No, I'm not writing about the change in vegetation from drab winter colors to brighter spring hues we're now seeing (at least where I am), I'm referring to the symbolic military ceremony of passing the flag (colors) of a unit or organization, from the out-going leader, to the incoming individual. Like 91 others engaged in such ceremonies before, the colors of the Army Engineer School were passed last week from Colonel Bob Tipton to Colonel Bryan Watson.
Watson was designated a brigadier general and incoming commandant last Fall, but has yet to pin on the rank. Tipton had been serving as the commandant of the school awaiting Watson's arrival from a prior assignment. Tipton has now assumed the duties as Assistant Commandant of the school.
This all got me remembering the photo frame line-up of past commandants of the school, hanging on the walls of the school. Almost all of those pictured wore the rank of major general. It was only a few years ago when the school commandant position was supported with a brigadier general. Most pictured also commanded at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with the first school commandant being designated at Fort Leonard Wood in 1986.
Watson joins a very distinguished line of prior school commandants. Each had their own challenges, and of course each served in a somewhat different Army…because the Army always seems to be changing in some way.
Many will join me I'm sure in wishing soon to be BG Watson well, during his tenure as school commandant.
