Dan
03-21-2006, 18:58
RELEASE NUMBER: 060320-01
DATE POSTED: MARCH 20, 2006
PRESS RELEASE: 1st Special Warfare Training Group Change of Responsibility
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Mar. 20, 2006) 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School conducted a change of responsibility on Mar. 17 at the John F. Kennedy Plaza here.
Outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Victor H. Allen and incoming Command Sgt. Maj. Kurt D. Lugo marked the passing of responsibility and authority by the passing of the non-commissioned officer sword.
Col. Jack Zeigler, Commander of the 1st SWTG, praised Allen for his contributions. “Command Sgt. Maj. Allen spent the last thirty years as an SF Soldier,” he said, “he brought all of that experience with him and personally touched and helped transform every aspect of Special Forces training.”
Allen has been the Command Sgt. Maj. of 1st SWTG since Aug. 2004 and plans to retire in July.
His previous assignments are numerous and span 30 years of service in Army Special Forces. He began his career as a Special Forces Engineer Sgt. and in 1999, he was appointed to Command Sergeant Major. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) until 2001. From 2001 to 2003, he served as the Command Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Okinawa, Japan.
Prior to his assignment at 1st SWTG, in 2003, he served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). .
He did not need notes to thank numerous people who touched his career throughout the years or to highlight each SWTG command Sgt. Maj. and their contributions.
He said, in his mind this ceremony was not for him but to celebrate the unit and let people know who is in charge and who left.
Allen addressed the crowd with his usual humor and candor as he expressed his appreciation for all who attended the ceremony, “I am truly touched,” he said, “but I am not going to cry because Joe Caseman will gut shot me right here if I do.” When asked what he would miss most, Allen smiled and said, “Having fun, man.”
Command Sergeant Major Allen is married to the former Emi Bradley of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, and they live in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He has a son Joshua, a daughter Jessica and four grandchildren
Command Sgt. Maj. Lugo’s previous assignment was as Command Sgt. Maj. of 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group. His military education and schooling include every level of noncommissioned officer professional development.
Lugo expressed that he was honored to have been chosen to help train, influence and care for the Soldier’s in SWTG. He asked that all remember the SOF Truths:
Humans are more important than Hardware.
Quality is better than Quantity.
Special Operations Forces cannot be mass produced.
Competent Special Operations Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur.
-usasoc-
DATE POSTED: MARCH 20, 2006
PRESS RELEASE: 1st Special Warfare Training Group Change of Responsibility
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Mar. 20, 2006) 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School conducted a change of responsibility on Mar. 17 at the John F. Kennedy Plaza here.
Outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Victor H. Allen and incoming Command Sgt. Maj. Kurt D. Lugo marked the passing of responsibility and authority by the passing of the non-commissioned officer sword.
Col. Jack Zeigler, Commander of the 1st SWTG, praised Allen for his contributions. “Command Sgt. Maj. Allen spent the last thirty years as an SF Soldier,” he said, “he brought all of that experience with him and personally touched and helped transform every aspect of Special Forces training.”
Allen has been the Command Sgt. Maj. of 1st SWTG since Aug. 2004 and plans to retire in July.
His previous assignments are numerous and span 30 years of service in Army Special Forces. He began his career as a Special Forces Engineer Sgt. and in 1999, he was appointed to Command Sergeant Major. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) until 2001. From 2001 to 2003, he served as the Command Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Okinawa, Japan.
Prior to his assignment at 1st SWTG, in 2003, he served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). .
He did not need notes to thank numerous people who touched his career throughout the years or to highlight each SWTG command Sgt. Maj. and their contributions.
He said, in his mind this ceremony was not for him but to celebrate the unit and let people know who is in charge and who left.
Allen addressed the crowd with his usual humor and candor as he expressed his appreciation for all who attended the ceremony, “I am truly touched,” he said, “but I am not going to cry because Joe Caseman will gut shot me right here if I do.” When asked what he would miss most, Allen smiled and said, “Having fun, man.”
Command Sergeant Major Allen is married to the former Emi Bradley of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, and they live in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He has a son Joshua, a daughter Jessica and four grandchildren
Command Sgt. Maj. Lugo’s previous assignment was as Command Sgt. Maj. of 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group. His military education and schooling include every level of noncommissioned officer professional development.
Lugo expressed that he was honored to have been chosen to help train, influence and care for the Soldier’s in SWTG. He asked that all remember the SOF Truths:
Humans are more important than Hardware.
Quality is better than Quantity.
Special Operations Forces cannot be mass produced.
Competent Special Operations Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur.
-usasoc-