JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Members of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command welcomed their new command sergeant major during an assumption-of-responsibility ceremony Aug. 23 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
Command Sgt. Maj. Marco A. Torres became the command's fifth command sergeant major during the ceremony officiated by Col. William M. Boruff, the MICC commander. Also in attendance were military leaders from the installation, civic leaders and family members.
"Finding the right person for this job took time," Boruff said. "There are some things you just cannot rush, and our command needs a command sergeant major who is strong, composed, compassionate, experienced and with boundless energy. These characteristics are what you will find in Command Sergeant Major Torres."
Boruff added that the command sergeant major's experience with sustainment operations is highly valuable as the link between acquisitions and our customers at the tactical and operational level.
The assumption-of-responsibility ceremony included the passing of the MICC colors, which symbolize the heritage and history of the organization as well as unity and loyalty of its Soldiers. As the new MICC command sergeant major, Torres is the keeper of the colors.
He comes to the MICC from Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as the command sergeant major of the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command.
"I'm humbled and honored at the incredible opportunity to lead the Soldiers and civilians of this amazing organization," Torres said.
During the ceremony, he recognized the increasing operational role by contracting Soldiers around the globe as well as direct impact by all members of the MICC in supporting Army materiel readiness.
"Now, more than ever, it is crucial to be ready," Torres added. "The Army chief of staff's top priority is readiness, and my No. 1 priority is to ensure our Soldiers and civilians are completely trained and ready when our nation calls upon us."
He went on to thank those whose efforts before him established the command as a ready contracting force in support of combatant commanders as well as acknowledge the continued support by his family throughout his career.
Torres has served in a variety of leadership positions at levels of increasing responsibility in support of the warfighter. His operational assignments include deployments to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, the MICC is made up of two contracting support brigades and two field directorate offices responsible for 31 subordinate contracting activities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
The command consists of about 1,500 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting goods and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon.
MICC contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, preparing more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, and maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.