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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Story by Sgt. Lerone Simmons, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Newly promoted Brig. Gen. Charles T. Jones, Kentucky Assistant Adjutant General, watches as his grandson Brooks O’Neal, pins on his epaulet during the promotion ceremony at the Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky. July 17, 2015. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Olivia Burton)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Family, friends, honored guests, and colleagues gathered at the Billy G. Wellman Armory on Boone National Guard Center to commemorate the promotion of Col. Charles T. Jones to the rank of Brigadier General, July 17, 2015.
Family, honored-guests, collegues and friends gathered to observe newly promoted Brig. Gen. Charles T. Jones’ promotion ceremony at the Billy G. Wellman Armory, Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky. July 17, 2015. Jones currently serves as the Assistant Adjutant General of the Kentucky National Guard. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Lerone Simmons)
Brooks O’Neal salutes his grandfather. Brig. Gen. Charles Jones during his promotion ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., July 17, 2015. (Photo by Olivia Burton)
“This is a tremendous opportunity to be able to continue to affect change in the lives Soldiers,” said Jones. “I am truly blessed.” Jones said he owes much of his success to hard work and support of his family. “Hard work is what got me here, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.” Click here for more photos. His wife Linda, daughter Brandi, and eight-year-old grandson Brooks O’Neal, accompanied him at the ceremony. Brooks took part in the promotion ceremony by pinning the epaulet rank on his grandfather’s uniform.As one of the honored guests, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, Kentucky Adjutant General welcomed Jones to the command staff and expressed his confidence in the newly promoted brigadier general.
“In my mind, he’s a Soldier’s Soldier,” said Tonini. “I am tremendously comfortable having him across the office as deputy adjutant general. I know when I leave, the Guard will be in the best possible hands.”
Jones first commissioned in 1981 through the Kentucky Military Academy Officer Candidate Program and was also prior enlisted with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Brigade. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving from 2006 to 2007 as commander, 149th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Garrison Commander Contingency Operations Base Spiecher as part of the 101st Airborne Division and the 25th Infantry Division as part of Multination Division North.
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs with contributions from Kyle Hilbrecht
Former Kentucky Warrant Officer of the Year are recognized during the 97th anniversary of the Warrant Officer Corps ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., July 9, 2015. Each winner since 2007 was presented with the commendation which became an official award in 2014. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky National Guard gathered to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the Warrant Officer Cohort at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, July 9. State Command Chief Warrant Officer Dean Stoops was joined by Brig. Gen. Charles Jones, Deputy Adjutant General and hundreds of warrant officers and Soldiers to recognize nearly 100 years of the “quiet professional.” “The modern U.S. Warrant officer Cohort is nearly a century old, and I’m sure the original forty warrant officers of the 1918 Mine Planter Service had no idea the significance their appointment would have on the United States Army,” said Stoops. “We now see a highly professional cohort that is indispensable to the United States Army and the Kentucky National Guard.”
State Command Chief Warrant Officer Dean Stoops promotes Ricky Skelton to the rank of chief warrant officer four during the 97th anniversary celebration of the Warrant Officer Corps in Frankfort, Ky., July 9, 2015. In addition to celebrating 97 years, several warrant officers were honored for their achievements and service to the Kentucky Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Click here for more photos.
Stoops commended Kentucky’s warrant officers for their recent gains in National Guard categories of education and readiness. There are less than 175 warrant officers in the Kentucky Guard, while nearly 30,000 warrant officers serve worldwide in the Army components.
Known as technical experts in their fields, warrant officers are also referred to as the “quiet professional” for their behind the scenes stance in numerous occupational specialities.
In addition to the celebration of 97 years, Kentucky Guard leadership also recognized the previous eight Warrant Officers of the Year, ensuring each received the commendation which became official just last year. Stoops said the award is the only award among the three Army components dedicated to the recognition of warrant officers for their outstanding service and achievements.
“The creation of this official state award is the culmination of a seven year effort to create an award that was equal to the Outstanding Airman and Soldier of the Year Award,” said Stoops. “I am very pleased and proud that we could go back and present it to all of the previous seven recipients. It just seemed to be the right thing to do.”
Stoops said he has already been contacted by other states looking to adopt the award and he fully expects it to take off and potentially become a national standard.
Retired Chief Warrant Officer Larry Moore receives the 2008 Kentucky Warrant Officer of the Year commendation during a birthday celebration of the warrant officer corps in Frankfort, Ky., July 9, 2015. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Following that award presentation, Chief Warrant Officer Ricky Skelton was promoted to the rank of chief warrant officer four and Warrant Officer Jonathan Dukes was promoted to chief warrant officer two.
Chief Warrant Officer Jacob Lewis was also recognized for being named the 2014 Most Outstanding Engineer Warrant Officer in the National Guard. He was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal for his accomplishment.
Jones said the warrant officer used be an untapped resource for the Army and National Guard, but that has changed thanks to education, leadership and support from senior warrant officers. He called them an integral part of the Guard’s daily operations.
“The Army takes the cream of the NCO Corps off the top, makes it warrant officers and gives it special, graduate level training,” said Jones. “Warrant officers are an incredible resource of commanders and soldiers alike. They are world renowned for being the Army’s technical and tactical experts and are valuable leaders as well.”
