New commander takes over 82nd Airborne Division
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) -- On Friday morning, Brigadier General Richard Clarke officially made Fort Bragg home for the third time in his three-decade career.
The West Point graduate is now commander of the world's most highly-trained and combat-ready military division. After making light-hearted remarks to the Division troops in formation across Pike Field, telling them to shake their knees out during the hour-long ceremony, Clarke got down to business.
"We are currently in the most volatile and uncertain time in this world and that our nation has ever known as our Army's global response force. We could have as little as 18 hours between alert and wheels up and failure is not an option."
Outgoing is Major General John Nicholson, who arrived at Fort Bragg two years ago. He recalled taking over the Division after 11 years in war and skeptics who questioned the readiness of war-torn troops.
"I assured everyone then, and our friends and foes alike,that we are not tired. We are ready," said Nicholson. "The 82nd Airborne doesn't get tired."
There was also an unexpected visit from Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson, commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, who is currently one of the top NATO commanders overseeing operations in Afghanistan.
Anderson's arrival comes the same week that U.S. and Afghan officials signed a long-awaited bilateral security agreement that allows 9,800 American troops and at least 2,000 NATO troops to remain in Afghanistan past the end of the year. At that point, the combat mission formally comes to an end.
It's unclear how long Anderson will be back in the United States, but he made a few remarks at the ceremony, recognizing the more than 2,500 Bragg troops who are currently deployed in Afghanistan.
He also reached out to Gold Star families, calling the names of the 82nd's Sergeant First Class Samuel Hairston, 35, and Specialist Brian Arsenault, 28, who were recently killed in Afghanistan.
"Please continue to keep all our fallen comrades and their families in your thoughts and prayers," said Anderson.
Nicholson will move on to oversee the Allied Land Command in Turkey.
