officer assignments for army

What is the purpose of Army regulation AR 614-100? The purpose of AR 614-100 is to establish officer assignment policies, details, and transfers within the United States Army.

Who does AR 614-100 apply to? AR 614-100 applies to all officers of the Regular Army, the Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

What is the objective of the officer assignment policies outlined in AR 614-100? The objective is to ensure effective utilization of officers, while considering their professional development, career progression, and personal welfare.

How are officers assigned to specific positions or units? Officers are assigned using a centralized selection process, where the Officer Personnel Management System matches the requirements of specific positions or units with the qualifications of available officers.

Can officers request assignment preferences? Yes, officers are encouraged to provide assignment preference information to their assignment officers, who will consider such preferences, although they are not guaranteed.

What criteria are considered when assigning officers? Several factors are considered, including an officer's education, experience, performance, potential, preferences, and the needs of the Army.

Can an officer be involuntarily reassigned? Yes, officers can be involuntarily reassigned if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Army or for reasons such as professional development, organizational needs, or disciplinary actions.

How often do officers typically change assignments? The frequency of officer assignments varies based on the needs of the Army and the career progression of each officer. It can range from every few years to longer assignments, depending on the specific career field.

Are officers eligible for voluntary transfers between components or branches of the Army? Yes, officers may request voluntary transfers between components or branches, which will be considered based on eligibility, qualifications, and availability of positions.

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Army lieutenant colonel dies suddenly

U.S. officials announced on Tuesday that an Army lieutenant colonel died suddenly while exercising on Sunday in Sumter, South Carolina.

In a Tuesday press release , U.S. Army Central identified Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson as the Army soldier who died suddenly on Sunday. While Army Central did not release details regarding Vinson’s death, military officials revealed that they did not suspect any foul play contributed to the soldier’s death.

In Tuesday’s press release, Col. Jason Squitier, deputy chief of staff for U.S. Army Central, said, “The ARCENT family is devastated by the untimely passing of Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson, a beloved member of our team and an incredible leader in the organization.”

U.S. Army Central explained that 55-year-old Vinson worked as a transportation officer with Army Central Command at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. Military officials have not yet revealed the exact location where Vinson died on Sunday; however, U.S. Army Central said the lieutenant colonel’s death is currently under investigation by the Sumter Police Department.

READ MORE: Fort Drum soldier killed by roommate, fellow soldier, officials allege

According to U.S. Army Central, Vinson was a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and first enlisted in the U.S. Army as an 11M, Fighting Vehicle Infantryman in 1987. In 1999, Vinson was commissioned as a transportation officer.

U.S. Army Central noted that Vinson was a decorated soldier. Throughout his military service, Vinson was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the NATO Medal, along with multiple other awards.

“He left an enormously positive impact on every person with whom he interacted, and we miss him dearly,” Squitier said in Tuesday’s press release. “We send our condolences to his family and friends, and our prayers are with them during this difficult time.”

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General Officer Assignments

The chief of staff of the Army announces the following general officer assignments:

Lt. Gen. (Promotable) Charles R. Hamilton, deputy chief of staff, G-4, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

Maj. Gen. Christopher G. Beck, deputy commanding general, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, to commanding general, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Maj. Gen. Peter N. Benchoff, chief of staff, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, to director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Maj. Gen. James E. Bonner, commanding general, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to deputy commanding general, U.S. Army North, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

Maj. Gen. Timothy D. Brown, director, J-2, U.S. European Command, Germany, to commanding general, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Maj. Gen. Glenn A. Dean III, program executive officer, Ground Combat Systems, Warren, Michigan, to deputy commanding general, Acquisition and Systems Management, U.S. Army Futures Command, Austin, Texas.

Maj. Gen. David J. Francis, director, J-3 Operations/Cyber, U.S. Africa Command, Germany, to chief of staff, U.S. Africa Command, Germany.

Maj. Gen. William H. Graham Jr., deputy commanding general of civil and emergency operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C., to deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.

Maj. Gen. David C. Hill, commandant, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, to deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.

