"Texans Serving Texas"
MEDIA ADVISORY
Media representatives wishing to obtain more information should contact the Texas Military Department’s State Public Affairs Office at ng.tx.txarng.mbx.pao@army.mil or 512-782-5620.
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:
Texas’ 36th Infantry Division holds Combined Change of Command and Change of Responsibility
Who: Texas Military Department Leaders, and Soldiers from the 36th Infantry Division. Texas Governor Greg Abbott will serve as the keynote speaker.
What: The 36th Infantry Division will conduct a change of command ceremony, where Maj. Gen. Patrick “Pat” Hamilton, commander of the 36th Infantry Division will relinquish command of the Division to Maj. Gen. Charles K. Aris.
In the same ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark J. Horn will change responsibility with Command Sgt. Maj. Clinton W. Petty.
Where: Camp Mabry, 2200 W. 35th St. Austin, TX 78703, on the parade field.
When: Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 1 p.m. Media is expected to arrive no later than 12 p.m. in order to set up before the ceremony commences. Please bring your media credentials. Aris will be available for interviews immediately after the ceremony. Please RSVP through the State Public Affairs Office via email ng.tx.txarng.mbx.pao@army.mil no later than Friday, October 29 by 3:00 p.m.
Why: The official change of command is the traditional passing of the colors from the outgoing to the incoming commander symbolically passing responsibility for, and authority over, the unit to the new commander.
A change of command is a military ritual that denotes a transfer of authority and responsibility for a command. The passing of colors from the present command to the incoming command ensures that the unit and its soldier’s under-no-circumstances are without official leadership. This act alone bonds the new leadership together enforcing a continuance of loyalty and trust to the unit’s soldiers.
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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.
The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Office of State Administration (formerly the Office of the Executive Director), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG) and the Texas State Guard (TXSG).
For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.
Texas Military Department Public Affairs
P.O. Box 5218, Building 10
Camp Mabry (Austin), Texas 78703