NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, held an official change of command ceremony at Erath High School, July 13. During the ceremony, Maj. Austin Miner, the incoming commander, assumed command of the battalion from Lt. Col. Matthew Bernard, the outgoing commander, currently mobilized.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, the adjutant general of Louisiana, presided over the ceremony, passed the unit colors to the incoming commander and spoke at the event.
“Austin, welcome to command. You’ve had all the positions, all the schooling and all the right jobs to put you in this position. I know you’re the right person for the job,” said Friloux. In addition to welcoming Miner, Friloux also commended Bernard. “He accomplished a lot of things as battalion commander, he focused on my number one strategic priority, combat readiness and led the unit through the FY 2024 eXportable Combat Training Capability.”…