FORT HOOD — The Army’s Operational Test Command, based at Fort Hood, held a ceremony honoring the change of responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Schmidt to Command Sgt. Maj. Mario O. Terenas on Friday.

Schmidt, the outgoing top enlisted soldier in the unit, passed a noncommissioned officer’s sword to Terenas as a symbol of the transfer of authority.

Consisting of more than 200 soldiers and more than 300 Army civilians, OTC tests equipment and vehicles for the Army.

“My time here has enlightened me to the testing community and the truly Herculean efforts it undertakes daily to ensure the right equipment gets fielded into the hands of our nation’s soldiers,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt began working with OTC in February 2016 and is preparing to become the next command sergeant major of Installation Management Command-Pacific Region at Fort Shafer, Hawaii.

Terenas is eager to begin his new duties with OTC.

“I look forward to being part of the team but, above all, learning as much as I can from such an amazing group of true, committed professionals,” he said.