Fort Stewart’s Warrior Transition Battalion has a new commander. Following a change of command ceremony at Marne Garden Friday, Lt. Col. Rosemarie Deck took command from Lt. Col. William Reitemeyer, who had commanded the unit for 29 months.

The ceremony began when Command Sgt. Maj. James King, WTB command sergeant major, presented the unit’s colors to outgoing commander Reitemeyer who in turn presented the colors to Col. Ronald Place, commander of Winn Army Community Hospital and Medical and Dental Activity Command for Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield.

Place then presented the colors to Deck, signifying that she is the new commander. Deck then passed the colors back to King.
In his remarks, Place commended Reitemeyer for his accomplishments as WTB commander, specifically pointing out the unit’s safety record and sports program for wound warriors. He welcomed Deck, reminding her and guests she was hand-picked for the responsibility.

Reitemeyer thanked a long list of those he said made his job easy, including his cadre and health care providers, Col. Christopher Hughes, 3rd Infantry Division deputy commanding general-maneuver. He had special thanks and praise to his wife Michelle for her support and for being a fulltime wife and mother who home schools their six children.

Deck characterized her new assignment as a “great adventure” and told cadre members she was looking forward to the challenges ahead.

According to information handout at the ceremony, warrior transition battalions were established by the Army in 2007 to meet the needs of a growing number of active duty, Reserve or National Guard soldiers injured or wounded while serving this country.

The mission of a WTB is to provide wounded warriors a place where they can get the best medical assessment and highest level of outpatient care so they can return to duty or transition back into civilian life.