Ranger Camp changes command

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  After a final salute to the cadre, Lt. Col. Larry Perino relinquished command of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion June 3. 

Colonel Perino leaves Camp Rudder to become the Chief of Staff of the Army's Asymmetric Warfare Group at Fort Meade, Md. The new commander, Lt. Col. Charles Seifert, continues the long tradition of camp leadership that stems back to when the camp was first established in1951. 

Col. Douglas Flohr, commander of the Ranger Training Brigade, Ft. Benning, Ga., paid tribute to the instructors who stood in formation during the ceremony. He recognized them for their leadership of the final phase of the U.S. Army Ranger School which focuses on training in a swamp environment. 

"It is the most mentally tough and wettest phase in Ranger School," he said, "and most senior leaders in the Army will agree it is the most dangerous phase as well." 

Colonel Flohr said it takes a special leader to train the soldiers at Camp Rudder and the cadre will continue to be role models for future generations of Rangers. 

"With a quiet professionalism, they deal in a precious commodity," he said. "What the students learn is that war is not necessarily a test in technology but a test of the collective will and talents of soldiers. That test has not changed since this camp was established. 

The colonel said the goal of the camp is to provide the military with as many Rangers as possible without compromising standards; to produce a Ranger who is ready to fight. The course trains more than 2500 students annually in 11 classes that are held year-round. The woodland terrain course is held at Camp Rogers and Camp Darby, Ga., and the mountain phase is at Camp Merrill, Ga. 

Col. Seifert served as a liaison officer to the Canadian Army prior to arrival here. He received his commission in 1992 and deployed with the 3d Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment immediately following Sept. 11, 2001. 

"I look forward to working with you to complete the process of producing our nation's warrior leaders, the U.S. Army Rangers," he said.