Change of commands bring new leadership to three National Guard units

By Ann Keyes
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

VILLAGE OF FOUR SEASONS, Mo. - In back to back ceremonies, the Missouri National Guard's 203rd Engineer Battalion and two associated companies ushered in new commanders at the Lake of the Ozarks in early December.

During the formal events, known as the passing of the colors, Lt. Col. Greg Fritz, of Marshfield, assumed command of the battalion from Lt. Col. Anthony Adrian. Capt. Charles Ledgerwood, of Sedalia, gave up command of Joplin's Headquarters and Headquarters Company to 1st Lt. Brandon Montang, of Cabot, Ark. Capt. Troy Sandbothe, of Joplin, assumed command of Kansas City's 1141st Engineer Company (Sappers) from Capt. Brian Sayer, of Richland.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of this battalion once again," said Fritz, whose most recent Guard appointment was as deputy commander of the Headquarters 140th Regiment at the Missouri Regional Training Institute at Fort Leonard Wood.

Following his taking the reins from Adrian, Fritz immediately participated in change of command ceremonies for his battalion's headquarters company and the sappers from Kansas City.

"I think it's a great honor and privilege to take command of a company, and even more so with a company with such a great reputation," said Sandbothe, new commander of the 1141st. "I had the opportunity to serve alongside the company in Afghanistan and interacted with them daily, so I can't say enough good things about the Soldiers of the 1141st. I'm really looking forward to the next couple of years (of this) command and being able to learn from them."

Sayer, currently teaching route clearance to deploying active and Guard Soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood, said he is sad to leave his unit, especially so "because the 1141st is the best sapper company in the Army."

Returning from deployment in September, Adrian led his Soldiers through a difficult yet successful year-long stint. While serving overseas, the battalion and attached companies conducted over 1,400 missions in Afghanistan, clearing more than 107,000 kilometers of routes. The group of Citizen-Soldiers found more than 426 IEDs out of more than 550 encountered - an astounding 77 percent find rate.

The battalion conducted over 150 combined action missions with Afghan National Security Forces and 115 counter-insurgency missions. In addition, the battalion earned 55 Purple Hearts, 11 Army Commendation Medals and 420 Combat Action Badges, among other awards.

"Our success came at a high price," said Adrian as he remembered Sgt. Wayne Crow, Sgt. Denis Kisseloff, Sgt. David Holmes and Sgt. 1st Class Edgar Roberts, battalion or attachment Soldiers who lost their lives as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"These men and their Families are in my thoughts every single day, as I know they are in yours," Adrian said to the battalion. "Their lives and sacrifices will never be forgotten."

Moving forward, all the incoming commanders noted 2011 will be a "reset" year for the battalion and companies, meaning, administrative work, schools and maintenance issues will keep them busy. During summer, the 203rd will serve at overseas deployment training in Germany as part of its annual training. And engineers can expect to serve stateside when called upon.

"We're here to do our job protecting the citizenry of Missouri," said Fritz. "Locally, for example, with natural disasters, we can help provide relief, like we did with the ice storms in southwest Missouri in 2007. We cannot and will not let our guard down at home."

"Lt. Montang, who deployed with the 203rd's Forward Support Company, is a knowledgeable, extremely capable officer who will ensure the headquarters company runs smoothly as it continues the transition from deployment to garrison duty," said Ledgerwood, who will return to Jefferson City as a high school teacher in January following his deployment and command.

"I am looking forward to this new position," Montang said. "It will present a new set of challenges and opportunities for me to grow both professionally and personally."

For Adrian, who now lives in Alexandria, Va., and works in strategic planning at the National Guard Bureau, his command of the battalion will be long remembered.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the 203rd, it's been the greatest honor of my career to serve as your commander," said Adrian at the ceremony. "I can say without reservation, I consider you to be the best and the brightest in the United States Army, and I am extremely proud to have been a part of it. No matter where this career takes me from here, I will always consider myself a 'Houn Dawg.'"

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-888-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.