolism and a heritage dating back to medieval times. Soldiers often carried staffs or standards into battle that identified them as a unit. Throughout military history, unit colors have marked the position of the command team on the battlefield and served as a rallying point. While attacking or rallying on the battlefield, soldiers would follow the standard or color of their leader, most often found at the forward edge of the battle. In more recent times, the colors represent not only the heritage and history of the unit, but also the unity and loyalty of its soldiers. The colors are the symbol of authority, representing his responsibilities to the organization. Wherever the command team is, there are also the colors. The passing of the Joint Force Headquarters colors represent the transfer of responsibility from one command senior enlisted leader to another. Command Sergeant Major Workley will now relinquish responsibility of the Ohio National Guard Command Sergeant Major Bargy. The command senior enlisted leader is the senior enlisted service member in the state. He is a spokesperson for both the loyalty and concerns of the soldiers and airmen and the principal advisor to the agitant general. The passing of the colors from Command Sergeant Major Workley to Major General Harris signifies his last act of allegiance. The passing of the colors from Major General Harris to Command Sergeant Major Bargy signifies that the unit is never without NCO leadership. This completes the passing of the colors from the outgoing command senior enlisted leader to the incoming command senior enlisted leader and signifies the confidence that the agitant general places and the non-commission officer for. At this time, Sergeant First Class Ryan Acker is presenting a bouquet of yellow flowers to Tammy, wife of Command Sergeant Major Bargy. Yellow is a sign of welcome and new beginnings. The budding flowers represent the anticipation of things to come to once again welcome her to the unit and symbolize her continued relationship with the state. At this time, it is my honor to introduce our speaker, the Agitant General for Ohio, Major General John C. Harris. Hello, thank you for being here and I'd like to begin my remarks by addressing our retirees. I was pretty moved just a few minutes ago because more than one person has said to me how proud they are of what the National Guard has accomplished since many of you have been retired. It's so good to see you here but I need you to know that the things that you've seen over the past few years whether it was COVID response, response to civil disturbance, response to cyber attacks, while it's the folks who are still wearing the uniform who executed that, you're the ones who set the conditions for that. As we realized very, very early in the COVID response there are two things that they've said you can't search trust, you have to build that over time and you can't search excellence. And from day one, when we responded to COVID, when we asked people to go on duty that day and stay in that duty status in some cases are very extended periods of time, we had excellence in our ranks, in our culture, in our leadership from the start. So thank you because we didn't do that, you all did that. And as I said, you can't search and it's either there or it isn't. So thank you for building such a strong foundation that we rely on so much today. Second thing I'd like to do is sort of explain the senior enlisted leader position because it is a relatively new position. I realized early on how essential this position was. Most of what we did during the COVID response and in so many other responses are joint responses. And the need for leadership that works on both the blue and the green, the army and the air national guard space is essential. And I wanted, when I became the adjunct general, for the state command sergeant major to enjoy that commander to serge major relationship with the ATAG army that I enjoyed with Roger Jones and other previous command sergeant major. And the same thing for the command chief of the air guard. I wanted that command chief to enjoy that commander senior enlisted leader relationship. And quite frankly, sometimes the adjunct general gets in the way of that. So I decided I'm gonna let these two service senior enlisted leaders function as service enlisted leaders. And I is the tag, I'm gonna leave them alone. And I realized very quickly that I could not function without a senior enlisted leader. It's impossible without that sounding board, without that voice of the non-commissioned officer core, I felt that I was really flying blind. And in many cases, I found myself going into the command sergeant major's office or the command chief's office and saying, what do you think of this? And violate my own rule that I wasn't gonna, wasn't gonna drag those guys into tag business. So I realized very quickly that I needed a senior enlisted leader. And I was reluctant to do it at first because I hate pulling any resources to this headquarters that could be utilized in the field. But it turned out to be one of the greatest decisions, one of the greatest benefits to me that has happened in my time as the adjunct general because having this seasoned non-commissioned officer, not only representing the non-commissioned officer core, for various events like state partnership, program events and other joint endeavors, but also having the advice and counsel of a very senior seasoned non-commissioned officer is invaluable. And I've been fortunate enough now to have that experience with two just fantastic, fantastic leaders. Sergeant Major Warkely, he started his career in the 80s and there aren't many people in here who started their career in the 80s left, many of whom are retired, but