CSM Tennant hands over reins during ceremony
December 19, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public Affairs
FORT KNOX, Ky. (December 19, 2011) -- The 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) officially said goodbye to its only senior enlisted leader during a change of responsibility ceremony on Thurs. Dec. 15 at Haszard Auditorium.
During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Willie C. Tennant Sr. transferred responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Karl A. Roberts Sr.
Tennant officially joined the organization in October 2006 when it was the 3d Corps Support Command located in Wiesbaden, Germany. He was one of the first Soldiers of the unit to move from Germany to Fort Knox where the 3d COSCOM was rededicated the 3d ESC.
During his speech, Tennant, held back tears as he requested permission from Col. Kristin K. French, the 3d ESC's commander, to hand over responsibility.
"Sustainer 6, this is Sustainer 7. Requesting to leave the net," Tennant said to French.
During his tenure as 3d ESC's senior enlisted leader, Tennant served with three commanders and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response.
Tennant thanked the Soldiers of the 3d ESC for their hard work and diligence to the unit's mission.
After this assignment, Tennant will retire after more than 34 years of Active Federal Service. He said that during his retirement, he looks forward to spending more time with his Family and just relaxing.
Roberts comes to the 3d ESC after last serving as the senior enlisted leader of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 8th Army in Yongsan, Korea.
He said he looks forward to leading the 3d ESC and its Soldiers during its upcoming to deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operating Enduring Freedom.