FORT SAM HOUSTON, Tx. –
The 5th Recruiting Brigade held a change of command ceremony on July 16, 2024, welcoming Col. Julian Perez as the new commander and bidding farewell to the outgoing commander, Col. Xavier “X” Colón.
Colón, who has served as the commander since July 2022, was honored for his exemplary service and profound impact on the brigade. Under his command, he successfully oversaw the operation of seven battalions and 282 stations across 14 states, significantly contributing to the recruitment of over 25% of America's Army enlistees.
His leadership was pivotal in several initiatives, such as the involvement in the Total Army Career Fair in Arlington, TX, increased marketing for the southern borders of Texas and Arizona, and leveraging new marketing approaches like vehicle advertisements. Colón also worked with local artists for the creation of a U.S. Army mural inspired by the seven values of U.S. Army Service including loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. He emphasized the criticality of partnerships with military units and organizations like III Corps, U.S. Army Futures Command, AUSA, and Army Retirees. Through each of these tailored approaches and the expertise of his seven battalions, 5th Recruiting Brigade effectively turned the tide with recruiting shortfalls and its underway to reach pre-pandemic success.
In his farewell speech, Colón expressed his pride in the brigade’s accomplishments and his appreciation for the team’s hard work and dedication.
“Leaders in this brigade leveraged creativity and problem-solving to train soldiers via different approaches to share techniques and best practices and optimize operations,” said Colon. “Meanwhile, the brigade ops harnessed the power of data to help leaders visualize and contextualize their operational environments, keeping me grounded and informed no matter where I was.”
Perez, the incoming commander, brings a wealth of experience from his 23 years of service in various command and staff positions to include his most recent assignment as the Chief of Staff at the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency. He highlighted his vision for the brigade, focusing on maintaining high recruitment standards and furthering the brigade’s mission.
“It is a blessing, honor, and privilege to lead this dynamic brigade,” said Perez. “I look forward to being a teammate for team USAREC. I see us as a team of teams that is enhancing our nation’s readiness recruiting for our Army of tomorrow. Team Alamo Warriors will achieve this by taking care of our people and embodying the 4C’s—character, commitment, competence, and courage. Lastly, we will do our best to penetrate the market to win!”
The 5th Recruiting Brigade plays a crucial role in the U.S. Army’s recruiting mission, covering more than 972,650 square miles across 14 states, including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and parts of California and Wyoming. The brigade's mission is to recruit highly motivated, high-quality men and women, ensuring the U.S. Army remains strong, ready, and capable of meeting future challenges.
The ceremony featured heartfelt remarks from Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Davis praised both commanders for their exemplary service, emphasizing the brigade’s vital role in increasing community awareness of U.S. Army opportunities and taking care of soldiers and their families. He expressed his pride in Colón’s achievements and his enthusiasm for Perez’s leadership.
“You stepped up to the daunting task of getting after our recruiting mission while caring for soldiers and their families,” said Davis. “We’re going to get through this, because we focus on the soldiers and their families, and the mission will always follow.”
The change of command ceremony is a revered tradition symbolizing the continuity of leadership and the trust placed in the new commander to lead the brigade into the future.
For more information about the 5th Recruiting Brigade, visit https://recruiting.army.mil/5thbde/about_5thbde/.