Maj. Gen. Mark H. Landes, commanding general, First Army Division East, Fort Knox, Kentucky, to commandant, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin, commanding general, Military District of Washington; and commander, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, Washington, D.C., to chief of staff, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

Maj. Gen. Walter T. Rugen, director, Future of Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, to director, Army Aviation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Maj. Gen. William D. Taylor, director, Army Aviation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, 2nd Infantry Division (Combined), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea.

Maj. Gen. Joel B. Vowell, commanding general, U.S. Army Japan and I Corps (Forward), Japan, to commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq.

Maj. Gen. Darren L. Werner, commanding general, U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Warren, Michigan, to deputy chief of staff for logistics and operations, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

Maj. Gen. David B. Womack, deputy commanding general, V Corps, Germany, to commanding general, U.S. Army Japan and I Corps (Forward), Japan.

Brig. Gen. Richard T. Appelhans, director of intelligence, U.S. Forces Korea: and deputy director of intelligence, Combined Forces Command, Republic of Korea, to commanding general and Commandant, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca, Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Brig. Gen. Phillip C. Baker, deputy commanding general (Support), 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to director, Future of Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

Brig. Gen. James B. Bartholomees, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, to chief of staff, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

Brig. Gen. Jonathan C. Byrom, commander, 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany, to commanding general, U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center; and director of Army safety, Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Brig. Gen. Dale S. Crockett, commandant, U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to deputy commanding general (Operations), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea.

Brig. Gen. Jason A. Curl, deputy commanding general (Operations), 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York, to director, CJ3, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq.

Brig. Gen. John M. Cushing, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, to commanding general, Combat Capabilities Development Command, U.S. Army Futures Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Feltey, commandant, U.S. Army Armor School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia, to deputy commanding general, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey, deputy commanding general (Operations), 3rd Division (France), France, to commanding general, 56th Artillery Command, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany.

Brig. Gen. Kimberly A. Peeples, commanding general, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cincinnati, Ohio, to commanding general, Mississippi Valley Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Brig. Gen. Mark C. Quander, commandant of cadets, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, to commanding general, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Brig. Gen. Richard J. Quirk IV, senior defense official and defense attaché, U.S. Defense Attaché Office, United Arab Emirates, to senior defense official and defense attaché, U.S. Defense Attaché Office, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Brig. Gen. Ronald R. Ragin, deputy commander for support, Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, Germany, to commanding general, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany.

Brig. Gen. Lori L. Robinson, deputy commanding general (Support), 2nd Infantry Division (Combined), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea, to commandant of cadets, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York.

Brig. Gen. Monte L. Rone, deputy chief of staff, Operations, Multinational Corps Northeast, NATO, Poland, to commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence; and director, Future Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team, Army Futures Command, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Brig. Gen. Philip J. Ryan, commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command; and deputy commanding general, Futures, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant, Operation Inherent Resolve, Kuwait.

Brig. Gen. Eric P. Shirley, commander, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Defense Logistics Agency, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to commanding general, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), U.S. Army Central, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Brig. Gen. Michael J. Simmering, deputy commanding general (Operations), 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, to commandant, U.S. Army Armor School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Brig. Gen. Jason C. Slider, director, Mission Command Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to deputy commanding general (Operations), 3rd Division (France), France.

Brig. Gen. Colin P. Tuley, deputy director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, J-5, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to deputy commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. VanAntwerp, deputy commanding general (Operations), 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

Brig. Gen. John W. Weidner, deputy director, Plans, J-5, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, to chief of staff, U.S. Forces Korea, Republic of Korea.

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Decorated Army officer dies while exercising in South Carolina

A lieutenant colonel assigned to U.S. Army Central Command died while exercising Sunday in Sumter, South Carolina, officials announced Tuesday.

The Army identified the soldier as Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson, 55, of Charlotte, North Carolina.

“He left an enormously positive impact on every person with whom he interacted, and we miss him dearly. We send our condolences to his family and friends, and our prayers are with them during this difficult time,” Col. Jason Squitier, the command’s deputy chief of staff, said in a release.

