A Brookhaven man accepted command of the Mississippi National Guard’s largest unit on April 12, bearing the weight of 3,500 soldiers on his shoulders.

After a time-honored ceremony at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, Col. Christopher Cooksey now leads the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team. He accepted the command from Col. Michael G. Dykes of Ocean Springs. The two served in Iraq together in 2005.

Cooksey said the biggest change for him with the promotion to commander is the overall responsibility to train the soldiers and have them ready for whatever situation that may arise. He has an obligation to the soldiers’ parents and families.

“They give up their sons and daughters in the expectation that we have them ready,” he said. “Ultimately, the buck stops with me and that’s a huge weight.”

He is married to Allison, a dental hygienist, and the couple has two children, Sophia and Jackson. They live in the Hog Chain community of Lincoln County, but since the 155th is headquartered in Tupelo, he expects to travel quite a bit with the new job.

Cooksey served as a reconnaissance Marine with the Second Reconnaissance Battalion of the Second Marine Division. Later, he attended Officers Candidate School at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Georgia, commissioning in the Infantry branch. After completing initial Infantry training, he was assigned to the 155th ABCT. He has graduated several military courses including U.S. Navy Scuba School and the French Foreign Legion Jungle Commando Course and has completed several combat and operational deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Haiti and multiple other countries throughout Europe and the Middle East.

His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary medals, the Combat Infantryman’s badge, the Ranger tab, and the Parachutist badge.

The ceremony included the traditional passing of the colors, formations, and speeches, but also showcased static displays of military vehicles, battalions marching onto the parade field through smoke, the playing of bagpipes, and a demonstration by soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 98th Cavalry Regiment fast-roping onto the parade field from Black Hawk helicopters.

Cooksey welcomes this opportunity to lead the 155th.

“They’re the best soldiers in the Mississippi National Guard, and in my opinion, the United States,” he said. “I am honored to have this opportunity. We have some work to do and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”