By Balmina Sehra
USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs
STUTTGART, Germany – Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) held a relinquishment of responsibility ceremony July 8 at the Panzer Firehouse in Böblingen. HHC’s 1st Sgt. Richard J. Telck relinquished his leadership role after nearly two years as the company’s senior enlisted advisor.
Telck entered the Army in 2003 as a microwave systems operator and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2013. Prior to his position within the garrison, he led a Special Forces operational detachment with 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
“Working for the garrison was different than anything I had done before. It was very straightforward — you were either given a thumbs up or a thumbs down,” Telck said. “But when working for an organization such as this one, things are a lot more complex, as you’re also dealing with civilians and local nationals.”
During his tenure, Telck played a vital role at HHC, advising the unit commander on issues including health, discipline, mentorship, professional development and operations.
“Telck is very measured and calm — that’s the kind of energy you want to see in a leader,” said USAG Stuttgart Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Melendez. “He is very deliberate in how he engages with folks, and I love what he brought to the garrison and to HHC.”
“He almost single-handedly planned the IMCOM-Europe Best Warrior Competition 2025,” said Capt. Andrew Horn, operations officer and former HHC commander from August 2023 to January 2025. “He organized the new obstacle course for the military community, and he led multiple FPCON exercises and real-world base defense operations.”
Horn added that Telck was more than just a co-worker.
“He truly became a lifelong friend,” Horn said. “His dedication not only to his duties, but also to the welfare of the entire military community in Stuttgart was impressive. He consistently went above and beyond to ensure our Soldiers received quality mentorship while including and assisting sister units across the footprint. His leadership will be deeply missed by the garrison.”
Though the role differed from his prior experience, Telck said it offered personal growth.
“The job was cool — it opened my eyes to a different way of doing things and brought me back to my roots , but it also gave me a lot of time to focus on my family.”
Telck will remain in Stuttgart for the foreseeable future and is looking forward to potentially retiring next summer.
“You might see me walking around as a civilian in my loafers,” he said.