Command Sgt. Maj. Todd W. Sims, center, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, prepares to pass the brigade colors to Col. Gregory Sierra, right, outgoing commander, during a change of command ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Dec. 2, 2015. Sierra relinquished command to Col. Christopher R. Norrie, left, during the ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, second from left, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory T. Summers)
By Sgt. Gregory T. Summers
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Soldiers, leaders, Families and friends of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, gathered to bid farewell to Col. Gregory F. Sierra and welcome Col. Christopher R. Norrie during a change of command ceremony Dec. 2, 2015.
Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, oversaw the passing of the “Iron” Brigade colors during the ceremony held at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center.
“Over the last two years, Sierra expertly integrated, trained and led this unit to the world-class, combat- ready organization it is today,” Gonsalves said. “From his management of the innumerable logistical systems inherent to an armored brigade, to the challenging and diverse training cycle preparing his Soldiers for deployment and his genuine ability of taking care of Soldiers, he has exceeded every expectation the Army has had of him as a leader and a Soldier.”
Sierra assumed command of the 3rd ABCT in July 2013. Under his leadership, the brigade underwent a process of reconstitution, regeneration and collective training. He led the brigade through numerous iterations of ranges, gunneries, live-fires, field training exercises, a rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, and a deployment in support of U.S. Central Command in Southwest Asia.
During the deployment, the Iron Brigade Soldiers conducted ongoing operational and contingency operations, operational supportand theater security cooperation activities, as well as bilateral and multilateral military exercises that extended over 15 countries in the region.
“It’s been an honor commanding the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team,” said Sierra. “We did a lot in a short period of time, but every Soldier and leader of the brigade is better prepared to fight and win because of it.”
Sierra and his Family move to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he will perform duties as the director of Training for U.S. Forces Command.
During the ceremony, Sierra, Gonsalves and Norrie took their positions on the ready line in front of the formation and marched toward the brigade colors and 3rd ABCT Command Sgt. Maj. Todd W. Sims.
Sims handed Sierra the brigade colors for the final time, signifying his last act of allegiance to the outgoing commander and thanking him for the partnership they have shared. Sierra then passed the colors to Gonsalves, representing his last act as 3rd ABCT’s commander and thanked him for the opportunity to lead the brigade.
Gonsalves then presented Norrie with the colors, signifying his trust in Norrie’s abilities to lead and take responsibility of the brigade and its Soldiers. Norrie passed the colors to Sims, demonstrating his first act as commander and the confidence he has in his future partnership with the corps of noncommissioned officers.
“As the saying goes, there’s a ‘silver lining in every cloud,’” Gonsalves said. “That is certainly the case now as the Iron Brigade and the ‘Iron Horse’ Division gain Col. Chris Norrie.”
Norrie comes to Fort Carson after most recently serving as the director of the chief of staff of the Army’s Coordination Group in Washington, D.C.
Norrie thanked Sierra and his wife, Courtney, for their efforts leading the Iron Brigade and looked forward to his future with the team.
“Greg and Courtney Sierra are tremendous leaders and an incredible Army Family who have given all of themselves to this great team,” said Norrie. “I am very thankful for all who attended the ceremony and am very proud to join and command this fantastic team.”