United States Army Central (USARCENT / Third Army) held an Assumption of Responsibility ceremony September 17, 2019 at the command’s headquarters on Shaw Air Force Base. Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Hester assumed the role as senior enlisted advisor for USARCENT.

Transcript

[Narrator] Military traditions were on full display to welcome US Army Central’s new Command Sgt. Major, Brian A. Hester, September 17, 2019 at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The Assumption of Responsibility ceremony is infused with military traditions and serves as a function of rendering honors to the incoming Command Sgt. Major and providing official recognition of the transfer of authority from the commanding general to the senior non-commissioned officer of the United States Army Central. Lieutenant General Terry Ferrell, commanding general, United States Army Central welcomes Command Sgt. Major Bryan A. Hester.

[LT. General Ferrell] From 2nd Lieutenant all the way up to Lt. General, I can tell you the platoon sergeants, the first sergeants, the sergeant majors, the command sergeant majors that impacted my life. I can tell you that I would not be here alive today, and I mean that, if it wasn’t for a command sergeant major.

[Narrator] Command Sgt. Major Hester has over 29 years of experience to bring to his new position, which includes three tours in Iraq, two tours in Afghanistan, and Kosovo 17.

[Command Sgt. Major Hester] Really tell you how humbled I am to be here. This is really an opportunity when you’re a young soldier, you don’t think you’re gonna have an opportunity to do something like this, and it’s because of the people around us each and every day. We can’t do this alone. This is a team sport.

[Narrator] Command Sgt. Major Hester will assume responsibility in the United States and SITCOM areas of responsibility as they continue to engage in the fight with a force of more than 23,000 soldiers and civilians. Reporting from US Army Central, I am Sgt. First Class Taisha Lockhart.