FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Members of the 412th Contracting Support Brigade welcomed their new command sergeant
major during a change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Sam Houston Aug. 13.
Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Charles assumed responsibility of
the organization from outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Hammond Jr. during a
ceremony officiated by Col. Tim Strange, 412th CSB commander.
The brigade commander said Hammond ensured Soldiers were
trained and ready to support Army worldwide operations.
“Hammond led the brigade for 37 months with perseverance and
personal example,” Strange said. “He was the senior enlisted member for the
operational contracting support joint exercise for the past three years and was
integral for the success of these exercises, as they were recognized by senior
Department of Defense leaders. He was the lead trainer, the lead motivator, a
leader of Soldiers and Army civilians and a fine NCO.”
Charles comes to the 412th CSB from Fort Drum, N.Y., where
he served as the command sergeant major for Headquarters and Headquarters
Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).
“It is a privilege to join the ranks of the 412th CSB and it
is a privilege I do not take lightly,” Charles said. “To the men and women of
the 412th – you have sacrificed greatly and I accept the challenge to serve
with each and every one of you.”
Charles’ operational deployments include three tours in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom and two tours in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
A native of the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Charles calls Hempstead, N.Y.,
home. He holds a master’s degree in management and leadership from Webster
University.
Hammond retires from the Army in a ceremony Thursday after
32 years of service. A recipient of the Expeditionary Contingency Contracting
Medallion No. 45, he has deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operations
Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.
The 412th CSB plans and executes contingency contracting
support for U.S. Army North in support of Army and joint operations throughout
the Northern Command area of responsibility. The brigade trains, mobilizes,
deploys, sustains, transforms and reconstitutes contingency contracting forces,
providing relevant and ready acquisition support and capability to global
combatant commanders.