FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
U.S. Army Initial Military Training held a change of responsibility ceremony, Jan. 10 at Fort Eustis.
Command Sgt. Maj. John R. Calpena turned over responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis J. Woods with the symbolic passing of a Civil War-era noncommissioned officer's sword. The passing of the sword signifies the relinquishment of responsibility and authority from outgoing CSM to incoming CSM.
"We say goodbye to an extremely talented senior leader," said Maj. Gen. Ross E. Ridge, deputy commanding general of IMT. "He will be greatly missed, and his legacy will continue to live on in the Soldiers, the leaders and the cadre that he encountered during his tour here as a command sergeant major."
Calpena has served as the IMT command sergeant major since May 2010.
A separate retirement review in honor of Calpena's 32 years of service followed the change of responsibility ceremony, during which Calpena received the Distinguished Service Medal.
"His stalwart pursuit of the standards, accountability and discipline in all assignments ensured consistent and relevant training was provided to the Soldiers serving in our Army, which cannot be emphasized enough," Ridge said. "John Calpena is the epitome of what it means to serve. You have truly represented the NCO corps, what is good about our Army and what is great about our NCO corps."
Following retirement, Calpena will take residence in San Antonio, Texas.
Woods, incoming CSM, is reporting from Afghanistan, where he served as the command sergeant major for 191st Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West.
Woods is also credited with 45 separate inventions and was designated as the Department of Defense "Inventor of the Year" for 2003. He is also the first recipient of the Gruber Award, given for outstanding achievement in the Army's field artillery corps.
Woods thanked Calpena for allowing him to inherit a successful organization, and recalled hearing Calpena speak for the first time at a Warrior's Leaders Course graduation ceremony in Germany.
"Upon hearing the power of your speech and the conviction of your words, I thought to myself, I can follow this man, and apparently I did, because I'm moving into that office today, brother."
As CSM for IMT, Woods is responsible for standardizing, refining and assessing training for initial entry Soldiers, recently commissioned and appointed officers, and warrant officers at 23 installations across the United States. The Army profession begins with IMT, transforming civilian volunteers into Soldiers and junior leaders who can contribute to their first units of assignment.