Col. Kyle E. Lear, a soldier who has spent half his Army career at Fort Benning, is the new commander of the Ranger Training Brigade.
Lear assumed command of the brigade today from Col. John King II during a ceremony at Victory Pond. The brigade trains elite soldiers into leaders during a grueling nine-week course. They can execute diverse missions in a variety of challenges on difficult terrain.
The new commander said he’s thrilled to be back at Fort Benning. “I was absolutely thrilled when I learned we had been selected to come back to the RTB,” said Lear who formerly served with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning and its staff. “We are extremely blessed. We are very happy to be back with the Fort Benning community.”
In his new job, Lear said there won’t be any changes in the brigade that will continue to produce the best small unit combat leaders the Army can produce.
“The quality of this unit has got to be the noncommisisoned officers,” Lear said. “They are the heart and soul of the Ranger Training Brigade.”
While the budgets of the Army and other joint forces are under scrutiny for possible cuts, Lear said he thinks the Army values the mission of the Ranger School. “I know we will have the resources we need to continue to produce the best small unit leaders,” he said.
COL Lear’s Biography
COL Kyle E. Lear is a 1989 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Geography. After completing the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course and the Ranger Course, COL Lear was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California. There, he served as a rifle platoon leader and the battalion support platoon leader from February 1990 to February 1992. COL Lear then moved to Fort Lewis, Washington and served as a rifle platoon leader with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment until October 1993.
After graduating from the Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course, COL Lear attended the Bradley Leader’s Course and reported to Korea in July 1994, where he served as the S-3 Air of the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry until April 1995. COL Lear took command of A/1-506 IN (AASLT) in April 1995 and commanded until April 1996. He then departed Korea for 3d Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, GA and served as the Assistant S-3 from May 1996 until March 1998.
COL Lear commanded B Company, 3d Ranger Battalion, from March 1998 until September 1999. Following command, COL Lear served on the 75th Ranger Regiment Staff in the Operations Section, as a Regimental Liaison Officer and as the Regiment’s Air Operations Officer from October 1999 until June of 2000. He attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas June 2000 to May 2001, and then PCSed to Alaska in summer of 2001. COL Lear served as the United States Army Alaska (USARAK) G3 Assistant Operations Officer, from June 2001 to May 2002. COL Lear then served as the Operations Officer, 1st Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment from May 2002 until June 2003, and then as the Battalion and Task Force Executive Officer from June 2003 to July 2004. COL Lear then rejoined the 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served as the Regimental Strategic Plans and Requirements Officer (RS8) from August 2004 to April 2007. COL Lear took command of the 5th Ranger Training Battalion at Dahlonega, Ga., in July 2007, and commanded it until July 2009. Following his battalion command, COL Lear was assigned as the Deputy Commander of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy. On 25 March 2011, he was assigned as the Brigade Commander.
COL Lear’s civilian education consists of: a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Science and Arts degree in General Administration from Central Michigan University.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (5 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), National Defense Service Medal (2), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4), NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for the 173rd’s actions during OEF X.
