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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 and photos by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Col. Scott Campbell is promoted to the rank of brigadier general with the help of his wife, Linda, and Kentucky’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini during a pinning ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., June 14, 2013. The native of Marion, Ky., has served the Kentucky Guard for 34 years, including three overseas deployments. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Col. Scott Campbell became the newest general in the Kentucky National Guard during a promotion ceremony at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., June 14, 2013.
A large gathering of Soldiers, Airmen, family, friends and associates of Campbell gathered together to watch the pinning of the stars to the 32-year-veteran’s uniform.
Lt. Col. John Truefeldt, who served under Campbell as part of the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Iraq in 2011, said Kentucky couldn’t get a better general.
“General Campbell is an outstanding officer and an all-around wonderful person,” he said. “He’s done great in all command positions he’s had so far, and he will excel as our newest general officer.”
Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell hugs his wife Linda following his promotion during a ceremony in Frankfort, Ky. Campbell was joined at the ceremony by his mother and numerous family members making the trip from Crittenden County, Ky. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Kentucky’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini presided over the ceremony and assisted Campbell’s wife Linda in placing the stars on the new general’s shoulders.
Tonini said the native of Marion, Ky., has earned the respect of the Kentucky National Guard though his years of service, which he called a godsend.
“I know that our organization, and most important, the men and women of the Kentucky National Guard are in good hands with his wisdom and guidance,” said Tonini.
Campbell enlisted in the Kentucky Guard in 1981, commissioning as an officer in 1st Battalion, 123rd Armor in 1984. He has commanded at the company, battalion and brigade level and served in senior staff officer positions within the 149th Brigade and at the state headquarters level. He has three overseas deployments, including to Bosnia and two to Iraq.
It was the second tour in Iraq, in which Campbell commanded the 149th MEB, overseeing a large portion of the transition of U.S. bases in the country to Iraqi hands. He said that deployment has helped define his career in uniform.
Col. Michael Abell presents a general’s flag to newly promoted Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell during a ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., June 14, 2013. Each military general is authorized a flag with stars of their rank, which is why they are referred to as flag officers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Campbell thanked many Soldiers for their influence and leadership guidance in his career. From former platoon sergeants to current generals, he said he has tried to include many aspects of their quality leadership into his roles.
He also thanked his family and friends in attendance, especially his mother who “started it all” by dropping him off at the bus station in Marion, Ky., as he shipped off to boot camp.
“I couldn’t imagine 32 years ago, I couldn’t ever envision this day,” he said. “It has been a life changing experience. And in hindsight, I would still get on that bus.”
“I look forward to the challenge of assisting Major General Tonini with making this great organization even better,” said Campbell. “I only hope I can give back as much as this organization has given me.”
Story by Capt. Stephen Martin, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Benjamin Adams IV and his sister Whitney assist their father, Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Adams III, in attaching his new one-star epaulets to his uniform during a promotion ceremony at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Dec. 7, 2012. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. —After 30 plus years of service, Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Adams III, pinned on his star.
(To see all the photos from this event, please click HERE.)
Hundreds of Soldiers, Airmen, family, friends and associates of Adams gathered together at the Army Aviation Support Facility Dec. 7 in Frankfort, Ky., to watch the newest Kentucky National Guard general pin on the rank of brigadier general.
Col. Benjamin F. Adams III sits with Kentucky’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini during a promotion ceremony at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Dec. 7, 2012. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“A lot of us have worked very hard over the years, not so much to promote our own careers, but to help put the right people in the right places,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dean Stoops, National Guard Bureau Standardization Officer. “Brig. Gen. Adams deserves this promotion. It’s not only a great day for him but for the Kentucky National Guard and our Nation.”
Quite a bit of family showed for Adams’ promotion to include his wife, Shelley and his mother, Doris. Both assisted in the pinning ceremony and were recognized by Adams for their contribution to his life and to his career. Adams is currently assigned as the Director of the Joint Staff for the Kentucky National Guard, overseeing both the Army and Air organizations within the state.
“So, now that the collar is just a little heavier, I get to go home with a new box of chores for Shelley to block out on the family calendar,” commented Adams. “We’ll do our best to find that elusive balance between the Adams calendar and Uncle’s calendar.”
ACH
By Staff Sgt. Fredrick P. Varney, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky Army National Guard
Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, adjutant general for Kentucky, pins Spc. Joshua Wayne Roberts, Engineer, Det.1, 207th Engineer Company, during a promotion ceremony held Apr 28. at Kallmunz Castle in Germany.
HOHENFELS, Germany– Just twenty-five minutes outside of Hohenfels, nestled in the heart of Bavaria, there’s a small art colony town called Kallmunz.
The main attractions there are the ruins of the Kallmunz Castle above the town on a cliff and the old stone bridge over the Naab River.
Kallmunz castle, the seat of the former Counts of Kallmunz, has been fortified since the Bronze Age. The city also has a medieval bridge, bearing masons’ marks, over the Naab River.
During a recent overseas training deployment, the 201st Engineer Battalion held a ceremony Apr. 28 to recognize the promotions of six Soldiers and the re-enlistment of two others.
Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, the adjutant general of Kentucky, traveled there with the Soldiers to celebrate the glorious occasion.
The six Soldiers promoted were from Detachment 1, 207th Engineer Company. Spc. Joshua Wayne Roberts of Jackson, Ky., Private 1st Class Steven W. Molands of Campton, Ky., Private 1st Class John C. Thompson of Louisa, Ky., Private 1st Class Justin R. Brashears of Campton, Ky., Staff Sgt. Ronald E. Holliday of Jackson, Ky., and 1st Lt. Dustin W. Pack of Ashland, Ky.
Tonini conducted the re-enlistments of Sgt. Matthew C. Gilbert, Team Leader, Detachment 1, 207th Engineer Company, and Sgt. Mark S. Hunter, Team Leader, Forward Support Company, 201st Engineer Battalion.
“I told my first sergeant that I wanted General Tonini to conduct my re-enlistment at one of the castles here and the unit made it happen for us,” said Gilbert.
“It was a great feeling to have the adjutant general come here to support us,” he said. “It really meant so much to the Soldiers to be promoted and re-enlist at such a prestigious landmark here in Germany.”
Kentucky Guardsmen from the 201st Engineer Battalion, based in Ashland, Ky., conducted a promotion ceremony held Apr. 28 at the Kallmunz Castle in Kallmunz, Germany. The 201st Engineer Battalion provided crucial support to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany by expanding its training center facilities there.
