FORT DRUM, NY – Major General Milford H. Beagle Jr., Senior Commander, Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division is promotable to the rank of Lieutenant General and will take command of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in the near future. The exact timeline for the change of command here is not yet determined.
Major General Beagle often echoes a founding father of the 10thMountain Division, Lieutenant General George Hays, telling Soldiers their goal must be moving “Always forward… Keep Climbing.” Nevertheless, as he and his wife Pam ready to embark on their 15th permanent change of station, he is stopping to reflect.
“Promotions are a vote of confidence, a table slap that you’ve done something right – and for that I am grateful and energized for the next challenge. But its bittersweet, as we hate to leave Fort Drum, the North Country and this proud Climb to Glory team,” said Maj. Gen. Beagle.
Readiness, leader development, taking care of people and their quality of life are key lines of effort under Major General Beagle’s direction. Focusing on any of them requires a strong foundation of open and constant communication, which in 2022 means fully leaning into and embracing social media. He is extraordinarily accessible on Instagram and Facebook and chronicles his work – and home – life at Fort Drum with captions that leave no question he is having fun. From aerial gunnery training to “crashing” re-enlistment ceremonies, to planking competitions in the snow, the Senior Commander is living his favorite hashtag #owntheenvironment. And from handing out pancakes and maple syrup at a Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation event, to what he is reading, to laughing at how much his dog does not like dressing up for Halloween, @10th_mountain_cg is here to emulate the Soldier at the top of the Military Mountaineers Monument. He is reaching out to connect.
“I am so inspired by our monument. We can all be the Soldier that we all see at the top of that statue, who took the time to extend their hand to others. As our motto states, ‘Climb to Glory,’ and we all know the response, ‘To the Top.’ It is my intent that we all understand and realize one thing, there is always room at the top. Therefore, we should always be reaching our hand out to pull somebody else along the way,” said Major General Beagle.
Having previously served as Deputy Commanding General at Fort Drum he was well positioned to start “climbing” as soon as he took command.
“When Pam and I were given the news that we were heading back to Fort Drum, we couldn’t believe our luck. We knew this time though; we were arriving having run out of jobs to lobby for a return assignment. We came dedicated to open ourselves to the experience, take every opportunity to lead and learn, and relish every minute,” he added.
Given this, it should come as no surprise that, according to Major General Beagle, today’s announcement – as very exciting and incredibly humbling as it is – is not going to change much about his plans for the day.
“Until I hand our flag to the 18th Airborne Corps Commander to hand to someone else, I am completely present here and focused on Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division,” said Maj. Gen. Beagle.
The announcement naming the incoming Senior Commander for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division is forthcoming.
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