“He comes with the right experience and the right skill set to take this battalion from a light artillery battalion to a medium artillery battalion as we transition to (a) Stryker (brigade).”
— Lt. Col. Donald L. Cherry Jr.
By 2nd Lt. Jordan Knutsen
2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Fluharty, left, incoming senior leader, and Lt. Col. Donald L. Cherry Jr., right, commander, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stand in front of the battalion formation before an assumption of responsibility ceremony Sept. 25, 2018, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Jordan Knutsen)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — After having gone months without a battalion command sergeant major, the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, welcomed its new senior leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Paul I. Fluharty, during a ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Sept. 25, 2018.
An assumption of responsibility is a ceremony marking a key leadership transition. The ceremony included passing of the battalion colors; a tradition that began in the Ancient Roman armies where the colors were used for battlefield identification, assuring the commander that his troops were ready for battle. The colors are believed to embody a unit’s past glories as well as guard over its present and inspire its future.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Fluharty, incoming senior leader, addresses the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Sept. 25, 2018, during an assumption of responsibility ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Jordan Knutsen)
“He comes with the right experience and the right skill set to take this battalion from a light artillery battalion to a medium artillery battalion as we transition to (a) Stryker (brigade),” said Lt. Col. Donald L. Cherry Jr., commander, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Reg., 2nd IBCT. “He also brings a wealth of energy to the formation. He’s motivated and he has the right level of seniority and experience to really push the battalion (and) the NCO Corps especially, … and challenge them to better themselves.”
Fluharty looks forward to many things with his new position, but working with Soldiers is his passion.
“It is the reason why I continue to do what I do every day,” he said. “Along with that is leader development, to enable our NCO Corps to develop (and) provide sound leadership for future generations to come. For (2nd Bn., 77th FA Reg., 2nd IBCT), it’s getting back to our core competencies, seeing the Soldiers training and coming together as a cohesive unit in order to provide the combatant commander with accurate and predictive lethal fires.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Lt. Col. Donald L. Cherry Jr., left, commander, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, passes the colors to Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Fluharty, incoming senior enlisted leader, accepting responsibility of his new position, Sept. 25, 2018, during an assumption of responsibility ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Jordan Knutsen)
Soldiers can expect a leader who will lead by example, embody the Army values, motivate and serve the Soldiers, create an effective teamwork atmosphere and build combat readiness, Fluharty said.