he did start his career in the 80s. And one of my favorite things, he's never heard me say this, but he started his career as a cook. And throughout his variety of assignments, whether that was in the 237 PSB or as a brigade command sergeant major, I always see those characteristics of a cook in him, what do I mean by that? No matter where you go or what you do, it's always the mess section that's up first on duty, getting ready for everybody else. And it's always the cooks that are the last ones to go to bed because they're setting up to get ready for the next day. And Sergeant Major, Sergeant Major Warkely may not realize it, but I see that characteristic in him all the time because his car is always the first one in the parking lot and generally it's the last one to leave, it's just in his DNA, it's how he's wired. But most importantly, when everybody else goes on leave and there are just a few soldiers or airmen left back, the cooks stay back because they still have to work and they take care of them. And whether it's one or 20 soldiers or airmen that are left back in the rear, it's always those caring cooks that are there taking care of those soldiers and airmen. And I see that in Sergeant Major Warkely, he has always been there taking care whether it's one soldier issue that he's got to track to ground or whether it's a collective strategic problem that we've got to engage at national levels to fix, he's always been there to do that. So Sergeant Major Warkely, thank you for that. Thank you for being my right-hand person for these years, fantastic. Please pass my appreciation on to Amy because she's been a part of the team. She's actually traveled to a few events with us and she's been a great partner for you. And thank you for being my wingman. Not goodbye, certainly, but moving on to a different position as a State Command Sergeant Major in a full-time capacity and congratulations to you for that. Command Sergeant Major Bargy, welcome to the team. You know, it's pretty rare here, number one, to be a nominative senior listed leader, but the qualifications that I look for in this position, someone who's previously been a brigade or a wing, Command Sergeant Major or Wing Command Chief, you know, the list gets pretty small. And then when you look at the characteristics that we look for in that person, someone who can thrive in a joint environment, someone who can build those relationships without the authority to build those relationships, again, like I said, it's pretty rare, air-indeed and Command Sergeant Major Warkely, Sergeant, I'm sorry, Bargy certainly demonstrates that. As a person who's certainly done heavy lifting for his country for a long time, I lost track of the number of days he's been on duty. I can tell you, he spent 54 months just outside of the country, 54 months away from his family. That's just what he spent outside of the country. But one of my favorite experiences with Command Sergeant Major Bargy, and this is how I knew he was the guy for me someday, was during COVID when we ran the mass vaccination site at the Wollstein Center. And they ran a DV day there before we actually kicked the thing off. And keep in mind, the Wollstein Center was a multi-agency event, so it involved FEMA and a number of other federal agencies. We were literally there pretty much to run the manpower pool, to run the thing, but it was not an Ohio National Guard mass vaccination site. We appointed a dual status commander, so we were in charge of the forces inside the Wollstein Center. That was General O'Connor, and she selected as her senior enlisted leader of course, Sergeant Major Bargy. So during that DV event, because it was multi-agencies, we kicked off in the morning, and everybody looked at everybody else to see who was gonna take charge. And the agency that was gonna be in charge really wasn't in charge that day. And I saw the switch flip in Sergeant Major Bargy, where he went from an advisor to an Army non-commissioned officer. And he literally swung into action. He starts marshaling groups together. You go here, you go there. He literally took charge of the event. Between him and General O'Connor, we got through the day, and everybody got the tours, and everybody got briefed, and everybody left, high-fiving each other about what a great day it had been, but had it not been for his leadership, and he and General O'Connor's initiative, it would have been an absolute disaster. And so for a non-commissioned officer who can understand the environment, and when I talk about the politics of being a non-commissioned officer, it's not about Republican Democrat politics, it's about reading the room, reading the room and operating appropriately based on the environment. I'm not sure there's anybody better suited than Sergeant Major Bargy, so I'm sure happy to have him on my team. Welcome to the position. Thank you so much for signing up for this. You know, at this level, the line becomes really blurred between full-time and part-time. The number of days that the senior enlisted leader spends on duty with me are doing something for the National Guard, whether it's state partnership or other events are pretty significant, so without an employer that's supportive of this, which you both have, thankfully, and a family that's supportive of this, which you have, thankfully, it would be absolutely impossible. So for all of you, again, thank you for this, for the excellence that we enjoy in this organization, both those currently serving for our retirees, for the families and friends who continuously support us through thick and thin, and to both of you, great leaders, congratulations on your new assignments. I wish you the very best, and thank you for continuing to serve this nation the way that you