Magill shoulders command of the 221st Public Affairs Detachment

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – U.S. Army Capt. Douglas L. Magill assumed command of the 221st Public Affairs Detachment, 361st Civil Affairs Brigade, 7th Mission Support Command, in a ceremony held at Daenner Kaserne on July 8, 2018.

Magill joined his Soldiers in the ceremony officiated by Col. Bradley A. Heston, the commander of the 361st CA Brigade, along with Capt. Jeku R. Arce, the outgoing commander of the 221st PAD, family, guests and dignitaries.

Heston thanked Arce for his unbridled energy in quickly reviving the unit from its deactivated status to a functioning public affairs team.

He also pointed to Arce´s efforts in developing a strong media presence which harvested positive media attention for the brigade from the U.S. defense community, foreign military forces and even the international civilian press.

Heston went on to explain that Arce single-handedly ran all media activities for the brigade during last year´s Saber Guardian 17 exercise eventually reaping Russian media attention for the brigade during the event.

“Not resting on his laurels, Jeku was able to get himself inserted as the Public Affairs Officer for the (U.S. Army´s) 2nd Cavalry Regiment,” explained Heston of Arce and the detachment´s efforts during Saber Strike 18 held in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, June 3 to 15.

Heston concluded his remarks by thanking Magill for accepting the assignment to lead the 221st PAD and said that a strategic public affairs detachment had deep reaching effects for the battlefield.

“Your ability to effect public opinion and get the word out has a profound impact upon what we do,” said Heston.

In a heart felt goodbye before departing to the Washington, D.C., area, Arce thanked the support of his family, the staff of the 361st CA Brigade, and praised the Soldiers of the 221st PAD for their quick professional successes during his tenure as commander over the last year and a half.

“To Doug, I leave these strong Soldiers in your capable hands, they will do great things for you,” he said.

As the new commander, Magill thanked Arce and the unit for their achievements and asked his new Soldiers to support him in keeping up the tall standards of the 221st PAD.

“You set the bar very high,” said Magill.

“I look forward to taking the reins and building upon the foundation that you´ve set already in telling the Army´s story,” he added.

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Magill shoulders command of the 221st Public Affairs Detachment