Soldier dies in incident at Army’s Joint Training Readiness Center

1st lt. zachary galli, an explosive ordnance disposal officer, was assigned to a fort carson unit..

Vinson enlisted in the Army in 1987 as a fighting vehicle infantryman and commissioned as a transportation officer in 1999. He had been assigned to U.S. Army Central since 2018.

In 2011, Vinson, serving as a project manager in the 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade’s Joint NetOps Center, was recognized for organizing a fundraising drive for the March of Dimes/March for Babies nonprofit while deployed to Afghanistan. The effort raised funds for research to aid premature babies and the health challenges they may face.

It was personal for the then-Capt. Vinson, whose twin boys had been born prematurely and spent more than a month in the hospital.

Army Capt. Roderick Vinson, left, thanks Spc. Bryan Neil for donating to a March of Dimes fundraising drive in 2011. (Capt. Michelle Lunato/U.S. Army)

At birth, his sons weighed only 2.9 and 3.1 pounds.

“It was a very stressful time for my wife while I was deployed,” Vinson said.

At the time of the fundraising drive, his four-year-old sons were healthy, having benefited from advances in treating premature babies, which Vinson credited to the efforts of March of Dimes.

“Now, you would never know they were premature. They are little monsters,” Vinson said.

Vinson’s awards and decorations include the Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a campaign star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal, among others.

No foul play is suspected in Vinson’s death, but the incident remains under investigation by the Sumter Police Department and Sumter County Coroner’s Office, according to the release.

Todd South has written about crime, courts, government and the military for multiple publications since 2004 and was named a 2014 Pulitzer finalist for a co-written project on witness intimidation. Todd is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War.

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No charges for Special Forces officer who shot utility worker near Fort Liberty

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Aug 16, 2024 1:03 PM EDT

5 minute read

The Moore County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina says that when a Special Forces officer assigned to Fort Liberty shot and killed a man who was taking pictures on his property in May, the soldier acted legally under state law.

“The homeowner’s actions were deemed justifiable under the North Carolina Castle Doctrine, which allows for the use of defensive force in situations where there is a perceived imminent threat to personal and family safety within one’s home or property,” the sheriff’s office posted on its Facebook page.

But the dead man’s brother told Task & Purpose he was surprised by the ruling and insisted his brother was a law abiding worker who fled to America to avoid the war in Ukraine.

On May 3, the unnamed Special Forces officer confronted Ramzan Daraev, 35, who worked for Cable Warriors, a subcontractor of Utilities One, and was conducting surveys in the area for a fiber optic expansion, according to the sheriff’s office.

Daraev was born in Chechnya and later moved to the United States. Daraev’s brother Roman told Task & Purpose no one in his family had ever worked for the Russian government, and he described speculation that his brother might have been a spy as “bullshit.”

In fact, Ramzan Daraev fled Russia to avoid being conscripted into the Russian military to fight in Ukraine, his brother said. After entering the United States through Mexico, Ramzan Daraev applied for political asylum.

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“My brother was a very humble person,” Roman Daraev said. “He never did any wrong thing in this whole life.” 

The shooting drew national attention because the shooter, who remains unnamed, is a Special Forces soldier and the man killed in the shooting had immigrated from Russia.

The officer’s wife called 911 twice during the incident, but it took more than 20 minutes after her first call for law enforcement to arrive at the scene because sheriff’s deputies were dealing with an unrelated life-threatening emergency, delaying their response, the sheriff’s office said.

Her second 911 call was much more urgent than the first. She pleaded for help to arrive while her husband could be heard yelling to her.

“She secured a rifle during one of the calls, reflecting the perceived level of threat,” according to the sheriff’s office. “The shooting allegedly took place shortly after the second call, just prior to deputies arriving on scene.”

A U.S. Army Special Operations Command spokesperson thanked the Moore County Sheriff’s Office for its due diligence and reaching a conclusion on the case.

