211th Regiment change of command ceremony

Photo By Orion Oettel | Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Grimes, 211th Regional Training Institute Command Sergeant Major, presents the regiments colors to Col. Lynn Pate, outgoing Regiment Commander of the 211th Regional Training Institute, during a change of command ceremony Aug. 29 2020, Camp Blanding Joint Training Center. (U.S. Army photo taken by Pvt. First Class Orion Oettel)  

STARKE, FL, UNITED STATES

08.29.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Debra Cook 

107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

STARKE, Fla. – The 211th Regiment held a change of command ceremony for Col. Lynn A. Pate who relinquished command to Lt. Col. Trevor A. DeVall at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center Aug. 29, 2020. Brig. Gen. John D. Haas, Florida National Guard Assistant Adjutant General Army presided over the ceremony.

Haas congratulated Pate for an outstanding command tour in support of the Army total force and said Pate expertly led the 211th Regiment providing unmatched institutional training in assigned career management fields, noncommissioned officer education, and officer candidate training.

Pate's relinquishment of command is in conjunction with his retirement after thirty years of military service. Haas shared many of those years in support and friendship with Pate. During the ceremony, Haas turned to Pate and said, "Lynn, you have answered every bell, served honorably, sacrificed silently and stepped aside, on your own terms. That, my friend, is a career worthy of celebrating!"

Pate credited the 211th Regiment for their tremendous jobs, saying nothing slowed them down during his command amid all the changes– even a worldwide pandemic.

"When everything shut down, what did you do? You did what this Regiment always does. In the pursuit of excellence, you figured out how to meet every quota we had. You didn't miss a single one," said Pate.

Many details go into making students successful at the RTI. They monitor each aspect of the training environment from instructors' quality to classrooms, lodging, and meals. RTI successfully transitioned almost 5,000 graduates to their next level of education during Pate's command.

"This is the finest cadre for an RTI in the National Guard without compare," said Pate.

Incoming commander, Lt. Col. Trevor A. DeVall, Commander, 1-211th Air Defense Artillery Battalion and administrative officer of the 211th RTI will now be the interim commander allowing Pate to retire.

"I have the unique advantage of coming into an organization that I have already been a part of," said DeVall, whose primary focus for the 211th Regiment is the upcoming TRADOC Accreditation.

The accreditation is a major graded event that ensures a first-class education environment. RTI has been successful in receiving accreditations consistently and awarded the title, Institution of Excellence, twenty times - 8 of which were over the last 24 months.

DeVall said, "The award is a testament to the noncommissioned officers' and officers' professionalism and excellence that make up this fine organization. I'm proud to be on this team to provide a first-class education experience with them."

• Date Taken: 08.29.2020
• Date Posted: 09.02.2020 11:02
• Story ID: 377169
• Location: STARKE, FL, US