{"id":198750,"date":"2024-06-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=198750"},"modified":"2024-06-14T19:28:29","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T19:28:29","slug":"headquarters-and-headquarters-battalion-u-s-army-south-welcomes-incoming-commander","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=198750","title":{"rendered":"Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South welcomes incoming commander"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Lt. Col Laura Hamilton, incoming commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South, receives the battalion colors from Maj. Gen. William Thigpen, U.S. Army South commanding general, during a change of command ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 14, 2024. The passing of the battalion colors during the change of command ceremony is a military tradition representing the handover of authorities and responsibilities within a unit or command. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
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\n Maj. Gen. William Thigpen, U.S. Army South commanding general, speaks at the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (HHBN), U.S. Army South change of command ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 14, 2024. Thigpen thanked the outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Michelle Martinez, for the impact and progress she brought to the battalion and welcomed the incoming HHBN commander, Lt. Col. Laura Hamilton, challenging her to build upon the legacy forged by Martinez. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – On the Army\u2019s 249th birthday, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (HHBN), U.S. Army South (USARSOUTH) continued a time-honored tradition as Lt. Col. Laura Hamilton took charge of the battalion during a change of command ceremony at McArthur Parade Field, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 14.<\/p>\n

Maj. Gen. William Thigpen, USARSOUTH commanding general and reviewer for the ceremony, hailed the incoming battalion commander, highlighting her experience as a leader and with taking care of Soldiers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou bring superb experience, a breadth of expertise and an incredible work ethic, and I know you will make a huge impact on this talented organization,\u201d Thigpen said to Hamilton. \u201cI am confident you are the right leader at the right time, and I challenge you to add to the battalion\u2019s existing legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamilton accepted the challenge with a promise to the members of HHBN.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of USARSOUTH, know that I understand the gravity of the position of commander,\u201d Hamilton assured. \u201cI promise to do everything required to ensure we are ready, we conduct our missions with success and our people have the leadership they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Lt. Col. Laura Hamilton, incoming commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South, speaks to the Soldiers in her formation during a change of command ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 14, 2024. Hamilton promised to build upon the success of the previous commander and do everything required to ensure members of the battalion have the leadership they deserve. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
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\n Lt. Col. Laura Hamilton, incoming commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South, stands in front of her formation during a change of command ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 14, 2024. The change of command ceremony is a military tradition representing the handover of authorities and responsibilities within a unit or command. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
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As Thigpen welcomed Hamilton and her Family, he also expressed immense gratitude for Martinez and her dedication to HHBN while wishing her luck as she and her Family prepared to travel across the world to attend the U.S. Army War College Institute for Advanced Defense Studies in Rome.<\/p>\n

After two and a half years of leading HHBN, Martinez departed her command position having made a notable impact on the organization’s readiness and morale, said Thigpen.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe consistently focused on improving our contingency command post by conducting multiple deployment readiness exercises and Soldier individual readiness events, the big task of sustaining and supporting PANAMAX 2022,\u201d said Thigpen. \u201cAbove all and most importantly, you put Soldiers\u2019 morale and welfare first, which is the key ingredient in making sure your team was able to focus on the mission and maintain readiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thigpen went on to highlight Martinez\u2019s actions through eight readiness exercises, two field training exercises, 15 community events, several command post exercises and numerous events with USARSOUTH \u2019s adopted school, Booker T. Washington Elementary.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a leader we start with a vision, but you are the ones who turn your vision into tangible results,\u201d said Thigpen. \u201cOur Army and our nation owe you a great deal of gratitude for your continued professionalism and service.\u201d<\/p>\n

In reflection of her time as commander of HHBN and the accomplishments mentioned by Thigpen, Martinez thanked the Soldiers and Civilians at USARSOUTH for their dedication and support while attributing the battalion\u2019s success to their contributions.<\/p>\n

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\n Lt. Col. Michelle Martinez, outgoing commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South, addresses her former Soldiers during a change of command ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 14, 2024. During her time as commander, Martinez increased the readiness of the battalion and strengthened community partnerships through readiness exercises, field training exercises, command post exercises, community events and numerous events with Army South\u2019s adopted school, Booker T. Washington Elementary. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
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\u201cAll of the achievements the commanding general mentioned have everything to do with you,\u201d Martinez said with a smile. \u201cYou all are the unsung heroes fighting to go above and beyond everyday to support the USARSOUTH headquarters, and I will cherish the time that I have been allowed to lead such an awesome and phenomenal group of Soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Concluding her speech, Martinez wished Hamilton luck, leaving her a piece of advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake care of the team, and they will take care of you,\u201d Martinez said to Hamilton. \u201cSpartan six, signing off.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 Lt. Col Laura Hamilton, incoming commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South, receives the battalion colors from Maj. Gen. William Thigpen, U.S. Army South commanding general, during a change of command ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 14, 2024. The passing of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":198752,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-198750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=198750"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":198758,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198750\/revisions\/198758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/198752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=198750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=198750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=198750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}