Col. Glenn Richie looked out over the Soldiers of the 2nd Recruiting Brigade who were assembled Friday morning on Warrior Field under a hot Alabama sun. He then issued his first order as their new commander.
"Shake it out," he said, giving them a momentary reprieve from parade rest. "While my remarks are brief, you've earned it."
After their moment's respite and the audience's resulting laughter, he said: "All right, fall back in."
Richie, 44, a self-proclaimed "Hoosier" from Kokomo, Ind., succeeded Col. Rod Symons as commander of the Eagle Brigade. Symons led the unit the past two years and leaves for Afghanistan. The brigade arrived last fall from Fort Gillem, Ga., under a base realignment and closure move.
A field artillery officer, Richie returns to Recruiting Command after graduating from the Army War College. He previously commanded the Army Albany Recruiting Battalion and served as the 2nd Recruiting Brigade chief of staff.
He and his wife, Diane, a lieutenant colonel, have two children - Jessica, 19, and Brandon, 16 - and a grandson, Jayden, 10 months.
"It's just completely humbling," Richie said of assuming command. "Because you think of all the other great leaders out there, for the Army to select me and entrust me to lead these Soldiers is all very humbling."
Maj. Gen. Donald Campbell Jr., commander of the Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky., congratulated Richie and Symons for their accomplishments.
Said Symons, "I'll always be grateful for this opportunity to serve with this great outfit."
Social Sharing