Col. Johnson passes ASB colors to Col. Rado, who calls Knox home

By BRIAN LEPLEY
U.S. Army Accessions Command
In 2002, Col. Mark Rado was the second person ever assigned to U.S. Army Accessions Command.
Less than one month before USAAC is inactivated, he returns to command one of its subordinate units, the Accessions Support Brigade.
Col. Fred Johnson passed command of ASB to Col. Rado at the Fort Knox gazebo Friday in a ceremony presided over by Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, U.S. Army Accessions Command and Fort Knox commanding general.
Col. Rado returns to Fort Knox for the fifth time and his sixth assignment.
“I’m thrilled to be coming home to Fort Knox,” he said. “I often joke that Knox is as much home to me as New York is, except that the Yankees don’t play here.”
Col. Rado’s last assignment here was also as commander, in 2003 at the 46th AG Battalion (Reception). Maj. Rado had been executive officer of the 46th from 1999-2001. At that time he moved to U.S. Army Recruiting Command as the XO to the commanding general, Maj. Gen. Dennis Cavin.
When Lt. Gen. Cavin stood up Accessions Command at Fort Monroe in 2002, Lt. Col. Rado went with the CG, now as his aide.
“I was lucky to be there when we stood up U.S. Army Accessions Command and will be saddened to be part of the inactivation of this magnificent organization,” Col. Rado said. “As the song goes, the Army goes rolling along and I’m confident that this great team of professionals will support the decisions of the Army’s senior leaders and pave the way for continued mission accomplishment of any and all assigned missions.”
After the upcoming inactivation of Army Accessions Command, ASB will report to a new organization based at the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
Col. Johnson departs for a one-year assignment as the senior adviser to the Chief of the General Staff, Afghanistan National Army. His Family will remain at Fort Knox.
“If you’re unsure of what soft drink you want to buy, you can do a taste test and in a couple minutes determine which one you like. But how does someone make a significant change of lifestyle choice like joining the Army?” Col. Johnson said. “How does one taste test or test drive the Army? Through the men and women of the Accessions Support Brigade.”
Whether it was the travelling mobile exhibits, the Golden Knights, or the Army Markmanship Unit, “we connected America’s people to America’s Army,” said Col. Johnson.
Col. Rado returns to Fort Knox from a two-year assignment as Chief of the Officer Division, Directorate of Military Personnel Management, Army G1.
“This is a dream come true for me; it’s the brigade I always wanted to command since my assignment to USAREC in 2001,” Col. Rado said. “The ASB is a great team of Soldiers, civilians and contractors. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them on this vitally important mission.” 
Commissioned an armor officer in 1986, he joined the adjutant general corps in 1991.

Photo by Stephen Moore/Fort Knox Photo Lab

COL. MARK RADO, SECOND FROM LEFT, ACCEPTED THE ACCESSIONS SUPPORT BRIGADE GUIDON from Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, U.S. Army Accessions Command and Fort Knox commanding general, at the ASB change of command ceremony Friday. Outgoing commander Col. Fred Johnson is at right with ASB Command Sgt. Maj. Tory Hendrieth to the left of Col. Rado.