Legacy person of the quarter

[admin]

3rd BDE “Rakkasan” Commander and CSM have been selected as our Legacy person of the quarter...


(COL Wiercinski and CSM Savusa at TF Rakkasan in Afghanistan)

[admin]

Colonel Frank Wiercinski is a 1979 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of command and staff positions in Light Infantry, Air-Assault, Airborne, and Ranger units.

Upon graduating from the Military Academy, his first tour of duty was with the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. There he served as a Rifle and Scout Platoon leader, Battalion S1, and as a Rifle Company Commander with the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry participating in multiple off-island deployments to the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Following a tour as an Infantry Assignments Officer with the US Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, Virginia, COL Wiercinski was assigned to the 3d Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Benning, Georgia. During his tour with the Rangers, he served as a Battalion S1, commanded his second Rifle Company, and served as an Assistant S3 / LNO. In December of 1989, while a Company Commander with the Ranger Battalion, he participated in the night combat parachute assault onto Rio Hato Airfield and subsequent follow-on combat operations in the Republic of Panama during Operation “Just Cause”.

Upon graduating from the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, COL Wiercinski was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air-Assault). While at Ft. Campbell, he served as a Battalion S3 for the 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry, the Brigade S3 for the 3d Brigade “Rakkasans”, and as the Deputy G3 for the Division.

From June of 1995 to June 1997, COL Wiercinski commanded the 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp James E. Rudder, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 6th Battalion is the third and final phase of the US Army’s Ranger School.

Following graduation from the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, COL Wiercinski served as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Army’s elite 75th Ranger Regiment, at Ft. Benning, GA, from July 1998 until June 1999. From July 1999 until August 2000, he served as the G3, Chief of Operations, Plans and Training, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT). In August 2000, COL Wiercinski assumed his current position of Commander, 3rd Infantry Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT).

In addition to graduating from branch qualification courses, the Command and General Staff College, and the Senior Service College, COL Wiercinski is also a graduate of the US Army’s Airborne, Jumpmaster, and Ranger Schools. Some of his awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Arrowhead, the Master Parachutist Badge with Bronze Combat Jump Star, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the US Army Ranger Tab. Most recently, he was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

COL Wiercinski is a Lifetime member in the Fort Campbell Historical Foundation and has purchased several bricks to be placed in the new museums “Pathway of Legends”. He is a supporter of this endeavor and has certainly led the Rakkasans to earn another great place in history.

Mrs. Jeanine Wiercinski, wife of COL Wiercinski, has been a great supporter to Fort Campbell and the spouses of deployed soldiers. We have attended many functions where Mrs. Wiercinski received awards for her dedication and commitment to ensuring spouse needs were taken care of. Her selfless service is a true asset to the military and surrounding communities. We want to personally thank her and the ladies that worked so closely with her during this time. Without the leadership of these ladies and others like them, the rear detachment and spouse support chain would not have been so successful. Thank you all and we look forward to the return of our “RAKKASANS”.

[admin]

Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Iuniasolua Tului Savusa assumed the position as CSM of 3rd Brigade (RAKKASAN), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) on 29 April 1999 following his duty as CSM of 1-502nd Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Fort Campbell.

CSM Savusa began his military career over twenty-six years ago on 17 June 1975. After his graduation from high school, he attended Basic Training and Advance Individual Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He holds an Associate of Arts from Kemper Military School and College and currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Human Resource Management with Baker College. He is a graduate of class 46, of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. His first duty assignment was as a rifleman and later became a machine gunner with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis Washington. In 1976 he volunteered for Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry (Ranger) at Fort Lewis and served as a Team Leaders. In 1978, he returned to the 9th Infantry Division and served as a Team Leader and Squad Leader in the Scout Platoon of 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry. In 1980 he was reassigned to the Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry (Ranger) as a Squad Leader.

In 1981, CSM Savusa was assigned to the Joint Security Force Company, United Nations Command, Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Republic of Korea, were he served as a Squad Leader and an Assistant Platoon Sergeant. In 1982, he was assigned as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

From November 1984 to December 1988, CSM Savusa served with 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He started as a Platoon Sergeant for Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry. He then moved to Headquarters, Headquarters Company, as a Scout Platoon Sergeant. He later moved to the Light Infantry Training Command and served as a Senior Instructor of the 25th Infantry Division, Air Assault School and Team Chief for the Light Fighters Course.

In 1988, he was assigned to Kemper Military School and College (Boonville Missouri), 2nd ROTC Region, Cadet Command, as an Operation Sergeant, Training NCO, and an Instructor. In 1992, he was reassigned as a First Sergeant with, Alpha Company, 5th Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. In 1995, CSM Savusa attended the United States Army, Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. Upon completion, he was reassigned to the Republic of Korea, as the Operations Sergeant Major for 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division until he was promoted to Command Sergeant Major.

In July 1997, CSM Savusa moved to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and started his tour with 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Decorations awarded to CSM Savusa include the Meritorious Service Medal (5th OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2nd OLC), Army Achievement Medal (7th OLC), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense, NCO Ribbon (4th award), Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, and Multinational Force and Observer Medal. He was awarded the Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and the Drill Sergeant Badge.

Another great wife of another great leader is Mrs. Marietta Savusa. She too has dedicated her time and energy to ensuring the spouses were well represented. We would like to personally thank her as well.