FORT BENNING, Ga., (July 1, 2015) -- On the fourth and final day of the 2015 Ranger Rendezvous, Col. Christopher S. Vanek, 18th regimental commanding officer, handed the reins of the regiment to Col. Marcus S. Evans.
Evans returns to the regiment after a two-year absence; his last position was as commander of 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, from 2011 to 2013.
"My Family and I are truly blessed and humbled to lead this organization," Evans said.
Evans received his Infantry commission through ROTC in 1994 and served as a platoon leader and staff officer with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Later, he served with 2nd Ranger Battalion out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, as the battalion assistant operations officer from 2002 to 2004.
Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College in 2005, Evans returned to the regiment and served at 1st Battalion as the battalion liaison officer, operations officer and executive officer. He later transferred to the Regimental Headquarters as the regimental operations officer.
"There is no greater privilege than commanding the 75th Ranger Regiment. Even more so when it is at war," Vanek said as he addressed the audience. "Rangers, it has been an honor to serve with and for you. You are getting no finer officer than Col. Marcus Evans.'
Though the ceremony served as a platform to recognize the incoming and outgoing regimental commander, each speaker commended the exceptional performance of the Rangers in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
"It's hard to overstate the impact the 75th Ranger Regiment has had. The Regiment continues to be the standard bearer for our Army," said Lt. Gen. Raymond A. Thomas, former 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment commander and Distinguished Honorary Member of the Regiment. "This regiment has been in continuous combat since Oct. 19, 2001. Think about it, there are members in this formation who were five to seven years old when this war began."
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