The fact that Daraev was a Russian national prompted questions by the media about why he was taking pictures of a Special Forces officer’s home. Fox News noted that U.S. intelligence officers often pose as utility workers for surveillance missions overseas. However, the FBI did not open a counterintelligence investigation into the matter.

But the Moore County Sheriff’s Office investigation raised several questions about Ramzan Daraev’s conduct on the day of the shooting. It noted that he did not have any clothing or identification that showed he was a utility worker, and he was conducting the survey near dark close to private property without notifying the homeowners first, which is not a common practice in the industry.

Roughly two hours before the shooting, a sheriff’s deputy approached Daraev less than a mile from the officer’s residence and asked him to move his vehicle, which was partially blocking a roadway. The deputy documented the encounter and let Daraev go.

“Following the shooting, the sheriff’s office received multiple reports from concerned citizens of people being seen on private properties throughout the same general area earlier on the evening of the incident,” according to the sheriff’s office. “These individuals were believed to be associated with the group working with Daraev. None of the citizens making those reports were aware that the persons they observed on their properties were conducting utility work.”

The confrontation between the Special Forces officer and Daraev began around dusk. Investigators found maps that showed Daraev’s work area included a power pole about 115 feet from the officer’s home.

“Digital evidence confirmed that Daraev was taking pictures of power poles in the direction of the residence, which was reportedly perceived by the homeowner as taking pictures of the home and homeowner’s children,” the sheriff’s office determined. Reports from the homeowner indicated that Daraev had been much closer to the house than depicted in the last photograph held by Utilities One.”

The officer’s wife and their children were outside as Daraev was taking pictures. She told her husband, who tried to speak to Daraev and subsequently asked him to leave.

“According to the homeowner, Daraev became aggressive and refused to leave the property, at one point asserting that he was a Chechen national who had served in the Russian military and fought in Ukraine, although investigators have been unable to establish Daraev’s prior foreign military status,” the sheriff’s office determined.

The officer retrieved a handgun from his home and returned outside to confront Daraev while his wife called for help.  Daraev allegedly became agitated during the altercation, repeatedly refusing to leave the property, and then lunging at the officer, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The homeowner reported firing several shots in response to Daraev’s advance,” the sheriff’s office found. “Under the North Carolina Castle Doctrine, the homeowner’s actions are protected, providing legal justification for using defensive force.”

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An Army officer will not face charges in the killing of a Moore County utility worker

A U.S. Army Special Forces colonel will not face charges after he fatally shot a utility worker in May, authorities said. The shooting took place outside the unnamed soldier's home near Carthage.

Moore County District Attorney Mike Hardin said the soldier’s actions were justified under the North Carolina Castle Doctrine . That law allows defensive force when there’s a perceived threat within one's home or property.

The worker, Ramzan Daraev, was surveying utility poles for a fiber optic construction project and taking photos of individual poles, some with the soldier’s home in the background. Daraev was a Russian citizen and an ethnic Chechen.

In the first of two 911 calls, at 8:12 p.m. on May 3, the soldier’s wife said she thought he was taking photos of their children and house.

She asked for law enforcement help.

Investigators from the Moore County Sheriff's Office said the soldier, initially unarmed, approached Daraev to ask what he was doing. The soldier went back to his house to get a handgun and walked back to Daraev to keep an eye on him while a deputy was on the way.

Then, in a second more frantic call, at 8:25 p.m., the woman said her husband badly needed law enforcement help, and she yelled for someone to get her a rifle.

"The confrontation escalated when Daraev reportedly became agitated and lunged at the homeowner after repeatedly refusing to leave the property," said a Sheriff's Office's news release. "The homeowner reported firing several shots in response to Daraev’s advance. Under the North Carolina Castle Doctrine, the homeowner's actions are protected, providing legal justification for using defensive force."

Daraev entered the U.S. in 2022 over the southern border. His nationality — and the fact that the soldier is a Special Forces officer — sparked Internet conspiracy theories about Russian espionage.

