Col. Vernon Scarborough, the commander of the 17th Sustainment Brigade, center, passes the colors of 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry, to Lt. Col. Michael Peyerl, the incoming commander of the 1-221st, left, on Sunday in North las Vegas. The passing of the colors is a tradition that symbolizes Scarborough entrusting Peyerl with the command previously held by Lt. Col. Michael Glynn, right.
LAS VEGAS — Classmates from the University of Nevada, Reno’s, ROTC program were on center stage at the Floyd Edsall Training Center on Sunday when Lt. Col. Michael Peyerl succeeded Lt. Col. Michael Glynn as the commander of the Nevada Army Guard’s 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry.
The squadron is the largest combat arms unit in the Nevada Army Guard with more than 525 Soldiers.
Peyerl, 41, a Churchill County High School graduate, and Glynn, 40, have been acquaintances since their paths first crossed in the UNR ROTC program in the mid-1990s.
“Soldiers of the Wildhorse Squadron, you are capable of accomplishing any mission and defeating any enemy in combat,” said Peyerl after assuming command of the squadron in a ceremony that featured traditional cavalry Soldiers mounted on horses. “I’m proud to be part of the Wildhorse history and the camaraderie that’s associated with the squadron.”
The 1-221st is an armored reconnaissance squadron designed to support a heavy brigade combat team or respond to domestic emergencies. It is also the only National Guard cavalry squadron incorporated into an active duty unit. The 1-221st is one of the squadrons that helps comprise the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.
Peyerl, a Reno resident, joined the Nevada National Guard in 2005 after a 10-year stint on active duty. His military resume includes time as a platoon leader and executive officer for an armor unit while on active duty and he has served as the Nevada Army Guard’s recruitment and retention commander and director of personnel. He deployed with the 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion in 2011-2012 to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Before the change of command ceremony, Glynn, who lives in Dayton, received the Order of St. George award and was added into the honorary rolls of the 11th ACR.
In 1986, the United States Armor Association started its Order of Saint George award program and named it after the patron of mounted warriors, Saint George. Only Soldiers in the Army’s mounted force are eligible for the award.
Glynn said the squadron will be very successful during Peyerl’s command.
“He is the right Soldier at the right time to take the squadron to its next level,” Glynn said.
Nevada Army Guard commander Brig. Gen. Michael Hanifan said the challenging training standards established by previous cav commanders will continue.
“Lt. Col. Peyerl really knows and understands cavalry tactics and operations,” Hanifan said. “He will do a fantastic job, just as he’s done in each of his previous positions.”