FORT RILEY — The Army loves tradition, and Fort Riley ushered in the direction of new commanding general Mag. Gen. Joseph M. Martin in expected fashion Tuesday morning.
Of course, an assumption of command ceremony on Cavalry Parade Field wasn’t at all expected less than 30 days ago, before former commanding general Wayne Grigsby was abruptly suspended by the Army on Sept. 23 and then fired three days later.
The Army has yet to specify a cause for firing Grigsby. Its only explanation has been that Grigsby was relieved of command of the 1st Infantry Division due to “loss of confidence in his ability to lead.”
But, in the philosophy of the ending song the 1st Infantry Division band always concludes these ceremonies with, “The Army Goes Rolling Along.”
Martin, a 1986 graduate of West Point, most recently served as commanding general of the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Cali. Prior to that assignment, he served as the deputy commanding general for maneuver of the 1st Cavalry Division. He earlier commanded the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley and deployed with that command to serve in northwest Baghdad. Following brigade command, he became the chief of staff of III Corps and Fort Hood.
Martin, who declined to speak about Grigsby, did admit after the ceremony his return to Kansas wasn’t so soon on the radar.
“It was unexpected, but it is absolutely welcome — not just for me, but for the entire Martin family,” said Martin, who has served in the army for 31 years. “I was born and raised here as a company-grade officer, so I understand Fort Riley, I know the community, I understand the division, I know the training area and I know the people of the community.
“LeAnn, my wife, is absolutely wedded to this community. We both look forward to the opportunity. Unexpected, but absolutely welcome.”
Martin added that he knows the importance of what it means to command.
“It is a huge amount of emotions coming into this position,” he said. “If you’d asked me in 1990 when I came to Fort Riley as a young captain if I had this opportunity I would have laughed at you.
“And so, God and the Army have seen it that I’m to command the first division, and I’m honored to be here, and I will continue to build upon the professionalism this division displays and the honor it displays each and every opportunity it has when it deploys.”
And another deployment is just around the corner. In the coming weeks Martin will deploy with an estimated 500 Fort Riley troops to Iraq where they will assist in Operation Inherent Resolve, which Grigsby was originally tabbed to lead.
Along with the Martin’s welcome, Tuesday also featured a casing of colors ceremony ahead of the 1st Infantry Division headquarters’ nine-month deployment.
“We will be a part of a 19-country coalition that will help the Iraqis defeat ISIS,” Martin said. “It’s absolutely critical. It’s critical to stability in the region and it’s critical to the Iraqi people, so we’re committed to assisting them in that endeavor.”
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