Fort Liberty’s 18th Airborne Corps changes leadership

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FORT LIBERTY — The 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty thanked its outgoing senior chief who spent practically twenty years on the set up, whereas welcoming its new commander Friday.

Throughout a command change, then-Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue handed over duties to Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson following the Senate’s affirmation on Dec. 2 for Donahue to obtain his fourth star and lead U.S. Military Europe and Africa and NATO Allied Land Command in Germany.

Anderson, who’s the 18th Airborne Corps fortieth commander, most not too long ago was a particular assistant to the commanding normal of the U.S. Military Forces Command.

He served as commander of the Fort Drum, New York-based tenth Mountain Division, a subordinate unit of the 18th Airborne Corps, from September 2022 till Might this 12 months.

The 18th Airborne Corps oversees 4 divisions and is the Military’s strategic response power that “quickly deploys prepared Military forces wherever on the planet by air, land or sea, coming into forcibly if obligatory, to form, deter, struggle and win,” its web site states.

Command change

Overseeing Friday’s ceremony was Gen. Andrew Poppas, FORSCOM commander.

Poppas stated that Donahue took command of the 18th Airborne Corps greater than two years in the past in Europe simply 17 days after Russia crossed Ukraine’s border.

“Their presence alone galvanized NATO in opposition to Russian aggression, and so they constructed the relationships and people processes which can be in theater and nonetheless exist in the present day,” Poppas stated. “For the previous thousand days, this group’s troopers have performed a steady function all through all the European theater.”

Anderson was a part of that function when he commanded the tenth Mountain Division because it deployed to Romania all through most of 2023, Poppas stated.

Poppas stated the 18th Airborne Corps has had different missions beneath Donahue, which included specializing in the Center East, responding to crises in Africa and collaborating in an Indo-Pacific Command train to reassure allies of the 18th Airborne Corps’ dedication and functionality to deploy from Fort Liberty inside 18 hours to wherever on the planet.

Outgoing commander

Poppas stated Donahue has impressed 18th Airborne troopers “to win” and has led a number of initiatives, which embrace Scarlet Dragon workout routines that concentrate on velocity, scale and information use in warfare and innovation.

“For practically twenty years, the Donahues have been part of what makes Fort Liberty and Fayetteville so viable to the Military’s projection, America’s protection and international safety. You’ve gotten been on the forefront at each step,” Poppas stated.

Earlier than main the 18th Airborne Corps, Donahue was commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, additionally at Fort Liberty, from July 2020 to March 2022, and was generally known as the final American soldier to go away Afghanistan throughout the withdrawal of troops there in August 2021.

Donahue instructed Friday’s crowd that for the remainder of his life, he’ll hear folks ask about what it meant to guide the 18th Airborne Corps.

“The 18th Airborne Corps is a unit of many, many within the army, however it’s a essential piece, however most significantly, its persons are prepared to go wherever on the planet and do something that’s required for our nation and our allies,” he stated.

Donahue stated that in his time as commander, 18th Airborne troopers deployed to Europe to help Ukraine to make sure it may survive.

Shortly after, they deployed to Sudan to assist get out 12,000 fellow residents and allies.

“And no one ever knew about it, which speaks to their professionalism,” Donahue stated.

After that, he stated, the corps’ seventh Transportation Brigade was despatched to Gaza in March to offer humanitarian help, and troopers most not too long ago supplied humanitarian help to residents impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western, North Carolina.

Donahue heralded the troopers for his or her work.

“Our folks outthink, outwork, out hustle, outdo something they’ll do to make it possible for they’ll accomplish any mission and maintain their folks,” he stated.

He stated his bosses, present and former command sergeants main, companions within the U.S. Military Particular Operations Command and Joint Particular Operations Command, formations and brigades within the Corps had been all supportive together with the native army retiree group, group leaders, native faculties and members of Congress.

Donahue stated he’ll all the time take into account the Fort Liberty and Fayetteville space, the place his youngsters had been born, residence.

“(It’s), clearly, very tough to say goodbye for the Donahue household,” he stated. “The one factor I can let you know is all of you will have our timeless love and respect. I’ll miss you all dearly, however we’ll be again once we retire.”

New commander

Donahue stated he can’t wait to see Anderson lead alongside Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan Barker and can be their “best advocate and supporter.”

Poppas stated Military leaders are relying on Anderson to additional drive the 18th Airborne Corps’ warfighting readiness and lead its 82,000 troopers and paratroopers.

Anderson is a profession paratrooper, Ranger and “confirmed fight chief,” the four-star normal stated.

Anderson thanked Donahue for commanding the corps with distinction and stated he was proud to serve beneath Donahue’s management.

He instructed his 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty teammates that nothing has modified whereas the nation depends on the command to deploy globally with out advance warning.

“We are going to proceed to satisfy that expectation. We won’t be distracted from our lasting deal with readiness, warfighting excellence, transformation and our folks,” he stated. “The chilly realities in in the present day’s international safety atmosphere are going to check us, and we’ll put together every day till the nation calls us, after which we’ll reply that decision and can prevail.”

Workers author Rachael Riley might be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This story initially printed in The Fayetteville Observer beneath the headline “Fort Liberty: Donahue will get fourth star, heads to Europe; Anderson now leads 18th Airborne.” Navy Instances has edited the piece for model.