Brig. Gen. Eric Wesley assumes command of Fort Benning

Brig. Gen. Eric J. Wesley assumed command of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning on Friday morning in a ceremony on post.

Wesley, replaces Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, who has commanded Fort Benning for the last 20 months. Miller has stressed four points during his leadership — being smart, fast, lethal and precise.

Wesley quickly reiterated that in front of about 750 people in McGinnis-Wickam Hall’s Marshall Auditorium.

Wesley joked that the Army announced the change of command Tuesday and it took place three days later, unusually quick by Army standards.

“No one can say that one of our four competencies is not fast,” Wesley said.

Wesley offered high praise to Miller, who came to Fort Benning from the special operations community. Late Thursday, Congress nominated Miller for a third star. His assignment has not been announced, but the Washington Post has previously reported he will assume command of Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.

“You are a gentleman, you are gracious, you are humble, but you are also a phenomenal freaking warrior,” Wesley said. “I respect the heck out of you.”

Wesley comes to Fort Benning after a brief assignment at the Pentagon where he has been deputy director, program analysis and evaluation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for G-8. Prior to that he was deputy commanding general, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan.

The past four commanders of the Maneuver Center of Excellence have been two-star generals. Wesley currently is a one-star general.

“I know the sacred nature of command,” Wesley told the mix of soldiers and local business and political leaders. “But I want you to know that I have a solemn commitment to what that entails. But it is not just an honor to command it, but it is a great privilege for my wife, Cindy, and I to join this team. This team is special.”

The doctrine and combat leadership roles developed at Fort Benning are critical to the Army, Wesley said. And he made his point during his brief speech.

“Precedent tells us there will be another war,” Wesley said. “And when that war comes, the Department of Defense will be at the center of gravity of any solution to that war. And the center of gravity for DOD is what? The United States Army and we know the Army fights and wins our nation’s wars.”

He drilled down to show the importance of Fort Benning.

“Taking it a step further, what is the center of gravity for the Army?” he asked. “The combat arms of infantry and armor. It is all the others, quite frankly, that provide the combined arms to enable the infantry and armor to get to a position of advantage to compel our adversary. What is at the center of gravity of infantry and armor? It is the Maneuver Center of Excellence.”

It is those working “quietly, diligently and professionally” at Fort Benning preparing for that next conflict that Wesely looks forward to leading.

“It is this team that develops the leaders we will read about in the next war,” he said. “And most importantly, it’s this team that trains the soldiers, the soldiers whose names we don’t even know yet, who will be heroes in the next war. So, you got my point, this team is special.”

Miller and Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., offered high praise for Wesley during the command.

“Frankly, Fort Benning will be better,” Miller said.

Brown, who commanded Fort Benning three generals ago, concurred.

“The Army got it right again,” he said. “How do you replace a Scott Miller? You bring in the Wesleys.”

Wesley, a 30-year Army career Armor officer said he and his wife of 26 years welcome the assignment to Fort Benning.

“Most of you don’t know Cindy and I, but we know you,” he said. “Your reputation and legacy extends well beyond the state of Georgia. I can’t tell you the number of people who have come to me and said, ‘Your organization will be exponentially better because of the relationship with the Columbus community.’ We are excited to be a part of your community.”

It is not Wesley’s first trip here, just after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he found himself at Fort Benning.

“My baptism into the Army started here at Fort Benning like many young lieutenants that came here for Ranger School,” Wesley said in a short news conference prior to assuming command. “It was always the standard barer as I was coming into the Army.”

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Brig. Gen. Eric Wesley assumes command of Fort Benning."