Brian Hill
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Sept. 3, 2020) — The U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood held a change-of-responsibility ceremony today on MSCoE Plaza where Command Sgt. Maj. James Breckinridge relinquished his role as top enlisted leader to Command Sgt. Maj. Randolph Delapena.
Brig. Gen. James Bonner, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, said Delapena “has held impressive leadership positions of increased responsibilities throughout our Army.”
“His leadership, love for our profession and focus on standards and discipline make him an incredible asset,” Bonner said. “The Army has again chosen well.”
Calling noncommissioned officers the “backbone of the Army,” Bonner said Breckinridge has been an important member of the MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood team.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Breckinridge has provided amazing leadership and thoughtful counseling on all things related to the care, the morale and the readiness of our Soldiers and family members,” he said.
Breckinridge called it “my honor and pleasure” to have served alongside the service members, civilians and their families at Fort Leonard Wood.
“My focus over the last 21 months centered on one thing all units share – people,” he said. “100 books could not capture the great work of our people … there is no finer group of professionals.”
Breckinridge – who will next take on the role of command sergeant major of U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and U.S. Army Corrections Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia – thanked his team and family.
“Thank you for being the sounding board for my ideas – both good and bad,” he said.
Breckinridge added that Delapena has a great assignment ahead of him.
“We are glad to have you — the team is glad to have you,” he said. “I know that you are going to serve in this organization and do great things.”
Delapena thanked Breckinridge for “the complete dedication that you gave to the Fort Leonard Wood team.” He added it is a “humbling opportunity to serve all these great service members and families of Fort Leonard Wood.”
“Our service members are our national treasures and I am honored every day that I can wake up and be able, not only to serve with them, but to serve them,” Delapena said.
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.
More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission