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SHAW AFB, S.C. (December 1, 2009) -
Command of the U.S. Army's 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment
changed hands Tuesday.
Col. Thomas L. Kelly took the reins
from the outgoing commander, Col. Kevin M. Felix, with Lt. Gen.
William Webster Jr. presiding.
Webster, the commanding general of
3rd Army/U.S. Army Central and Coalition Forces Land Component
Command, flew to Sumter for the ceremony. Sumter officials and
dozens of real estate agents also attended.
Before the change of command, Webster
honored Felix with the Legion of Merit Medal in a brief private
ceremony. Webster also presented Felix's wife, Carolyn, with the
civilian equivalent of the award, the Outstanding Civilian Service
Medal, for her dedication to the 4th BCD's spouses and children, as
well as her work in the Sumter community.
"It's great to be back here at Shaw
Air Force Base," Webster said. "I think it's appropriate that we
hold this ceremony here, next to an F-16, which symbolizes the
firepower delivered by Shaw to protect the troops of the 4th BCD on
the ground."
Webster spoke of an enemy "who is
rapidly adapting and changing every day in order to try and kill
our soldiers" and praised the work of the 4th BCD on the ground in
southwest Asia, where the unit was recently deployed. He called
Felix an "invaluable asset." Felix will become deputy chief of
staff for strategic relocation, and in that role he will facilitate
the 3rd Army's move to Shaw from its current U.S. headquarters at
Fort McPherson, Ga.
Felix, who assumed command of the 4th
BCD in August 2007, oversaw the unit's yearlong deployment, which
began in October 2008. All members returned safely to Shaw two
months ago.
He gave an overview of the mission of
the 4th BCD, which serves as the liaison between the 3rd Army and
U.S. Air Forces Central. When deployed, the 4th BCD serves as the
liaison between Multi-National Corps-Iraq and the Security
Assistance Force in Afghanistan, as well as the Combined Joint Task
Force-Horn of Africa and the United States Central Command's
combined forces air component commander. The 4th BCD's job is to
facilitate and synchronize air and ground operations in CENTCOM's
area of responsibility, which consists of much of the Middle East
and southwest Asia.
Felix spoke of more than 6,500
airspace control measures and 850 airdrop missions carried out by
his unit, along with its other ongoing responsibility of moving
troops and supplies throughout CENTCOM's area of
responsibility.
"Whether tactical or technical, the
4th BCD met these tasks head-on," he said.
Felix then praised his "other
commanding general" - his wife, Carolyn.
Kelly, who accepted his new command
position with a brief speech, said, "I thank the Lord for this
opportunity and pray for the peace, strength and wisdom to lead
these troops."
Webster said: "The names change, the
faces change, but the leadership position and the responsibilities
remain the same. Teamwork is what makes our mission in Iraq and
Afghanistan a success."
The 4th BCD was created in July 2006
and activated at Shaw in October 2006, where it remains stationed
as the Army liaison to the 9th Air Force. The 4th BCD's operational
focus is the CENTCOM area of responsibility, and the 3rd Army acts
as the unit's higher headquarters. According to the Army's Office
of Public Affairs, the 4th BCD wears the 3rd Army patch as its
shoulder sleeve insignia and honors its link with the 3rd Army on
its unit coin and motto: "Patton's Own" and "Always First."
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