do. Thank you, Major General Harris. We would like to invite Command Sergeant Major William Workley to the podium to make his parting remark. Hey, good afternoon. This is directly related to that seasoned comment that he had and being around since the 80s. That or I write too small on my card, one or the other, so hey, thank you, sir. Thank you for the comments, and thank you for the opportunity. About four years ago, I had the opportunity or the good fortune, actually, to attend the Keystone C-Cell course, which is pretty rare air. I was a brigade CSM, I'm not sure why they let me in the course to start with. They must have had an extra slot or something. I was pretty intimidated by the level of NCOs that were there from divisions, from cores, from all services, foreign militaries as well. But after about day two, I started to get comfortable, and I figured out, you know what, I probably do belong in this group, and I think it gave me a lot of confidence, and it showed me at that level what a C-Cell was and what the job entails. And then a couple months later, I got Sergeant Major Jones, former State Sergeant Major, sent me a text and said, hey, I think the boss is gonna be getting in touch with you to be the C-Cell for the Ohio National Guard. And I remember the first meeting we had where I was asking, you know, what are our expectations, what are we gonna do here? And I'm not sure either of us really knew what it was gonna look like. And you made the comment, we're gonna build this plane in flight. So, you know, I think for a couple months, we did what we thought we needed to get done. I'd attend where I could, I was M-Day, and it would be around when I could. And then about six months into the job, the pandemic happened. And I might be one of the few fortunate people from the pandemic because it was the biggest joint engagement operation that we'd ever undertaken. And right away that position became relevant. And it was a great opportunity for me to work with, with Air and Army and our interagency partners at the state. I had the opportunity to sit on working groups with state directors and truly have an influence, I think on the course of Ohio's response. So, you know, when I think back to, you know, as being a traditional soldier, I think that's the value of the C-Self position is our MSC Sergeant Majors who are very experienced and have deployments and everything. There's only one seat at this level. There had been only one seat as a state Sergeant Major. And it didn't fit in a lot of people, a lot of M-Day, traditional soldiers, careers, but this does. So, you know, I think in that respect, this is such a great opportunity. You know, I got, I think we've made a lot of hay with, with SPP over the last three and a half years from the NCO lane. We've always had really good relationships at the NCO level going back to the initiation of our partnerships. But I think that comes and goes a little bit as the personalities on our side of the, of the partnership and the personalities on the other side of the partnership change. I was fortunate about the time I came on, both our partners got new C-Sells and we bonded pretty quickly and we're able to move some pretty good agendas on the NCO development front forward. And I'm sure Sergeant Major Barge is just gonna expand that from here and keep the ball rolling. Also had, you know, the opportunity over the last three years or so to get involved at the national level with, so our, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs has a advisory council that I was fortunate to be the region four primary representative for. So I got a seat at the table at the national level to influence issues that affect our soldiers and airmen day to day. That's a great opportunity. I would encourage Sergeant Major Barge to look for that opportunity down the road. So, you know, if you were here a few weeks ago for a ceremony much like this, you heard me babble on for quite a while and it's interesting. So I took the state CSM job that day and then this announcement came out, I don't know, maybe about three weeks ago or so on a distro and I had at least a dozen people come up to me personally and say, hey, what happened? You know, three weeks and you're, they're kicking you to the curb or did something happen, you're leaving? I'm like, no, no, I'm still the state Sergeant Major. I'm just not gonna be the C cell. So a little confusion there. It probably speaks to the fact that we haven't done a great job of publicizing the C cell and getting it out there. But we'll keep working on that in the future. So, Sergeant Major Bargey, I couldn't think of a better NCO to take my place. I think you'll just take what we've initiated and continue to make it better and better. And I wish you all the luck and you're still part of the Army team. Whenever I need, you're a great sounding board for me and I will be leveraging you throughout the time that I'm in this seat, my new seat, so thank you. Thank you all for coming and I look forward to my next assignment. Cool, thank you. Thank you Command Sergeant Major Workley. Ladies and gentlemen, the new Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Ohio, Command Sergeant Major Scott M. Bargey. As my family and many of you know, my favorite Mark Twain quote is don't let backs get in the way of a good story. Unless you can't think of anything better. Well today, I can't think of anything better. