Hands relinquishes command of 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Lt. Col. Sergio Hands relinquished command of 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry, to Lt. Col. Joshua Schatzman during a ceremony at the Rio Rancho Readiness Center today.

Col. Michelle Jaramillo, Commander of the 93rd Troop Command, presided over the change of command.

“It has been my great privilege to serve alongside Lieutenant Colonel Hands, a commander whose professionalism, competence, and commitment to Soldier readiness have set the standard of excellence across the 93rd Brigade,” she said. “Simply put, he is one of the finest warfighters our state has to offer.”

“The 200th led the way. You were part of something special. You did your thing, and you did it exceptionally well,” Hands told the Soldiers standing in formation. “Thank you for your sacrifice, dedication, and commitment to our team and our mission over the last three years.”

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Both Jaramillo and Hands remarked how the battalion recently returned from an overseas deployment to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. While deployed, the battalion absorbed other units and became Task Force Bataan under the command of the Oregon Army National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Task Force Bataan consisted of approximately 1,100 Soldiers.

Col. Paul Dyer, Commander of the 41st IBCT, and Lt. Col. Nicholas Connelly, the brigade’s Operations Officer, attended today’s ceremony.

Hands’s wife Diana was unable to attend. Staff Sgt. Emily Valdez presented her gift of red roses to daughter Abby.

Hands is scheduled to attend the War College and assume duties as the Inactive Duty Training (IDT) Operations (G-3) Officer at Joint Forces Headquarters – New Mexico in Santa Fe when he returns.

In his full-time career, Hands is an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol.

Schatzman is on Active Guard Reserve status. He is the Deputy Operations Officer at JFHQ-NM, a position he will continue to hold while serving concurrently as battalion commander. He previously served as the Executive Officer at the 93rd, working for Jaramillo.

Jaramillo said, “Josh, you are an officer that never stops preparing with unmatched mastery of knowledge and an expert in the details of doctrine. The Soldiers and leaders of the 1-200 Infantry Battalion are ready to have you on board as a leader and mentor and to continue the course that Lieutenant Colonel Hands has set them on.”

During his short speech, Schatzman said, “I’m humbled. I’m proud.”

In closing, he quoted the late U.S. Air Force Col. John Boyd: “People, ideas, things – in that order.” Boyd was a fighter pilot and military strategist.

Staff Sgt. Samuel Bullion presented Schatzman’s wife Sarah with a bouquet of yellow roses to welcome her to the battalion family.

Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Carper, the NMNG’s Deputy Adjutant General and Land Component Commander; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Charles Boehler, the Command Chief Warrant Officer, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Poccia, the State Command Sergeant Major, were among senior leaders in attendance.

Maj. Michael Hansen, the outgoing Task Force Executive Officer, served as master of ceremonies.

Staff Sgt. David Sanchez provided the invocation and benediction.