Fort Benning commander Eric J. Wesley earns second star

Fort Benning commander Maj. Gen. Eric J. Wesley received his second star in a ceremony Monday afternoon at the Benning Club Regimental Room.

Wesley, a brigadier general at the time, assumed command of the Maneuver Center of Excellence on March 18 and awaited Congressional approval of his promotion. The past commanders of the Maneuver Center have all been two-star generals.

“I can assure you there is no finer soldier, commander, leader and family in our Army than the Wesleys,” Gen. David G. Perkins , who leads U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Wesley, replaced Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, who commanded Fort Benning for 20 months.

Perkins put into perspective the select nature of Wesley’s promotion.

“At any one time, there are between 3,000 and 5,000 colonels in the United States Army,” he said. “This year, 35 will be promoted to brigadier general. It’s a tough, tough cut. About a third of those go from one star to two.”

He took it another step.

“Of those hundreds of generals who have made it through all the wickets, only a very few command troops,” Perkins said. “Eric and Cindy Wesley are one of those command teams. And it is not just any command, Gen. Miller said this is the most important two-star command in the Army because we are a nation at war.”

Wesley called it a great honor to assume command of the Maneuver Center where soldiers are trained for armor and infantry. The theme of his brief talk to the about 250 civilian and military personnel assembled in Regimental Hall of the Benning Club was the Army is about people and relationships.

He told a story about his late father attending a change of command and how it was uncomfortable that the ceremony was all about two men.

“I told him that a change of command is far less about two men and more about continuity and command,” Wesley said, acknowledging that he was a bit uncomfortable, as well.

“Many people will send cards of congratulations after a promotion and they say congratulations, and almost always ‘well deserved,’” Wesley said. “I am not completely comfortable with that. The spiritual side of me says that we deserve nothing.”

Wesley came 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.

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Fort Benning commander Eric J. Wesley earns second star."