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in doing this today. I really appreciate your effort all the way from getting it on the busy schedule to picking up the flowers. I know it takes a lot to do something like this, but it's not every day that we make Ohio National Guard history. For those of you that do not know, our storied organization turns 235 years old next Tuesday and that was the first ever Command Senior Enlisted Leader change of responsibility ceremony. General Harris, I stand before you today. Humble, proud, determined and appreciative. Humble, because of the great honor and privilege I have as being selected by you as the second Ohio National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader. Filling in the footsteps of Command Sergeant Major Workley will be no easy act to follow. I look forward to continue working with Sergeant Major Workley as he already assumed the responsibility as the 10th Ohio Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major. Congratulations again, Bill. Additionally, I look forward to working with the 12th Ohio Air National Guard State Command Chief, Command Chief Master Sergeant Troy Taylor where we are already off to a flying start. Thanks for carrying the colors today, Troy. Although my experience working with the Air is neither extensive nor negligible, back in 2009, while deployed with Colonel Durenberger, I worked as the Army Senior Enlisted Leader at Alial Salam Air Base in Kuwait during our deployment. And during my assignment as the Joint Senior Enlisted Leader on the COVID Joint Task Force from 2020 to 2022, where I worked directly for Brigadier General O'Connor, Colonel Hesterman, twice, and Lieutenant Colonel Brackman, I did enjoy all of the five-star restaurants, luxury hotels, and first-class airline seats. But I know I have much more to learn about our teammates in blue. Sir, I'm proud because of the long, rich, and storied history of this organization and the accomplishments that go back to July 25th, 1788. Proud to carry on the honor of previous famous alumni of our organization like Major General Rutherford Hayes, Major General James Garfield, and Second Lieutenant William McKinley, the 19th, 20th, and 25th presidents of the United States. Private Jacob Parrott, our nation's very first Medal of Honor recipient 160 years ago. Coach Don Shula, the only person to coach an NFL team to an undefeated season. And Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson from the 371st Sustainable Brigade, the two-time Ohio Army National Guard. And see whether you, who succumbed to lung cancer three years ago, the Heath Robinson Pact Act was signed into law last August and was named in his honor. Sir, I'm determined to ensure that I continue to do those things that led me to this place on this day. To continue my long-standing mantra of the health, safety, and welfare of my service members and their families is my number one priority. Without this People First philosophy, toward our service members, we cannot meet our mission without our service members, we cannot fight tonight. I'm determined to uphold characteristics exhibited that led to a rater comment from my company commander, Jeff Leroy, from when I was a first sergeant in Charlie Company 1st to 147th Armor in Greenville, Ohio. From an evaluation that started in September of 2001 and ended in September of 2002, a year after the terrorist attacks brought down the World Trade Center on 9-11. Received a coin of excellence from the battalion CSM for developing three platoon sergeants recognized as the best in the battalion. That coin was given to me by Sergeant Major Schenck and I still use this coin as a reminder of my responsibility to develop some more than NCOs. Some of you may be familiar with those platoon sergeants. Sergeant Major Nelson, who's here today, former 16th Engineer Brigade CSM. Sergeant Major Nichols, who's supposed to be here, but is currently AWOL, former ADA Brigade CSM, and Sergeant Major Burris, currently deployed as the 37th BCT CSM. Additionally, we had two other NCOs from Charlie 1st, 4th, 7th that would become Sergeant Major. Sergeant Major Fields, also currently deployed with the 37th, and Sergeant Major Lucas recently retired from the ADA Brigade. Needless to say, we had an all-star team there, but I would be in risk if I didn't mention the best of that group, First Sergeant Bolton, who's here today. All of them are rock stars in my book. As high of a compliment as that bullet comment was on that evaluation report, on that same report, I received an even higher compliment by my senior raider than Lieutenant Colonel James Green. This is the NCO that I would select to train my own children. Newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant Bargy was a year old at that time, and over the last 22 years, that compliment has become more personal to me. Hope you're watching Colonel Green. Additionally, I am determined to uphold the verbiage in a memo dated 25 February of 2004, signed by then Lieutenant Colonel John C. Harris Jr., my squadron commander. It was a recommendation memorandum to the president of the Sergeant Major Selection Board for then Master Sergeant Bargy. I quote, he embodies the characteristics of an exceptional soldier, and he attacks every task and purpose with alacrity. This superior NCO lives the Army values and works tirelessly to ensure his unit's success. That board approved me to be added to the Sergeant Major Selection List, and I was subsequently promoted a few months later in August of 2004 in the CAB Squadron as your operation Sergeant Major, sir. However, in typical 37th style, they promptly attached me as their brigade current ops Sergeant Major working with my lifelong battle buddy, Sergeant Major Jeff Lauren, for the duration of the deployment. I'm as honored now as I was that day I was promoted to Sergeant Major in 04 when the Sergeant Major of the Army pinned that rank on my collar. Sir, I'm appreciative of the four pillars of support that I've had in my career to enable me to take advantage of the opportunities that I've had in my