La. Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment welcomes new command team
By Staff Sgt. Noshoba Davis, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, welcomed its new command team, Maj. Gregory O’Brien and Command Sgt. Maj. Darron Murray, during an official change of command and change of responsibility ceremony at Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville, August 18.
O’Brien succeeds Lt. Col. Daniel Fritts, who had served as the battalion commander since December 2021. “Maj. Gen. Friloux, I want to express my appreciation to you. I understand the trust and confidence that it takes to assign someone to this role. I appreciate your faith in me, and we will continue to meet the standard,” said O’Brien, addressing Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Friloux, the adjutant general of Louisiana, during his remarks.
O’Brien enlisted in the Louisiana Army National Guard in 2006, commissioning as a second lieutenant after attending the LANG Officer Candidate School in 2009. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Louisiana State University and previously served as the assistant operations officer of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Friloux presided over the ceremony and praised both commanders. In his address to the outgoing commander, Friloux stated, “Dan, to you and Shannon, great job on a successful command. You and Command Sgt. Maj. Morgan accomplished a lot during your tenure as the commander of the 3rd Battalion.”
Welcoming the incoming commander, Friloux said, “Welcome to command. You and Leigh, it’s a partnership, and you’ve got to do it together. There’s a lot of expectation, especially with your upcoming mission, but I know you’re the man for the job.”
In a time-honored tradition known as the passing of the organizational colors, Fritts received the battalion colors from Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Morgan, the outgoing battalion command sergeant major, and then passed them to Friloux, symbolizing his relinquishment of command. Friloux then passed the colors to O’Brien, marking the beginning of his command.
“Command is both a tremendous responsibility and a profound privilege, and I did not take the charge lightly,” said Fritts in his final address as battalion commander. “Thank you for having faith in me. I’m eternally grateful for having been able to serve you and our great Soldiers. Today marks a bittersweet moment for me as I stand before the command teams representing the 3-156th Infantry Battalion to bid farewell as a battalion commander.”
Fritts and Morgan were each presented with the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of their dedication and service to the 3-156th.
