KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany –
The 405th Army Field Support Brigade welcomed a new command team while bidding farewell to the predecessors during a change of command and change of responsibility ceremony here June 19.
Col. Rodney H. Honeycutt, relinquished command to Col. Grant L. Morris and Command Sgt. Maj. James R. Holmes III replaced Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Morgan. Honeycutt and Morgan assumed command and responsibility respectively during a similar ceremony in July 2016.
Maj. Gen. Duane A. Gamble, commanding general of Army Sustainment Command, the brigade’s higher headquarters, presided over the ceremony. Gamble, who previously served as the commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, highlighted the outgoing command team’s contribution to the deterrence operations in Europe and Africa.
“Col. Rodney Honeycutt and Command Sergeant Major Morgan, led the 405th Army Field Support Brigade during a time of major change and transition,” Gamble said. “They made a real difference and left a legacy that will continue to produce positive results for years to come. We’ve called on the 405th to execute [its] mission throughout the continents of Europe and Africa.”
Under the leadership of Honeycutt and Morgan, the 405th AFSB transformed European Activity Set sites to Army Preposition Stock-2 Sites, established three new sites, one in Eygelshoven, Netherlands, one in Duelmen, Germany, and one in Zutendaal, Belgium. The APS-2 sites are part of the European Reassurance Initiative to enable NATO rapid deterrence options.
The 405th AFSB encompasses four battalions, four Army Prepositioned Stock-2 sites and seven Logistics Readiness Centers, supporting 16 military communities located in four countries: Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands. With more than 1,600 Soldiers, civilians, and host nation employees, the brigade is the Army Material Command’s “Face to the Field” in Europe and Africa accomplishing sustainment missions in support of the warfighter.
After honoring the host nation and the United States, Morgan handed the brigades’ colors to the outgoing commander representing the end of his responsibility to the command. Honeycutt handed the colors to Gamble, signifying the end of his command. The commanding general passed the colors on to Morris who in turn passed the colors to the incoming command sergeant major, marking the beginning of the brigade’s new command team.
“The many accomplishments of the ‘Support the Warrior Team’ will go unnoticed without fanfare or celebration – it’s just what this team does, and they do it better than any other Army Field Support Brigade in the Army” Honeycutt said.
Morris and his wife are well acquainted with the local area and the 405th AFSB’s mission. The incoming commander came to the 21st TSC in 2007, a month after the command transitioned from a Theater Support Command to a Theater Sustainment Command.
In his speech, full of humorous remarks Morris thanked his senior leaders, wife and outgoing command team, “Colonel Honeycutt, Sgt. Maj. Morgan and the 405th team have built a tremendous relationship between our two organizations and an incredible reputation in Europe … and Sgt. Maj. Holmes and I look forward to continuing the legacy they have created,” he said.
Holmes, joins the 405th AFSB from Fort Lee, Virginia, where he served as command sergeant major for the 266th Quartermaster Battalion, 23rd Quartermaster Brigade.