Since December, they've returned from Iraq, uncased their colors and honored their fallen comrades with a memorial service that left no dry eyes at the base of their regiment's memorial.
On Friday, the regimental leadership presented a bit of a double whammy when they hosted a change of command for Col. Michael Bills, and a change of responsibility for Command Sgt. Maj. William Burns.
Stepping comfortably into their boots were Col. Reginald Allen and Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Hunt.
While ceremonies like these are not uncommon, it is a little out of the ordinary to have both ceremonies at the same time, one 3rd ACR spokesman said.
Burns, who was the 17th sergeant major for the 3rd ACR, participated in the first ceremony, relinquishing the regimental saber of command and his responsibility to Hunt.
That was followed by the change of command of Bills to Allen, which yielded a bit of history when it was revealed that Allen was the first black to assume command of the regiment.
``That's a big deal,'' said Maj. Gary Dangerfield, the 3rd ACR's outgoing public affairs officer.
Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, welcomed guests and express his gratitude to the soldiers of the regiment for their recent service in Iraq.
``I could spend the next hour talking about their accomplishments, but as we all know our world is a safer place ... because of the magnificent work these troopers did on the fields of Iraq,'' Lynch said.
Lynch then turned his attentions to Bills and Burns, whom he credited with changing the lives of so many in a positive way.
``Mike and the command sergeant major have always been my heroes,'' Lynch said. ``You have my sincere admiration, my thanks and my gratitude. Both of you will be sorely missed.''
Bills, who has commanded the 3rd ACR since 2006, not only led the regiment onto the battlefield, but led it from the Rocky Mountains of Fort Carson, to Fort Hood and Central Texas shortly after assuming command.
Not long after their relocation, the regiment began its 15-month tour in Iraq, where they lost 38 soldiers, and saw nearly 200 others wounded in action.
``They believed in what they were doing and selflessly offered up everything they had in order to accomplish the mission and protect their fellow troopers,'' Bills said. ``Their sacrifices have been woven into the fabric of this great regiment and nation. They will never be forgotten.''
Bills concluded his remarks by wishing the best to his successor.
``I stand here as the most humbled man on God's green earth,'' Allen said. ``This wonderful opportunity to command the 3rd ACR is truly a dream come true.''
Allen gave thanks to Bills and his family and Lynch before promising to continue the regiment's proud tradition.
``I am confident that just as you have done and just as your predecessors have done for over 160 years, we will brave the fire and the blood together and come out steel,'' Allen said.
