CFB/ASU PETAWAWA – The new commander of 2 CMBG Headquarters and Signal Squadron promised to offer a listening ear and have an open mind as he tackles the challenge of commanding the squadron.

On Tuesday, Major Neil Marshall took over command of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Sigs Squadron from the newly promoted Lieutenant-Colonel Marie Claude Arguin, who is moving onto Ottawa where she will join the director of land command and information team.

This is Major Marshall’s first stint at CFB/ASU Petawawa after previous postings and deployments to Kingston, Turkey, Gagetown, New Brunswick, Africa, and most recently Ottawa.

“For the future, I will provide clear orders and loyalty as we soldier on,” he said.

He called it a great honour to take over as commanding officer and he commended Lt.-Col. Arguin for the job she has done at the helm for the past two years.

“She has demonstrated loyalty, courage and integrity and leaves behind a well-exercised squadron,” Maj. Marshall said while addressing those on parade behind the squadron’s headquarters, a state-of-the-art building which just opened last September.

Colonel Simon Hetherington, commander of 2 CMBG, served as reviewing officer for the change of command ceremony. He told those on parade that it was his first time presiding over such an occasion. He said the squadron has lived up to its motto of swift, skilled and vigilant under the tenure of Lt.-Col. Arguin. It achieved swiftness by participating in no less than 11 exercises both at home and abroad, where the soldiers demonstrated their skills and as far as vigilance, many members of the squadron were deployed overseas.

As commanding officer of Headquarters and Sigs, Lt.-Col. Arguin always let him know about the capabilities of her soldiers and their operational tempo, Col. Hetherington said.

“She told me what I needed to hear and she was mission focused but never forgot about the impact it would have at home,” he said.

In wishing the outgoing commanding officer well in her new post in Ottawa, the brigade commander said Lt.-Col. Arguin has potential for command beyond the squadron level.

In welcoming Maj. Marshall, Col. Hetherington said he is confident the new commanding officer will rise to the challenge of helping the soldiers live up to the motto of swift, skilled, and vigilant.

“Welcome to the Upper Ottawa Valley and Petawawa. It is a great place to live,” Col. Hetherington said.

In her farewell address, Lt.-Col. Arguin described her time with the squadron as the most challenging but most rewarding, the most frustrating but in the end the most satisfying and a lot of fun.

She told Maj. Marshall he has a good team behind him, which will help to most rewarding, most broadening and most fun job he has had.

Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist

Follow her on Twitter @TPeplinskieOBS

tina.peplinskie@sunmedia.ca