MACON, Sep. 11, 2010 – Lieutenant Col. John Davis accepted the reins of responsibility of Statesboro’s 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) at a change of command ceremony held on the grounds of Georgia’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) headquarters. Davis replaces Lt. Col. Thomas Bright, who received a Meritorious Achievement Medal during the ceremony.

Davis has served 22 years in the Georgia Army Guard, and started his career as an enlisted Soldier. He comes to the battalion from his previous assignment as executive officer of Metter’s 265th Regional Support Command. Davis, who lives in Waycross, is originally from Ambrose, in Coffee County.

In his remarks, Davis stressed to his Soldiers, their families and the audience that his emphasis will be on preparing the unit for the next time it is called upon to go serve its country.

Bright, as outgoing commander, led the BSTB through its 2009-2010 deployment to Afghanistan as part of the 48th Brigade. He now becomes the chief of U.S. Army North’s Directorate of Training and Readiness.

The 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion stood up in February 2007. It consists of military police, engineers, intelligence, signal, and other support elements. Soldiers of the 48th BSTB began training in January 2009 in preparation for their year-long deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Story, photos by Sgt. Robert Freese

Georgia Department of Defense

Public Affairs Office