FORT JACKSON, S.C.— Dearborn native Maj. Gen. James Milano on Wednesday became the commanding general at the U.S. Army’s largest training installation.
He assumes command at Fort Jackson outside Columbia from Brig. Gen. Bradley May, who was deployed to Iraq.
Milano, a two-star general, will oversee the more than 70,000 soldiers that rotate through the base annually for basic and advanced training.
At a ceremony to commemorate his new appointment Milano said he would focus on teaching soldiers how to execute a battle plan that has grown more nuanced in the fight against extremists, according to published reports.
Paramount to that, said Milano, is striking a balance between the high intensity of combat and the diplomacy of winning the hearts and minds of civilian populations. He also said he would look to prepare his charges for what will undoubtedly be a world of change when they are sent for deployment.
“Soldiers must learn to deal with uncertainty in this time of persistent conflict,” Milano said. “Change is one constant in the Army today.”
Invoking the oft-repeated military mantra, he added, “If you don’t like change, you’ll like irrelevancy even less.”
Prior to his assignment at Fort Jackson, Milano was commandant at Fort Knox in Kentucky.