career. I am sure many of you can empathize with these pillars. Family, although I may wear the rank and the uniform, my family has sacrificed greatly and has given much in my military service. Thank you. My wife Tammy, sons Alec, Jarrett and Tyler, my parents Dennis and Suzanne, my in-laws Ted and Marge, my sisters and brothers and your families, your support, sacrifice, understanding and love is immeasurable, incalculable, irreplaceable. I love you all and would not have been able to do any of this without you. Thank you for making the long trip to be here today. It means everything to me. Leaders, to General Harris, your leadership is inspiring. There is not a person in this room that does not admire what you have done and continue to do for this country, this state, this organization and its people. In regards to our two relatively new to the position Air and Army A tags and the Chief of Staff, it is extremely difficult to replace talent like Generals Camp and Moore, but you've hit back to back to back home runs with Brigadier Generals Johnson, Woodruff and Watkins. It is evident that talent runs deep in this organization and again it is a testament to the leadership, vision and execution. For the commanders that I have served, five company commanders, two battalion commanders, two regimental commanders, nine brigade commanders, six JTF commanders. Most of you are here today. I appreciate you being here. Each one of you has had a profound impact on my development. I cannot thank you enough for the time we spent together. I have very fond and a few crazy memories of our experiences. I'm a better service member for having served with you to accomplish every mission and take care of our service members. For my past NCO support channel and NCO mentors, those previous sergeants major of mine, specifically commands our major Shank and Horn and state CSM's Watmow, Jones and Chambliss. Your mentorship, guidance and support were instrumental in any measure of success that I may have achieved. Thank you for keeping me grounded and to focus on what is important. Subordinates, you have given me plenty of opportunities to mentor, teach, problem solve, learn, grow and on occasion raise my voice, raise my tone. I can only hope I met or exceeded your expectations as many time as I failed. You have always exceeded mine. I will continue my promise to work hard to ensure your experience serving on our team as a deposit of one and because you are the lifeblood of this organization. And again, we cannot fight tonight without your patriotism, support and dedication. For that of your families and your employers. Employers, I work in IT for what would be considered a large company that was started in Dayton by the governor of Ohio. No, not governor DeWine. It was started by governor Cox and our company celebrates its 125th anniversary next month. I am proud to work at Cox Enterprises in Atlanta, Georgia not because of how big it is or because of the name recognition of many of our brands around the country but because of our 22 national workplace awards, 41 inclusion and diversity awards, five environment and sustainability awards and most of all because of our people first philosophy. I work on a great team. If everyone had teammates like Scott, Ethan, Randy, Henry and especially Ryan Lucas, we would not have retention issues with civilian employers as the root cause. I'm not quite sure why they put up with me, but they do. My team is based in Atlanta and they couldn't make it up here today because they're doing their job and mine. Scott's in my chain of command and I have had to tell him three times in the past 11 years that I've been called to active duty. I was able to give him some advanced notice twice in 2013 when I deployed with Colonel Robinette, Colonel Hatfield and Colonel Tackett and in 2017 when I deployed with Colonel Betz, Colonel Bodner and Colonel Tackett again. I was able to provide a pretty decent and complete estimated timeframe for my absence. However, during COVID, a little over three years ago when I received a call from Colonel Dave Rhodes, I gave Scott about two days notice and said that I didn't know what the duration would be but my orders were only for two weeks so I'd probably be finished pretty quick. Yet again, he did not blink an eye, he did not hesitate but he only asked as usual to keep him informed and ensure that there's anything he can do for Tammy and the boys. Just let him know. The employers of our service members are our strategic partners. Thank you for the Hope Cox team for having my back. Whether you walked across the drill floor or whether you made the journey from out of state, thank you for being here today. God bless our families, leaders and service members and employers and God bless the United States of America. Thank you. Thank you, Command Sergeant Major Bargy. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand as Chaplain Burris gives the invocation and remain standing for the Army Song, the Air Force Song and the exit of the official party. Please join me in prayer today. Lord, let us go in your strength and your grace. Give us the eyes to see what is before us in the ears to hear those who are around us and the hearts to understand and know what is best. May we be considered among the brave and among the true as we continue to serve our families, our state and our nation. In the name of our Lord's name, we pray it. Amen. The nation's fight and we are equals fully held on. We are equals fully armies on its way. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the ceremony. On behalf of the Ohio National Guard, we thank you for attending this change of responsibility ceremony. Please join us for some light refreshments as we celebrate this joyous occasion.