Passing the colors: Inigo gives final salute to 103rd Troop Command Soldiers
KALAELOA, Hawaii - Col. Phoebe P. Inigo relinquished command of the 103rd Troop Command to Col. Byron Cadiz during a ceremony presided over by Brig. Gen. Ronald D. Hogsten, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard.
Inigo’s 22 months in command included responses to natural disasters, federal mobilizations and training with international partners. As she passed the unit’s colors to Cadiz, she reflected on an organization that helped shape her military career and the Soldiers who continued to answer the call at home and abroad.
“This organization has been more than an assignment or a position,” Inigo said. “It has been a place where I grew from a super kolohe Pvt. Inigo, into the small-kine kolohe officer and commander standing before you today.”
Inigo reached 30 years of military service, including 23 years within the 103rd Troop Command. She credited the leaders, Soldiers, families and colleagues who helped shape her approach to command.
“The way I approached command was never created in isolation,” Inigo said. “It reflects the lessons I learned, the standards I observed, the examples I followed, and yes, a little zest from many of the leaders gathered here today.”
A demanding operational tempo tested that leadership. During Inigo’s tenure, the 103rd Troop Command supported more than 40 National Guard civil support missions, responding to wildfires, hurricanes, severe weather and the Kona low storms that caused flooding across the islands.
“For the Kona low response, Col. Inigo and I were in [Washington] D.C. We actually returned a couple of days earlier, knowing that the storm was coming and that we would be putting [the task force] into action," Hogsten said. "We stood up the joint task force. I turned immediately over and looked at Colonel Inigo and said, ‘Hey, you’re going to be my chief of staff.’”
The command’s work extended beyond emergency response. 103rd Troop Command Soldiers participated in exercises in Japan and Singapore, and supported state partnership activities with the Philippines and Indonesia. Those efforts strengthened relationships with regional partners and provided opportunities to train together.
“But the true measure of command is not only found in metrics, mobilizations, equipment readiness, or the number of missions completed,” Hogsten said. “It’s found in the people — Soldiers who are better trained, better led, more confident because of the example of their commander.”
As the ceremony turned toward the command’s next chapter, Inigo expressed confidence in Cadiz, her longtime friend and fellow ROTC classmate.
“Phoebe, congratulations on a successful command and leaving me a well-oiled machine that’s hitting on all cylinders,” Cadiz said, acknowledging Inigo’s leadership as he assumed command of the 103rd Troop Command.
Headquartered in Pearl City, the 103rd Troop Command consists of a headquarters element, companies and detachments spread across the Hawaiian Islands. Its diverse mission set includes aviation, engineering, public affairs, firefighting and logistical support, enabling the command to respond to emergencies across the state while maintaining readiness for federal mobilizations and overseas operations. Through these missions, the command supports Hawaii’s communities while preparing its Soldiers to serve alongside joint and international partners throughout the region.
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