Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Cox takes over local command

Lt. Col. Brad Cox has taken over command of the local National Guard, including the Tom Bussey National Guard Armory at Prescott.

Cox said hes excited about the command, but said hes also very aware of the huge responsibility the command entails.

Cox was born in Jonesboro and raised in Jacksonville. He received his bachelor of science in business administration degree at Jonesboro and his master of science degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He and his wife, Melissa, have two daughters, Allison and Jordan.

Cox said both his father and grandfather were in the military and that had at least some bearing on his decision to join. Cox said his baby brother is also in the military, serving in the U.S. Navy.

Ive got a family history with the military, Cox said.

His father served in World War II and his father in Viet Nam.

While he was still in college, Cox joined the ROTC and decided, I liked it.

Cox said he joined the military in 1988 and served at Camp Robinson. He was commissioned in 1991 through the ROTC program.

Cox was platoon leader in Sheridan and Company A executive officer.

He said he believes his involvement in the military is an opportunity to serve.

Cox said it was a series of transfers and typical steps that landed him in the position to take over the command of the local National Guard.

I was the right person for the job at the right time, he said. Its an extreme honor but its less an honor than a responsibility.

Cox said one of his biggest responsibilities is to ensure that all the men and women under his command are ready to go into any situation. He said he expects units under his command to be called to active duty for something at any time. Those assignments can range in time from a one or two-day call for disaster aid to a full tour in the Middle East.

Im responsible for all they accomplish and for their lives, he said.

Cox said another duty he takes very seriously is to provide support for families left behind when the soldiers are called to duty. He said that means hes constantly working to send out information about services available to those families.

I have to be sure that all the soldiers and all the families will have everything they need to deal with whatever mission we face, Cox said.

Cox said the fact that the National Guard is a community-based organization means the absence of those soldiers is often very difficult on families and even entire communities.

He said sometimes that effort toward preparedness seems like nothing more than a chore. He likened it to a movie called, Groundhog Day, in which Bill Murray was destined to relive a single day over and over. In the case of the soldiers, Cox said it sometimes seems like the same thing, different day.

As of the time of this interview, Cox said the soldiers under his command are on alert, but that there were no orders for deployment. Cox said the administrative staff are working to ensure that pay packets, personnel sheets and other vital information is ready - just in case those orders arrive.

While the responsibility is at the forefront of Coxs comments, he said hes ready for the challenge of the command.

My career was all focused toward this, he said. This battalion has a long history of doing great things. Its always been there for the community. Im ready.