TORRINGTON, Wyo. – Soldiers of B Company, 960th Brigade Support Battalion, said their goodbyes and welcomed aboard new leadership, during a change of command ceremony at the Army National Guard readiness center, in Torrington, Wyo., Aug. 17.

Capt. Benjamin Josephson, of Newcastle, Wyo., took over command of the maintenance unit from Capt. Robert Rickgauer, of Casper, Wyo., who has been responsible for Bravo Company for the last two years.

His new position brings Josephson full circle with Bravo Company, as the unit was his first assignment as an officer. After completing Officer Candidate School, Josephson was posted as a platoon leader for, what was then known as the 960th Maintenance Support Company’s 2nd Platoon. Eventually he served as the executive officer and the maintenance control officer for the unit, before leaving to deploy to Kuwait in 2009 with the 960th’s A Company.

Josephson said he is thankful for the serendipitous turn of events.

“It’s great to be back with the unit I planted my roots in,” he said. “(I get to see) some of those roots that have grown.”
Only a handful of soldiers are still with the unit from Josephson’s first experience, and the incoming commander said he is looking forward to the opportunity to lead new and old Bravo Company members.

“I would like to see us really dive back into developing our skills as a maintenance company,” said Josephson, who is originally from Madison, Wis. “With the deployment and some of the transitions we’ve gone through, some of the opportunities to continue to develop those skills have been few and far between. As a result, we’ve had a lot of soldiers and a lot of experience leave the unit. The biggest core task through this next transition is to develop those maintenance skills back up.”

The farewell was bittersweet for Rickgauer, as he said goodbye to the soldiers he had come to consider family.

“This is a close knit community,” Rickgauer explained after the ceremony, where he was presented with sentimental gifts and plaques from the unit. “This is my family. That’s what I love most about this unit… it’s very rare that you get (this many) personnel who are this close to each other.”

Bravo Company is made up of more than 60 soldiers, all of whom made their mark on the outgoing commander.

“I’ve learned as much from them – from this unit and each and every soldier and (noncommissioned officer) – as they’ve learned from me,” Rickgauer said. “I really feel I’ve been a successful commander, based off of the leadership and the things we’ve been able to develop here.”

Rickgauer will next serve as the support operations officer for the 960th, as well as continuing his full time job as officer in charge for the battalion.

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