FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The 53rd Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) held a change of command ceremony Feb. 18 at Fort Eustis.
U.S. Army Maj. Theresa Armstrong, a Dallas native, relinquished her command of the 53rd Trans. Bn. to Maj. Clarisse Scott, a native of Elliot, S.C.
Armstrong thanked all the Soldiers in the battalion for their hard work while under her command.
"You have made this the most fantastic experience of my life," said Armstrong. "I have been very fortunate to command the most unique movement control battalion in the Army. You have left a mark on my soul."
In closing, Armstrong also offered a few words of advice.
"You must make every single second count. You need to find your dream, your goal and take small steps to make it manageable," said Armstrong. "Don't give up, don't give in and don't quit. You are going to be there someday - you make your dreams become your reality."
Scott thanked Armstrong for her dedication to the unit, and promised to lead them effectively into the future.
"Thank you for passing along the great Soldiers that stand before us today," said Scott. "I look forward to the many challenges that come along with command and will face them head on with my new team. To the Soldiers, I look forward to the ride we are about to embark upon."
The 53rd Trans. Bn. was first constituted May 28, 1943 as the headquarters and headquarters detachment for the 53rd Quartermaster Truck Bn., and it was activated in North Africa, June 22, 1943. The battalion has been inactivated and reactivated multiple times throughout its history until it became specialized as a movement control team in 1999.
According to the Army, the 53rd Trans. Bn. specializes in moving troops, equipment and other critical assets to the front lines. The battalion conducts movement control operations in order to facilitate forces deploying to and from the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.