Glynn ‘humbled’ to take command of 1/221st Cavalry
Sgt. 1st Class Frank Marquez, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
LAS VEGAS – Lt. Col. Michael Glynn assumed command of 1/221st Cavalry during a change of command ceremony here at the Clark County Armory on June 3.
Glynn took over from Lt. Col. Kurt Neddenriep, who served as the unit’s commander since Sept. 10, 2010, and served as the organization’s executive officer during its mobilization to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009-2010.
Neddenriep is retiring after 23 years in the Nevada National Guard.
During the ceremony, Glynn said he is proud of the opportunity to take command of such an outstanding unit and will ensure the unit’s continued success.
“This is the best unit in the Nevada Army National Guard. It has a good reputation and storied history. I am honored to begin command of this unit. I am very proud to have this opportunity,” Glynn said. “I’m filling some big shoes for Lt. Col. Kurt Neddenriep, but this unit has historically grown good officers. I am humbled to join their ranks.”
Glynn now commands about 520 Soldiers. The unit was designated the 1st Squadron, 221st Armored Reconnaissance Cavalry in September 2009, with India, Kilo, Headquarters Troops and the 777th Forward Support Company located in Las Vegas, and Lima Troop in Yerington. The unit is comprised primarily of armored scouts and employs M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, M120 Mortar Guns and M1151 Armored Humvees.
Glynn has served as the unit’s personnel officer, assistant operations officer, troop commander and civil-military operations officer. He also has served as the battalion executive officer for the 991st Troop Command, the state mobilization officer, and the state training officer with Nevada Army National Guard operations.
Glynn is a graduate of Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advance Course, Combined Arms Services and Staff School, and Intermediate Level Education Common Core and Advanced Operations Course. He also holds a bachelors degree in Spanish from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Nevada National Guard Army Commander, Brig. Gen. Frank Gonzales, hosted the ceremony which was attended by Col. Antonio Arguto, the commander for the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the parent unit of the 1/221st.
The 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry is currently Nevada’s only combat arms unit. In 1995, the unit was aligned to round-out the 11th ACR. In 1997, the National Guard Bureau re-designated the unit as the 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry.
The squadron trains for operations at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., while preparing for deployment, and combat employment as the reconnaissance squadron of the 11th ACR.
In March 2010, the squadron returned from a yearlong Afghanistan deployment where it conducted combat operations in 13 provinces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The 221st Cavalry was the only National Guard squadron to be certified as opposing forces for the NTC. The squadron became the first unit to fight alongside the storied 11th Cavalry in an active duty NTC rotation. The squadron earned the coveted Hamby First Class Award in 1998. In 2006, the squadron completed a successful 22-month deployment at the NTC as the 60th Brigade Tactical Group where it portrayed an opposing force.