89th MPs: Dillon relinquishes command to Guieb

A6
NEWS
August 7, 2014
www.FortHoodSentinel.com
Photos by By Sgt. Angel Turner, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
ABOVE, Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood, recites the Oath of Office with Brig. Gen.
Viet Luong, deputy commanding general-maneuver, during a promotion ceremony Wednesday at Cooper Field. RIGHT,
Kim Luong, wife of Brig. Gen. Viet Luong, deputy commanding general-maneuver, places the brigadier general rank on her
husband during a promotion ceremony Wednesday at Cooper Field. Luong is the first Vietnamese-born general/flag officer
in the U.S. military.
Luong: Cav DCG-manuever recalls steps to general
Continued from A1
service men and to see what serving
meant,” Luong said.
He was unsure what branch he
would serve in, but later in life
he stumbled onto an airborne
ROTC instructor who told him
about the Army. Following that
encounter, Luong made the decision
to join.
On this day, Luong stood on
Cooper Field’s Cav. Patch as his
wife, Kim, removed his colonel’s
rank from his chest and added a
single star.
Luong credits his dad, a former
Vietnamese Marine officer, as being
his biggest influencer from a leadership perspective.
“Everything I learned about duty,
honor, country, sacrifice and selfless
service I’ve learned from my dad,”
Luong said.
Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, commanding general of III Corps and Fort
Hood, presided over the ceremony
and praised Luong for his competence, and most notably, his courage.
“He has also demonstrated
immense courage from his early
youth in Saigon and his escape,”
Milley said.
He also noted Luong’s commitment to the United States.
“He has deployed on multiple
tours,” Milley said. “He has commanded our most elite forces. There
is no one in uniform today that
epitomizes what it takes to be an
American Soldier more than Viet
Luong,” Milley said.
Luong joined the First Team
in March. With the division staff
deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Luong is the 1st Cav. Div.
commanding general (rear).
He said serving his country is an
honor and privilege.
“I’m very patriotic,” Luong said.
“There’s a sense of service for me
to be able to give back to this great
nation after all the opportunities
that have been afforded to us, saving us from harm’s way and affording us the opportunity to not only
assimilate but to move up through
education.”
3rd Cav: TAAC-Southeast welcomes Brave Rifles’ command
Continued from A1
Command-Southeast July 19 from
Col. Samuel Whitehurst, 3rd BCT’s
commander. The Brave Rifles will
occupy five forward operating bases
spread across eastern Afghanistan.
Sabre, Thunder, Steel and Muleskinner squadrons have all replaced
a brigade as they take on the role
of advising the Afghan National
Army and preparing to close out
the NATO presence in this part of
Afghanistan.
The mission of advising the
Afghan National Security Forces,
government and local officials, as
NATO forces return to zero, falls
on the regiment of Brave Rifles. The
troopers say the regiment will fight
where it’s told and win with honor
where it fights. They will win this
fight by readying the Afghans to be
self-sufficient, said Capt. Andrew
Hummel, regimental day battle
captain.
“I thank the 203rd Corps for
hosting this event,” Cantlon said.
“It sets a precedent that we will
never forget, the friendship of all
the Afghans National Security Forces. The five provinces we are living
in have a rich history, and it is an
honor to serve with the Afghan
National Army and amongst the
people from this area.”
RC-East is a mountainous region
that shares its eastern border with
Pakistan. The arid land includes
the provinces of Ghazni, Khost,
Logar, Paktica, Paktiya and Wardak
that more than 2,000 Soldiers will
operate.
The troopers of 3rd Cav. Regt.
have prepared for this critical mission over many months by conducting training at Fort Hood
by attending the Security Force
Assistance Academy in Fort Polk,
Louisiana, and by its tour at the
National Training Center at Fort
Irwin, California. While at NTC,
the Security Force Advise and
Assist Teams honed their skills of
interacting and advising with ANA
role-players in scenarios they might
experience in Afghanistan during
their deployment.
