GMC News
Purvis takes over for Hallam at helm of ROTC department
Purvis takes over for Hallam at helm of ROTC department
(Milledgeville) – A Change of Command ceremony Monday marked a shift in leadership in the Senior ROTC department at Georgia Military College, with Lt. Col. Rob Purvis taking over as Battalion Commander of the Old Capitol Guard battalion, replacing Lt. Col. Jay Hallam, who has transferred to Stuttgart, Germany.
鈥淚t is a great opportunity for me to provide the army with future officers,鈥� said Purvis. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always a challenge, moving into a new job and trying to figure it out, but Col. Hallam has left me a great program. I think we鈥檙e going to do well.鈥�
Purvis and his wife Michele have two children, Kaitie and Kyle.
Purvis began his military career in 1991 when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Armor from Virginia Tech. From that point, Purvis was stationed all over the world, from Ft. Benning, Ga., to Ft. Hood, Texas, to a seven-month deployment in Bosnia-Herzegovinia.
A decorated soldier, Purvis has earned nearly 20 awards and decorations over his 18-year career. He said it is his career as a whole that has prepared him for this assignment.
鈥淭his is definitely a new thing for me, and I don鈥檛 think any specific point in my career has prepared me for it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚nstead, I believe it is the all-around experiences I have had, the places I鈥檝e been, and the people I鈥檝e met that have prepared me.鈥�
Hallam took the helm of the GMC JC ROTC department in 2006. Before his time at Georgia Military, he was stationed in locales such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia-Herzegovinia, and Ft. Leavenworth.
He said his stay of three years at GMC was the longest of his career.
鈥淭hree years is a long time to stay one place in the army,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the great things about the army 鈥� you get to do something different all the time. I鈥檝e done this job the longest.鈥�
Hallam, along with his wife Paula and his two daughters, Rachel and Sara, now move on to Stuttgart, Germany. Hallam鈥檚 new assignment is EUCOM HQs. He is excited about the opportunity, but he is saddened by his departure from GMC.
鈥淭here is an excitement of moving on and doing something new, but there鈥檚 also a sadness of giving the reigns to someone else,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut [Col. Purvis] is a great guy. He is a qualified combat veteran and an expert trainer. I know the unit is in good hands.鈥�
And those hands are read to get started.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy to be here,鈥� Purvis said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working with Georgia Military College and Milledgeville. Let鈥檚 go.鈥�
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Ross Couch
Media Relations
Georgia Military College
(478) 387-4714
GMC ext: 24714
rcouch@gmc.cc.ga.us
Photos by Janeen Garpow and Ross Couch