But investigators say there was no question he was doing work for the utility project; a Moore County deputy actually had seen him earlier in the day at another location and asked what he was doing. Daraev’s English was so poor that the deputy had to use a phone app to translate their conversation.

According to the news release, Daraev had nothing to identify him as a utility worker. He was wearing dark shorts, a burgundy shirt, and flip-flops. He was working into twilight and hadn’t notified property owners of his presence.

The Sheriff's Office said Daraev was not armed and had nothing with him except a cell phone when law enforcement arrived on the scene after the shooting.

The investigation found confusing relationships between the companies involved in the fiber optic project. The local utility company, Brightspeed, was working with a New Jersey company called Utilities One to survey the area. The investigation found Daraev was doing work for a subcontractor to Utilities One called Cable Warriors, but the two companies were related.

Utilities One didn’t return calls seeking comment.

The Sheriff's Office said it received several reports after the shooting of people being seen on private property in same general area earlier in the evening. According to the release, those people were likely part of the group working with Daraev.

“None of the citizens making those reports were aware that the persons they observed on their properties were conducting utility work,” the release said.

The Sheriff’s Office said in the news release it had requested an investigation by the N.C. Labor Department into things like the safety practices for workers involved in the broadband project.

A Labor Department spokesperson said Tuesday it had closed its investigation because Daraev appeared to be an individual contractor rather than an employee of one of the companies involved.

The new Miss USA is a US Army officer from Michigan

• Miss Michigan Alma Cooper was crowned the new Miss USA on Sunday night.

Cooper, 22, is a second lieutenant and military intelligence officer in the US Army.

• She's taking the title after a tumultuous year — both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA resigned in May.

A new Miss USA has been crowned.

Miss Michigan Alma Cooper was named the winner of the 73rd Miss USA pageant, which was held at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night. She was crowned by Savannah Gankiewicz , who assumed the title of Miss USA 2023 after Noelia Voigt resigned in May.

According to her Miss USA bio, Cooper graduated in the top 5% of her class from West Point Military Academy and is a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, where she's pursuing a master's in data science.

Before taking the crown, Cooper competed in the evening gown, swimsuit, and interview rounds. The top five contestants all had to answer the same question: "How can we bridge the gap between different cultures and foster understanding and respect?"

"As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro-Latina woman, and an officer of the United States Army, I'm living the American dream," Cooper responded. "If there's anything that my life and my mother have taught me, it's that your circumstances never define your destiny."

During a video that played during her final walk, Cooper also shared what winning the Miss USA title would mean to her.

"I would have the opportunity to show that if you can see me, you can be me," she said. "I want to show that through demanding excellence, success is accessible."

Cooper is taking over the title during a tumultuous time for Miss USA . The pageant made headlines in May after both Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava gave up their crowns. Miss Colorado Arianna Lemus resigned that same week in solidarity.

Voigt and Srivastava haven't publicly disclosed many details surrounding their resignations, citing nondisclosure agreements. But their mothers, Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava , told Business Insider during an interview in May that it was because of harassment they experienced under the leadership of Miss USA CEO Laylah Rose .

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"Our daughters were happy and excited to have the job of their lives when they won those crowns," Barbara Srivastava said. "And to expect this is the payment on their self-esteem and their confidence, being bullied by a 46-year-old woman who just wants to be in the limelight herself — this is unacceptable."

"She said, 'Mom, I have to do this because I cannot let her keep hurting me or hurting other girls,'" Jackeline Voigt recalled.

Multiple people who worked behind the scenes at Miss USA also walked away from the organization this year. Kimberly Nicewonder and Paula Miles — state pageant directors who had been with the Miss USA organization for more than three decades — both blamed Rose's leadership for their resignations. Rose didn't respond to previous requests for comment.

Before her final walk as Miss USA 2023, Gankiewicz — who has spoken out in support of the organization and Rose — told the audience that she'd had "the most unique reign in history."

It remains to be seen what the year will hold for the new Miss USA.

Correction: August 5, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of the Miss Colorado titleholder who resigned in May. She's Arianna Lemus, not Ariana Lemus.

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