FORT BRAGG — A brand new commander will oversee the coaching and improvement of particular operations troopers at Fort Bragg.
Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson turned over command of the John F. Kennedy Particular Warfare Heart and Faculty to Brig. Gen. Guillaume ”Will” Beaurpere throughout a command change ceremony Thursday at Fort Bragg.
Beaurpere arrives from his most up-to-date task as deputy commander of common operations for the Army Area and Missile Protection Command.
Roberson, who led the command since August 2019, received’t journey far for his subsequent task. He turns into the brand new deputy commander for the U.S. Army Particular Operations Command at Fort Bragg.
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Throughout his time as commander of the Particular Warfare Heart and Faculty, Roberson produced greater than 2,769 Special Forces troopers, 1,497 psychological operation troopers, and 1,921 Civil Affairs troopers for the working drive, mentioned Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, USASOC’s commander who oversaw the Thursday’s command change.
The Particular Warfare Heart and Faculty oversees the Special Forces evaluation and choice course, coaching for Special Forces and particular operation forces and overseas language coaching with greater than 100 programs for civil affairs, psychological operations, Special Forces, allied and sister service college students.
Beneath the command are the college, Special Forces Warrant Officer Institute, the Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the first Particular Warfare Coaching Group, 2nd Particular Warfare Coaching Group and the Particular Warfare Medical Group.
Braga mentioned that in Roberson’s three years in command he and his staff educated greater than 54,000 servicemembers and 187 worldwide college students.
Roberson helped modernize the Special Forces {qualifications} course, developed new programs, and addressed operational necessities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Braga mentioned.
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“This group remained nimble to the wants as a nation all through due to this command staff’s management,” Braga mentioned.
Roberson mentioned the job was rewarding and the most effective half was having the ability to form the way forward for Army particular operation forces.
“What we train folks right here on this establishment is what they are going to replicate in fight,” Roberson mentioned.
Roberson mentioned the particular warfare heart and faculty get the most effective troopers the nation has to supply, and that’s the reason he and his staff continuously reviewed what programs to supply them.
“You need to ask your self, ‘What am I getting or will get out of this coaching? Is it price eliminating or ought to I get one thing new,’” he mentioned.
The coaching might imply introducing a brand new irregular warfare course or maritime operations course, Roberson mentioned.
It’s additionally meant utilizing know-how in progressive methods by means of growing drone or robotics programs, he mentioned.
The college’s cadre, Roberson mentioned, was progressive in figuring out which programs may very well be distant throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
He credited USASOC’s flight detachment for coordinating getting candidates to choice and raining within the midst of the pandemic.
New commander
Roberson mentioned the previous three years have been a “nice journey,” however he’s “received to get off of the journey.”
He mentioned he’s assured in Beaurpere, who he served with in Baghdad.
“(He’s) a fantastic chief, nice individual, very analytical, vital thinker, widespread sense … I’m not frightened a bit,” Roberson mentioned.
Beaurpere has beforehand commanded the Particular Operations Joint Job Power-Operation Inherent Resolve, was government officer to the USASOC commanding common, and served as army assistant to the secretary of the Army.
He mentioned the final time he and his household have been at Fort Bragg was greater than 22 years in the past when he went by means of the Special Forces {qualifications} course.
In the course of the previous two weeks of the command’s transition, Beaurpere mentioned, it’s evident it’s an “elite establishment.”
“It is a unit based on a tradition of excellence due to my predecessors,” he mentioned.
He advised the troopers he’s honored to be of their ranks.
“I pledge my dedication to assist our no-fail mission for the Army,” he mentioned. “Our ARSOF regiments can’t win with out the beautiful drive we generate class after class. Our individuals are the most effective at their commerce. Our tradition is one in every of excellence. Our objective is to forge the following era of ARSOF warriors.”
Braga mentioned Beaurpere has the best command staff and closed his remarks by quoting former president John F. Kennedy, who approved the creation of the Inexperienced Berets.
“A full spectrum of army, paramilitary, and civil motion have to be blended to supply success,'” Braga mentioned quoting Kenndy. “The enemy makes use of financial and political warfare, propaganda and bare army aggression in an limitless mixture to oppose a free alternative of presidency, and suppress the rights of the person by terror, by subversion and by drive of arms..’”
Employees author Rachael Riley may be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
