Jefferson City native takes command of local Guard unit

Maj. William Kleffner, the Missouri Army National Guard 5th Ordnance Battalion 140th Regional Training Institute incoming commander, passes the unit's colors to Master Sgt. Josh Woods during a change of command ceremony at the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Sale, Missouri Army National Guard).

By Pfc. Elise Higgins

ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Maj. William Kleffner, a Jefferson City native, is the new commanding officer of the Missouri Army National Guard 5th Ordnance Battalion 140th Regional Training Institute at Ike Skelton Training Site. With the passing of the battalion colors, Kleffner assumed command of the battalion from, Lt. Col. Regina Kilmer, of Vienna, during a formal change of command ceremony Saturday. Kleffner has served in the National Guard for 23 years.

He also served in the Ohio Guard for five years. He held a leadership position prior to this as commander of Joint Forces Headquarters in Jefferson City for three years and is excited about taking over command. "The commander's responsibility for this unit is to ensure that we provide quality training to the students that come through our courses," Kleffner said. The unit conducts all of Missouri's ordnance and maintenance courses. The battalion is a headquarters unit with five subordinate companies located in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Minnesota.

The unit trains Soldiers to maintain the Army's equipment to prepare units for deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations in support of overseas contingency operations. Kleffner plans to use his deployment experience to help him with his leadership and training goals for the unit, he said. "Having deployed with a support battalion and seen maintenance companies operate in combat will aide me greatly as the commander of this unit," said Kleffner.

Kilmer wants the new commander to remember to trust his experts because they can do more than what could be imagined, she said. She believes Kleffner will lead the unit well. "He seems eager, curious, and focused. I wish him all the best." "We have extremely professional instructors that take their job very seriously," said Kilmer. "We are trained and grateful to have learned the skills that will help get the equipment fixed that can save lives."