A Change of Responsibility Ceremony is clear in its meaning - responsibility changes hands from one soldier to another soldier.

This morning at Carey Theater I Corps Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell handed his responsibilities over to Command Sgt. Maj. James Norman, III.

"They got John's name perfect," Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, the corps' commander, said as he looked at Troxell.

"John Wayne Troxell serves this country for real, not like you see in the movies."

Troxell will depart this fall to assume duties as the Senior Enlisted Advisor of U.S. Force - Korea.

Brown related that 100 soldiers were asked to describe Troxell in one word. 

"From private to general, we asked them to describe him, and the good news is that there were no bad words used," he continued with a chuckle.

The most used word was inspirational, followed by charismatic, fit, resolute, passionate, leader and professional.

Several individuals, however, used the two words "the best" to describe Troxell.

Those words hit the mark.

"I will continue to serve until I am told to step down," Troxell told his audience.  He went on to emphasize that getting better every day is to be embraced and complacency is to be avoided.

"We validate our credentials as NCOs by setting the example everyday," he stressed.

In closing, Troxell talked about a recent deployment to South Korea where he had the chance to visit Panmunjom.

"The North Koreans were busy taking my picture, trying to figure out who this guy was," he said.

"That's when it hit me - I am out on the point for our nation."

That's why those few soldiers who described Troxell as "the best" got it right.