From left, Brig. Gen. Rodney Fogg, 54th Quartermaster General; Col. Ronald Ragin, commander. 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division; 4th SB Command Sgt. Maj. Jacinto Garza; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roberto Figueroa, Quartermaster Regiment chief warrant officer; and Quartermaster Regiment Command Sgt. Maj. Maj. Jimmy Sellers pose for a photo during a ceremony June 10, 2016, honoring the induction of the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, as a distinguished unit in the Quartermaster Regiment. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class John Cortez)
By Sgt. 1st Class John Cortez
4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT LEE, Va. — The 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, was honored as a Distinguished Unit of the Quartermaster Regiment during a June 10, 2016, induction ceremony hosted by the United States Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Virginia.
The Distinguished Units of the Regiment award was introduced in 1993 to recognize outstanding units that have made significant contributions to the Quartermaster Corps.
Command Sgt. Maj. Jacinto Garza, 4th SB, said the honor is especially gratifying. Nearly 20 years ago Garza arrived at Fort Lee for the first time as a private, freshly graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He attended the Quartermaster School and graduated as a unit supply specialist. Throughout his career, Garza returned to the home of the Quartermaster Corps for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development courses and other events. During this trip to Fort Lee, Garza, along with Col. Ronald Ragin, 4th SB commander, received the honor on behalf of the “Rough Rider” Brigade.
“Out of all the awards I have received during my military career, this brigade award is the one I’m most proud of,” Garza said. “It brings recognition to the entire organization and lets our Soldiers know the excellent work they are doing day in and day out. I will eventually leave the brigade, but this award will always be a part of our team.”
Garza has seen many changes in the brigade since arriving in September 2012 as the command sergeant major for the then 43rd Special Troops Battalion (now 4th STB) and the brigade command sergeant major since September 30, 2014.
“The biggest change I have seen in the brigade is our realignment back to the 4th Infantry Division,” Garza said. “It makes a difference to all our Soldiers in the brigade to be part of such an outstanding division, to wear the 4ID patch and be called ‘Iron Horse’ Soldiers. This realignment pushes our Soldiers to excel at everything they do.”
Ragin and Garza were quick to credit their Soldiers for the honor bestowed on the brigade by the Quartermaster School.
“Without the hard work of everyone in the brigade, I wouldn’t have had the honor in representing 4SB during this ceremony,” Ragin said. “I am extremely proud of the men and women who make up the 4th Sustainment Brigade, and it’s truly an honor to be their brigade commander. This is a great time to be a member of the Rough Rider Brigade.”
To go along with the honor, 4th SB also received a streamer. Garza said he was extremely honored to receiving the streamer and can’t wait to add it the brigade’s colors.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Fort Carson and showing the Rough Riders what their hard work has earned,” Garza said after the ceremony. “This is truly a great honor and without the efforts of our officers, NCOs and Soldiers, none of this would have been possible. This is their award. I’m honored to represent this awesome brigade.”
Garza said he is already planning a brigade run with a ceremony to formally add the streamer to the brigade’s colors.
“Our Soldiers are some of the best I’ve had the pleasure to work with,” he said. “Every day our strong officers, sergeants and Soldiers work hard supporting Fort Carson, 4th Infantry Division and operations all over the globe. We truly have something special here in the brigade. 4SB’s future is very bright, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”