A change of responsibility ceremony was held at the 416th Theater Engineer Command during battle assembly weekend.

“I enjoyed the interaction I had with the Soldiers,” explained the outgoing first sergeant, Master Sgt. Warnell Ludington. “Whether it was a general or an E-1, you normally don’t get that kind of interaction.”

Ludington served as an Army drill sergeant from 2009 until 2017 and pulled from that knowledge for his role as the first sergeant.

“Accountability is still the same, how to instill discipline, being able to stand in front of your peers and put out the information,” he said.

Ludington will step into his new role as senior enlisted advisor for the 416th TEC Inspector General’s office.

“I will be continuing inspections of units within the 416th footprint,” he said.

Capt. Chad Grimes, Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander, said “It’s a very important role. [The first sergeant is] my senior advisor on the enlisted side, they make sure the Soldiers are in the right place at the right time in the right uniform. A first sergeant must be highly organized and disciplined.”

Incoming replacement 1st Sgt. Lance Espinosa, a high school social studies teacher, is looking forward to his new position.

“I think the number one job of the first sergeant is taking care of Soldiers and a close second is making sure training is getting done and running smoothly,” he said.

The Soldiers of the 416th TEC said farewell to one and welcomed another.