Lt. Col. Russell Mitscherling was commissioned in 2006 from the U.S. Air Force Academy as an Infantry Officer. Following completion of Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., he received his master’s degree from Central Michigan University.
Lt. Col. Mitscherling’s past assignments include Platoon Leader and Headquarter and Headquarters Company (HHC) Executive Officer for 2-7 Calvary (CAV), 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st CAV Division at Fort Hood, Texas; S3, S4 and Commander of C Company, 2-38 CAV Airborne Long Range Systems, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas; Commander of A Company and Battalion S3 of 5th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Merrill, Ga.; Task Force (TF) S3 for TF Reserve Army Cadet Solid/3rd Brigade Command Team/101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Executive Officer of 2-506 IN/3rd Brigade Combat Team/101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky.; Brigade S3 for 3rd Security Force Assistant Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas; Training Ammunition Allocation Committee-E G3 for Resolute Support; Deputy G3 and acting Division G3 for First Army, Division West at Fort Hood, Texas; Commander of 6th Ranger Training Battalion, Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade. Lt. Col. Mitscherling has deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Freedom’s Sentinel.
Lt. Col. Mitscherling’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Army Achieve Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Unit Commendation (one oak leaf cluster), and Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He is a graduate of the Ranger Course, Basic Airborne and Jumpmaster Courses, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leadership Course, and Air Assault Course.