SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras –
In a time-honored ceremony at 9 a.m. Feb. 11, the enlisted men and women of Joint Task Force-Bravo saw their top representative and mentor leave and a new leader step in.
During a formal Change of Responsibility ceremony, held in the base fire department's hangar, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Mullins handed the responsibilities he held for 24 months to Army Command Sgt. Maj. Eloy Alcivar. The senior enlisted reviewer for the ceremony was Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Balch, U.S. Southern Command's Command Sergeant Major.
In front of six flights of hundreds of noncommissioned officers, plus U.S. and Honduran commanders and dignitaries, Command Sgt. Maj. Mullins passed the ceremonial sword to Command Sgt. Maj. Alcivar -- signifying there is now a new enlisted leader in place.
The command sergeant major serves as principal adviser to the commander of U.S. Southern Command's forward-deployed Joint Task Force-Bravo. He provides advice, assistance and executes command responsibilities for all issues concerning enlisted members of all services. The command sergeant major also assists the commander in developing policies, enforcing standards and ensuring readiness while providing for professional development and quality of life for five major subordinate commands.
"The relationship between a commander and his sergeant major is a very special one," said Army Col. Richard Juergens, Joint Task Force-Bravo commander, during remarks at the ceremony. "Anytime he gave me advice, I took that advice very, very seriously. I feel a personal sense of loss as Sergeant Major Mullins moves on, but the military has a great way of replacing one great leader with another. And I have no doubt that Sergeant Major Alcivar will be no exception to that."
Upon assuming his new position, Command Sgt. Maj. Alcivar commented upon his view of the road ahead for JTF-Bravo.
"Our mission is very important and complex. It requires our constant demonstration of proficiency, professionalism, respect, integrity, selfless service, loyalty, duty, honor, personal courage and a robust commitment," Sergeant Major Alcivar said, adding that these expectations would be reciprocal.
"I am glad to be here and I am really looking forward to working with you," he said to his new team of Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors.