The weather does not factor into when and where the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment hosts a change of command ceremony.

"Think of it as Ranger sunshine," Col. Mark Odom, commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, quipped as the rain and wind swept over several hundred individuals assembled at Watkins Field on June 7.

The regiment is a lethal, agile and versatile Special Operations Force that conducts forcible entry operations and Special Operations raids across the entire spectrum of combat.

During the next month, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Rangers will deploy to Afghanistan for the 15th time since 2002.

Lt. Col. Gregory Anderson, who took command from Lt. Col. David Hodne during the ceremony, will lead the unit back to Afghanistan.

Anderson joins the battalion after serving a yearlong deployment in Kandahar Province with the 10th Mountain Division.

Odom praised Hodne's leadership.

"He has left the 2/75 in better condition than he found it," Odom said.  "Community relations, morale, training and mission accomplishment - he did it all in a superb fashion."

Hodne is on his way to a fellowship at Georgetown University.  Once his graduate work is complete, he will return to JBLM and take command of 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

Currently commanded by Col. Mike Getchell, the brigade is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan this fall.

In his remarks, Hodne praised the professionalism and sacrifice of the Soldiers before him.

He paid specific tribute to Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer Domeij and the two Soldiers who died with him, Lt. Ashley White and Pfc. Christopher Horns.

"Their names are synonymous with courage and selflessness," Hodne said.

Turning his attention to the Rangers standing before him, Hodne then added, "You represent a fraction of America unknown to most."

Then the sun broke through.