Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
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Maj. Brent Hulse receives the battalion colors from Brig. Gen. Ben Adams III during a change of command ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., May 30, 2014. Hulse assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Recruiting and Retention from Lt. Col. Fred W. Bates V. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Maj. Brent Hulse took charge of of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Recruiting and Retention Command during a change of command ceremony in Frankfort, May 29. Hulse succeeds Lt. Col. Fred W. Bates V, who has led the battalion since 2011.
Brig. Gen. Ben Adams III joined friends, family members and Soldiers of the battalion in welcoming Hulse and congratulating Bates on a successful run as the unit commander.
The 2/75th is approaching its eleventh straight year of achieving and surpassing its assigned end strength mission, a mission Hulse prepares to continue.
"As everyone knows, our environment is changing, we don't know where we will be in a year or two," said Hulse. "It's my job to evaluate where units in Kentucky are now and where they are going. We will focus on readiness and we will take Kentucky one step up."
Click here to see more photos from the ceremony.
Hulse knows all too well the importance of the role recruiters play in the future of the Kentucky Guard, his own daughter is currently in Army basic training and is expected to graduate in July, returning as a military police officer with Kentucky's 223rd MP Company.
"I am so proud of her, and my son, along with my wife, they have been 100 percent behind me, I couldn't have done what I have without them," he said. "My family has done so much to keep me on track and to help me in my career."
Adams thanked both commanders for the consistent quality of work the battalion has delivered to the Kentucky Guard for the past decade. Of the 10 years the battalion has met its goal, Bates was a part of the unit for nine of those years.
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Brig. Gen. Ben Adams III presents Lt. Col. Fred W. Bates V with the Meritorious Service Medal during a change of command ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., May 30, 2014. Bates relinquished command of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Recruiting and Retention after a three-year run as commander. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Bates will move to the 75th Troop Command in Louisville, Kentucky as the brigade's executive officer.
"This battalion has a great responsibility for the Kentucky National Guard, you could say the future of our Kentucky Guard begins with this battalion," said Adams. "Maj. Hulse is now in a place where he can make a huge impact on the Soldiers under his command, and at the same time serve the citizens of the commonwealth."