Russel is first seen readying himself to go into the Emerald Forest for the Academy Initiation and the formation of teams. When Professor Ozpin finishes his explanations, the platforms each new student is on spring up and thrust them over and into the Forest. Russel is not seen until the end of the Initiation, where he is standing beside Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, and Sky Lark in front of Ozpin on the auditorium stage. Ozpin announces that they retrieved the Black Bishop pieces, and would be known as Team CRDL, led by Cardin.