http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=814460&category=REGION
By TERRY BROWN, Special to the Times Union
First published in print: Saturday, June 27, 2009
A colonel earned recognition for leading 250 recruiters in enlisting
enough soldiers to fill seven 500-person active Army battalions and
two Army Reserve battalions, the equivalent of three brigades.
Col. Kenneth Sullivan of Watervliet received a Meritorious Service
Medal in recognition of those achievements during a change of command
ceremony Friday at the Watervliet Arsenal.
Lt. Col. Thomas Finch of Watervliet assumed command of the Army's
Albany Recruiting Battalion from Sullivan.
Finch replaces Sullivan, who has been assigned as deputy commander of
the 1st Recruiting Brigade at Fort Meade, Md.
Sullivan earned the award while leading recruiters who cover upstate
New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts west of Worcester, and
northern New Jersey.
Col. Frank Hall, 1st Recruiting Brigade commander, pinned the medal
on Sullivan. Sullivan's wife, Lisa, assisted as their children, Shea,
Cody and Army Pfc. Bryan stood nearby.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson, deputy commander of Army Recruiting
Command, presented a letter of appreciation to Sullivan.
Sullivan earned the medal for "exemplary leadership, training, and
continued enforcement of the highest standards that led to the
enlistment of 3,367 soldiers in the regular Army and 1,168 in the
Army Reserve during a time of war," according to Maj. Gen. Thomas
Bostick, Army Recruiting commander.
Finch previously served as a military intelligence company commander,
Task Force Falcon, Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.
As the new commander, Finch says, "Our priority will be to recruit
quality and qualified men and women for the U.S. Army."
Finch says other priorities include leadership development of his
Eagle Battalion soldiers as they perform their recruiting and other
missions with integrity, and taking care of soldiers' families.
Finch's other leadership positions included leader of Collection and
Jamming Platoon, 101st Military Intelligence Battalion, 1st Infantry
Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; commander of Collection and Jamming
Company, 501st Military Intelligence Battalion, 1st Armored Division,
Dexheim, Germany.
Finch received his commission in 1990 as a distinguished military
graduate of a Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Montana
State University where he earned a bachelor of science degree in
sociology and criminal justice. He also earned a master's degree in
administration from Central Michigan University. Finch also is
graduate of the Command and General Staff College.
His awards include three Meritorious Service medals, two Army
Commendation medals, three Army Achievement medals, a Joint
Meritorious Unit Award, an Army Superior Unit Award, an Airborne
Badge, and a Ranger Tab.
He and his wife, Jan Marie, have two children, Nathan and Elizabeth.
Sullivan's other awards include the Defense Meritorious Service
Medal, three other Meritorious Service medals, two Joint Service
Commendation medals and an Airborne Badge.
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News of your soldiers and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry
Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or by e-mail at
brownt@timesunion.com.
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