LANDSTUHL, Germany -- The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Troop Command held a change of responsibility ceremony on Sept. 21 symbolizing a transfer of duty and accountability of the unit from Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Laragione to the new senior enlisted Soldier, Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Forker.

Laragione departs LRMC for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., where he will assume responsibility as the command sergeant major at Madigan Army Medical Center.

During the ceremony that was held outside of the LRMC headquarters building, Laragione not only thanked his family and a variety of staff members he worked with during his time at LRMC, he also shared his philosophy on leader development -- one of his top priorities.

"We all have an obligation to develop those we lead," said Laragione. "We must do it more intentionally; we need to make it a priority."

Lt. Col. Stephanie Sido, LRMC Troop Command commander, highlighted Laragione's leadership qualities and dedication to leader development during the ceremony.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Laragione set the example every day in words and actions," said Sido. "Whether it was a [physical readiness training] session, ensuring the Soldiers had opportunities to attend schools or just taking time to talk to a Soldier in the hall, you left your mark on Landstuhl."

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Laragione joined the Army in the mid-1990s and graduated from advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas as a combat medic. He served in a number of leadership positions at a variety of international locations to include Sato Cano Air Base, Honduras, Camp Zama, Japan and a previous tour at LRMC. Laragione's deployments include Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After serving a total of eight years at LRMC, spread over two separate tours to Germany, Laragione emphasized LRMC's commitment to leadership development.

"Of those I personally worked with here, five went on to become general officers, 12 became sergeants major, and there were countless teammates who became colonels, lieutenant colonels, master sergeants and first sergeants," said Laragione. "This is truly a unique organization that creates leaders."

Following in Laragione's footsteps, Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Forker assumed responsibility for the LRMC Troop Command after serving as the operations sergeant major with the 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Forker's relocation to LRMC is his second assignment in Germany; he served as an operations non-commissioned officer at the 30th Medical Command (Deployment Support) in Heidelberg. In his first official address as the Troop Command command sergeant major, Forker repeated Laragione's sentiments on organizational development.

"We are in the business of people and relationships," said Forker. "You are all a part of a legacy that makes Landstuhl a premiere medical facility in our Army. Be the legacy, but more importantly, build a legacy."

Troop Command is responsible for command and control, training and development, administration and overall health and morale support to Soldiers assigned to LRMC and their families.