COL Brian Mennes graduated from The United States Military Academy and
was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in May 1988.  After attending the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning GA., his first assignment was with the 7th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord, CA, where he served as a Platoon Leader, a Support Platoon Leader, Logistics Officer for the 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, and as the Detachment Executive Officer for the Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment, 107th Military Intelligence Battalion.  During his time as a platoon leader, COL Mennes deployed in support of Operation Just Cause (Panama).

       Following the completion of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort
Benning, he served as the plans officer for 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division,
and commanded Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd
Inf. Division in the Republic of Korea.  Following that Assignment the Mennes
family returned to Fort Benning, GA., and joined the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger
Regiment serving as the Battalion Adjutant, Assistant Operations Officer and
Commander of Alpha Company.  After completing the Command and General
Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, COL Mennes served as the Operations
Officer for 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, and the Brigade
Operations Officer for 325th AIR, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. 

       Still on Fort Bragg he served with the Joint Special Operations Command
deploying as a J3 Plans Officer in support of the initial invasions and for both
OEF (Afghanistan) and OIF (Iraq).  Following three deployments with JSOC
he returned to the 82nd Airborne Division as the 325th AIR Regimental
Executive Officer during OIF I (Iraq). 

       After his fourth deployment he was selected to become the Deputy Director,
and then the Director, of the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethics
at West Point.   He returned to 82nd Airborne Division where he Commanded
the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat
Team, during a 15 month deployment to Afghanistan serving as the ISAF
Commander’s Theater Tactical Force (Theater COIN Reserve).   COL Mennes
recently relinquished command of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment,
after deploying with them to both Iraq and Afghanistan. 

       COL Mennes has been awarded the Legion of Merit (2), the NATO
Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (4), Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, the Ranger Tab and the Master Parachutist Badge.

Regimental Sergeant Major

CSM William Forro

Command Sergeant Major Forro enlisted in the United States Army in October of 1987. His previous assignments include 4-27 INF, 2-5 INF, and 2-27 INF, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, 2nd ID Long Range Surveillance Detachment, Camp Hovey, Korea, 1-22 FA, Ft Sill, Oklahoma, 3-504th PIR, 2-325th AIR, 1-505th PIR, Ft Bragg, North Carolina. His previous assignment was the Battalion Command Sergeant Major of 2-325th AIR.