TIFTON — The 110th Combat Service Support Battalion (CSSB) waved farewell to Command Sergeant Major William Skaggs on Sunday Oct. 20, and welcomed Command Sergeant Major Rustin Kilburg to the South Georgia National Guard unit.

“Today is a milestone in the 23-year history of the 110th CSSB,” said Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Alice Smith. “This represents the transfer of command responsibilities of the senior enlisted advisor, from one great leader to another great leader.”

According to Smith, the command sergeant major’s role is to advise the commander, and ensure the health, welfare, readiness and discipline of the battalion’s soldiers.

“Sergeant Major Skaggs has significantly furthered the confidence, respect and transparency of the battalion,” said Smith.

The former commander of the 110th, Colonel Mark Citarella, noted during the change of command ceremony last month that Skaggs has been reliable and always where the soldiers needed him to be.

After completing copious amounts of schools and trainings following countless leadership positions, Kilburg feels confident about his new position in the 110th CSSB.

The 110th CSSB has been based in Tifton since 2007. The 2,000-person unit supports infantry troops with logistics, supply, transportation and vehicle maintenance. Beyond the field of combat, they are ready to mobilize to assist in national and state-wide emergencies.

Most recently, the unit has assisted with Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael relief efforts. According to Smith, Tifton is a very strategic location when an emergency happens within the Southeast.

“The location becomes a hub where we collect all of the materials we are going to hand out and gather the trucks to transport those products,” said Smith.

In the recent hurricanes, Tifton has acted as the staging and send-off point for equipment and vehicles around the state before going to assist in the emergencies. The ability to get from Atlanta or the Florida state line quickly has proven to be a strong asset for the National Guard.

Managing a unit with this much capabilities comes with responsibilities, and Smith has her most trusted senior enlisted advisor to assist with the big picture. As the new command sergeant major, Kilburg will be Smith’s eyes and ears of what goes on in the battalion.

The 110th CSSB will be conducting training at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. The training the battalion will be conducting will be realistic wartime missions where they provide service and support to a theatre level command.