By Spc. Alexandria Hughes
32nd Brigade Public Affairs
After more than 33 years of military
service - including the last two as commander of the Wisconsin Army National
Guard's largest brigade - Col. Martin Seifer of Seymour, Wis., formally
transferred command of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Col. Tim Lawson
of Cambridge, Wis.
"I had my time and it was
great," Seifer said, "but it's time to hang up the boots and let
somebody else do it.
"Tim is a terrific Soldier and a
terrific leader," Seifer continued. "I've known him since we were
both majors. He will do a terrific job as commander of the 32nd IBCT."
Seifer assumed command of the 32nd in
2010 shortly after the brigade returned from a yearlong mobilization and
deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was the largest
overseas operational deployment in the Wisconsin National Guard since World War
II.
During his tenure as commander, Seifer
focused on ramping up training and refitting the brigade in terms of personnel
and equipment in preparation for future missions.
Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson, commander of
the Wisconsin Army National Guard, recommended Seifer as commander of the 32nd,
and passed the brigade flag to Seifer during the last change of command
ceremony in 2010.
"It was very much because of
[Seifer's] demonstrated abilities as an officer and a leader," Anderson
explained.
Seifer led the brigade through a
Warfighter Exercise in May, a virtual exercise that gauges the abilities of
units to react and respond to changing combat and stabilization operations.
"It really just affirms to me that
Marty was absolutely the right person to take the command at the time,"
Anderson said.
Seifer was awarded the Meritorious
Service Medal for his accomplishments. He plans to continue working for
Schneider International.
"I've had the opportunity of
working for great leaders and great peers," Seifer said, summing up his
message to the Red Arrow Soldiers, "I believe the quality of a commander's
life is in direct proportion to his Soldiers' commitment to excellence. The past
two years have been an unbelievable experience for me, and that is due to the
level of dedication, effort and commitment to excellence each and every one of
you put forward to make this brigade the best IBCT in the United States Army.
"You truly have made the past two
years the high point of my career," Seifer continued. "For that, I am
forever grateful."
Lawson has 21 years of military
experience to draw from - 10 years active service and 11 years in the Wisconsin
Army National Guard - including combat arms and armor officer, military
intelligence, recruiting battalion commander and state operations officer. He
transitioned to infantry to command the 1st Battalion, 127th Infantry.
"It's good to be home," Lawson
said. "It's good to be a part of this organization. It's good to be back
at that level of tactical thinking - of combat arms. I'm happy to be in this
position. I'm very fortunate to be in the shoes I am today."
"Col. Lawson will take the 32nd to
that next level," Anderson added, "as it continues through its
training model in preparation for any future deployments."
Lawson said he is looking forward to
working with Command Sgt. Maj. Rafael Conde, senior enlisted advisor for the
32nd. Lawson and Conde worked together for 18 months in the 127th Infantry as
well as a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan.
"CSM Conde and I go back a
ways," Lawson said. "He is the epitome of what a noncommissioned
officer should be, and as a command sergeant major - there is none better.
That's speaking from an active duty and National Guard status. The man can
compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere."
Conde, in turn, expressed confidence in
the brigade's new commander.
"The greatest thing about Col.
Lawson is that he is a Soldier's commander," Conde said. "There will
not be a Soldier within six months who will not know his name -not because he
yells, but because he gets out and he talks to his Soldiers and still meets
every expectation."
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