The General thanked LTC Topper for his professional commitment to NATO and his outstanding leadership of the 2NSB, saying:
Your constant focus on the operational, training and logistical aspects as well as the procedures put in place during the last three years supported my intent and tasks at all times.
The Change of Command ceremony, Naples, Italy, June 15, 2022, Major General Frank Schlösser, DCOS Cyberspace/COM NCISG.
Next, General Schlösser gave a warm welcome to LTC Schneller,
I am quite sure you will face several new challenges such as an implementation of new deployable capabilities within the NCISG. I am convinced that the command of 2nd NSB will continue to be a very interesting but also challenging task for you.
Lieutenant Colonel Carmine SQUEGLIA, 2NSB Deputy Commander, was the commander of troops for the ceremony, while Command Sergeant Major Gary D. OLIVER Sr., the 2NSB Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL), was the honour guard sergeant.
The Change of Command ceremony, Naples, Italy, June 15, 2022, in the middle: Lieutenant Colonel Carmine SQUEGLIA, 2NSB Deputy Commander.
Command Sergeant Major Oliver passed the colours to the outgoing Commander Lieutenant Colonel Topper, who passed them to the NCISG Commander, symbolizing that his duties were completed and he was returning them to his Commander.
The Change of Command ceremony, Naples, Italy, June 15, 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Topper, 2NSB Commander.
Major General Schlösser then passed them to the incoming Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Schneller signifying the transfer of command. Finally, Lieutenant Colonel Schneller passed the colours back to Command Sergeant Major Oliver who, as the Battalion CSEL, accepted the responsibility for their care and safeguarding.
The Change of Command ceremony, Naples, Italy, June 15, 2022, second of the left: Major General Frank Schlösser, DCOS Cyberspace/COM NCISG; third of the left: Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Schneller, new 2NSB Commander.
The Change of Command ceremony, Naples, Italy, June 15, 2022, from the left: Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Schneller, new 2NSB Commander; Major General Frank Schlösser, DCOS Cyberspace/COM NCISG; Lieutenant Colonel Robert Topper, Former 2NSB Commander.
The ceremony of passing the colours signifies the transfer of command and responsibility from one commander to another.
The unit participating in the ceremony were a representation of the 390 NATO service members from Battalion headquarters, each of the six Deployable Communications Modules (DCM), the maintenance and support company that are located in Italy, Romania and Bulgaria. It comprised of nine nations in total.