Courtesy photo
Col. Cameron Cantlon, 75th commander of the 3rd Cav. Regt., speaks to an audience of Afghan Security Force and NATO
soldiers at a transfer of authority ceremony July 19 held at the Afghan National Army 203rd Thunder Corps. The 3rd Cav.
Regt. has taken over TAAC-Southeast from the 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.
89th MPs: Dillon relinquishes command to Guieb
Continued from A1
unique leadership capabilities to
ensure its success in all missions,”
Cox added. “Thankfully, Col. Rob
Dillon has done just that.”
Cox commended the 89th MP
Bde.’s accomplishments under
Dillon’s command, which included adopting a civilian police best
practices training program that uses
a problem-based starting model to
develop competent, confident leaders
at the lowest level.
Cox added how Dillon improved
the Army’s mission effectiveness by
aligning the MP companies within
the 89th MP Bde. with the III Corps’
brigade combat teams in order to
improve general support to combat
maneuver formations.
“These companies are capable of
countering terrorist, irregular and
criminal threats in decisive action
environments, a major doctrinal
change that will pay huge dividends
in the future,” Cox said. “The brigade provided a highly-trained and
professional police force to support
more than 20 separate deployments
worldwide capable of providing full
spectrum policing operations in all
Photos by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hohman, 89th MP Bde. Public Affairs
Incoming 89th MP Bde. Commander Col. Ross Guieb, speaks to Soldiers and
civilians spanning from across four military instillations during a change of command ceremony July 30 on Sadowski Field.
engagements.”
Under Dillon’s leadership, the
Directorate of Emergency Services
and 89th MP Bde. were able to
implement a strategic plan to shift
their focus from reactive to preventive, Cox added. This led to a significant drop in Fort Hood crime rates
by 18 percent and misconduct by 25
percent – the lowest level in six years.
Cox spoke about why it was
important to differ from the normal
change of command ceremony and
honor both Dillon and Ladd.
“Today we stepped away from
ceremonial procedures so we could
honor both members of this great
command team, and it’s the right
thing to do,” Cox said. “This was
about recognizing one of America’s
finest, a tremendous leader, a true
hero, a patriot and one that every
single one of you Soldiers out there
should try to emulate to be like at
some point and time.”
Dillon recalled the past two years
as the 89th MP Bde. as “an extremely
rewarding experience to have been a
part of this team with its outstanding
Soldiers and Army civilians.”
“This organization can be proud
of many achievements. We have
executed a strategy that ensures
readiness within the brigade
and high quality policing in support of CENTCOM, EUCOM,
Outgoing 89th MP Bde. command team, Col. Rob Dillon and Command Sgt. Maj.
Peter Ladd, along with Maj. Gen. Kendall Cox, III Corps and Fort Hood deputy
commanding general, and the 89th MP Bde.’s new commander Col. Ross Guieb
perform a pass and review July 30 on Sadowski Field during a change of command ceremony.
SOUTHCOM, FORSCOM, III
Corps and the military communities of Forts Bliss, Carson, Riley and
Hood,” Dillon said.
Dillon ended his speech with parting words for Guieb, “You have seen
the outstanding caliber of officers,
noncommissioned officerss and Soldiers of this brigade. Your challenge
will be to take a great unit and make
it better.
“You are up to that challenge, and
I am proud to be your friend,” he
added. “As commander of the Griffon brigade and Fort Hood DES,
I know you will take it to the next
level. Good luck, brother.”
Guieb took the opportunity to tell
the Soldiers and civilians with the
89th MP Bde. that he and his wife
plan on continuing to build on to
their already strong reputation.
“To the Soldiers, leaders, Families,
and civilians, Kathy and I look forward to working with you,” Guieb
said. “You have a tremendous reputation and we intend to keep it that
way.
“I want the community to know
the Guieb Family is all in,” he added.