MADISON — The Wisconsin Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion (RRB) announced the transition of leadership from Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) Shannon Hellenbrand to Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) Jesse Augustine. The formal change of command ceremony occurred on October 18, marking a milestone in the Battalion’s history as it continues its mission of recruiting and training the next generation of soldiers and supporting the retention of current soldiers for the state of Wisconsin.
The RRB’s senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Chris Beron also transitioned responsibility to new CSM Alex Quade.
Honoring LTC Shannon Hellenbrand’s Legacy
After 26 years of service, Lt. Col. Shannon Hellenbrand is retiring from the Wisconsin Army National Guard. She has been serving as commander of the RRB since 2022.
Under her leadership, the RRB exceeded its 2024 recruiting target, marking the first time in seven years the RRB team has met its recruitment objective. This comes amid the national challenges of workforce shortages, a competitive job market and lower propensity of young adults to serve their country.
Surrounded by family and friends, Lt. Col. Shannon Hellenbrand spoke about the leadership and mentorship role she embraced to help rebuild the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s recruiting team after years of missed targets. She emphasized the importance of fostering a collaborative and supportive environment: “We focused heavily on our leaders — selecting the right people — then developing and empowering them to build their teams and hone their profession. With members of our force assigned all over the state, communication was crucial to helping them not just understand our mission but also build the confidence and resilience needed to overcome the challenges we faced. By encouraging continuous growth and creating a team-oriented culture, we were able to turn things around. Seeing their hard work result in meeting our recruitment target for the first time in seven years was one of my proudest moments as a leader.”
In her farewell remarks, Lt. Col. Hellenbrand expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishments and confidence in its future under new leadership. “It has been an honor to lead such a dedicated and resilient team. I know that Lt. Col. Augustine will continue to drive the Battalion forward, and I am excited to see how this unit will evolve under his command,” she said.
Welcoming LTC Jesse Augustine
Lt. Col. Jesse Augustine steps into the role of commander with a wealth of experience and a shared dedication to the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s mission. A veteran of multiple deployments, Lt. Col. Augustine brings a proven track record of leadership, operational expertise, and a deep commitment to both recruitment and retention efforts. Most recently, he served as commander 173D Brigade Engineer Battalion, where he was instrumental in the units COVID-19 and State Active Duty Mission as well as training and readiness in preparation for a major rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center.
“Taking command of the Recruiting and Retention Brigade is a tremendous privilege,” said Lt. Col. Augustine. “Lt. Col. Hellenbrand has set the bar high by instilling a long-term vision and commitment within the team and empowering them to navigate a tough recruiting climate with persistence and adaptability.”