'Wings of Freedom' welcomes new leader

By Russell Sellers, Army Flier StaffMay 5, 2011

'Wings of Freedom' welcomes new leader
Lt. Col. Ronald L. Ells, 1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt. commander, accepts the unit colors from Col. Russ Stinger, 110th Avn. Bde. commander, during a change of command ceremony at Howze Field April 28. Ells replaces outgoing commander Lt. Col. Michael F.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment greeted their new commander during a change of command ceremony at Howze Field April 28.

Lt. Col. Ronald L. Ells took over command from Lt. Col. Michael F. Burns III who commanded the unit since 2009.

Ells said he was honored and humbled to be able to return to a unit he previously served in. Ells was the battalion executive officer for the unit from 2005-2007.

"The honor of assuming command of a battalion is an awesome and humbling experience," he said. "Almost 23 years ago, a scrawny private climbed out of a cattle car at Fort Benning, Ga., and was abruptly introduced to an infantry drill sergeant and taught what it meant to be a Soldier. If (someone) would have told (me) that (I) would be an Aviation Battalion commander, (I) would have said 'you're crazy.'"

Ells' previous assignment was as the Directorate of Training and Doctrine Tactics Division chief here. He assumed that position in August.

Col. Russ Stinger, 110th Aviation Brigade commander, described Ells as a capable leader and said he expects him to accomplish many great things as the commander.

"The battalion will continue to perform magnificently under Ells' leadership," he said. "As a returning member of the (1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt.) he has a good idea of what he is inheriting, but the road ahead will be challenging. However, no matter how difficult the mission may become, I have no doubt (Ells) and the battalion will succeed."

Stinger continued by acknowledging the accomplishments of the battalion under the guidance of its outgoing leader, Burns. The elimination of the advanced aircraft training backlog is something Stinger said Burns and the unit should be proud of.

"When we started this mission over two years ago, there were over 300 students waiting as long as 24 weeks to start training on their advanced aircraft," Stinger said. "Now, there are no students in waiting. It hasn't been easy and it hasn't been done by doing things the way they've always been done. It's taken changes to how we train, how long we train, how many students we train and how hard we work."

Stinger wished Burns luck in his next assignment at Fort Hood, Texas, and his upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

Burns reflected on his time as the unit commander and said he will always remember the level of support he received from the Soldiers and staff of Fort Rucker.

"The Soldiers on the field today, department of the Army civilians, officers, contractors and foreign officers assigned to the 1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt., are the reason for our success," he said. "I'm humbled and honored to have had the opportunity to serve with them."