GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 344th Military Intelligence Battalion activated a third company, Charlie Company, at the Activation Ceremony and Assumption of Command on the parade field here, January 24.
“The Activation Ceremony is an old Army Tradition,” said Army Staff Sgt. Remington Whiteside, 344th MI BN Arabic cryptologic linguist analyst senior instructor. “It serves two purposes. First, it allows the commander the opportunity to assess the readiness and discipline of the unit. Secondly, with the uncasing of the Guidon, it marks a definite point in time to commemorate the beginning or continuation of a unit’s history and lineage by carrying on the finest tradition of the United States Army.”
After the uncasing of the Guidon, Army Lt. Col. Brian Ryan, 344th MI BN commander, passed the Guidon to Army Capt. Nicholas Sauls, 344th MI BN Company C incoming commander, signifying the charging of Sauls’ unit.
Sauls then passed the Guidon to Army 1st Sgt. Hilary Roberts, 344th MI BN basic analysis and reporting course senior instructor, signifying the trust and responsibility of the company enlisted members.
This activation here transferred the Signals Analyst technical training school from Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida to Goodfellow, effective immediately.
“My sergeant major and I look forward to working with you and to see all the great things you do as we stand this company up,” said Ryan. “It means a lot to the organization that we have our inner service here. It’s awesome to look around and see the joint-ness across San Angelo, across Goodfellow, and what we are doing here as a joint base moving forward. Thank you all for being here.”