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Trump picks Army chief of staff as next top military adviser

By DEB REICHMANN Dunford congratulated Mil- experience.” Rep. Mac was also a strong contend- Milley made the early de-
Associated Press ley on his nomination. “He Thornberry, R-Texas, also er for the job. cision to charge Bergdahl
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- has served with Gen. Milley noted that the Joint Chiefs Milley is known as a char- with desertion and misbe-
dent Donald Trump an- in peacetime and in com- chairman serves Congress ismatic, outgoing leader havior before the enemy.
nounced Saturday that he who has not been afraid Bergdahl was eventually
wants a battle-hardened to offer candid and some- found guilty, reduced in
commander who oversaw times blunt assessments rank to private, dishonor-
troops in Iraq and Afghani- to Congress. Last year he ably discharged and fined
stan to be the nation’s next admonished the House $10,000, but was spared
top military adviser. Armed Services Committee any additional prison time.
If confirmed by the Sen- for its inability to approve a A native of Winchester,
ate, Gen. Mark Milley, who defense budget, slamming Massachusetts, and a fer-
has been chief of the Army it as “professional malprac- vent supporter of the Bos-
since August 2015, would tice.” In 2016, he told law- ton Red Sox and other
succeed Marine Gen. Jo- makers, in answer to a di- city teams, Milley received
seph Dunford as chairman rect question, that women his Army commission from
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. should also have to register Princeton University in 1980.
Dunford’s term doesn’t end for the draft now that they An infantry officer by train-
until Oct. 1. Trump said the are allowed to serve in all ing, he also commanded
date of transition is “to be combat jobs. Special Forces units in a
determined.” As the Army’s top leader, career that included de-
Trump used an early morn- he helped shepherd the ployments in the invasion of
ing tweet to reveal his In this May 25, 2017 file photo, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark groundbreaking move of Panama in 1989, the multi-
choice. “I am thankful to Milley listens to a question while testifying on Capitol Hill in women into front-line infan- national mission in Bosnia-
Washington, before a Senate Armed Services Committee
both of these incredible hearing on the Army’s fiscal 2018 budget. try and other combat po- Herzegovina to implement
men for their service to our Associated Press sitions, while warning that the Dayton Peace Ac-
Country!” he said. Later it would take time to do it cords, and the Iraq war.
Saturday, as the president bat and has the highest re- as well as the president and right. More recently, he has The Milley move starts a
left the White House for the gard for his leadership.” defense secretary. worked with his senior of- series of military leader-
Army-Navy football game Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- Trump’s decision, an- ficers to reverse a shortfall ship changes in coming
in Philadelphia, he called S.C., a member of the Sen- nounced before leaving in Army recruiting when the months, including succes-
Milley “a great gentleman ate Armed Services Com- Washington for the an- service fell far short of its an- sors in 2019 for Adm. John
and a great patriot.” mittee, said in a statement nual Army-Navy football nual goal this year. Richardson as the chief of
Dunford is a former com- that Milley was “a battle- game in Philadelphia, had He also played a role in one Naval Operations, Gen.
mandant of the Marine tested commander and caught some in the Penta- of the Army’s more conten- Robert Neller as comman-
Corps and commander of Pentagon reformer who gon by surprise when unof- tious criminal cases. While dant of the Marine Corps,
coalition troops in Afghani- will be a worthy successor” ficial word spread Friday af- serving as head of U.S. and Air Force Gen. Paul
stan. Milley commanded to Dunford. That commit- ter he had tweeted that a Army Forces Command at Selva as vice chairman of
troops during several tours tee would consider a Joint succession announcement Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the Joint Chiefs. Trump also
in Iraq and Afghanistan. Chiefs nomination. was coming. Milley was assigned to re- will pick a replacement for
Dunford’s spokesman, Col. The chairman of the House Normally an announce- view the case of former Milley as Army chief.
Patrick Ryder, said all indi- Armed Services Commit- ment on a new chairman Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, Goldfein began his term
cations are that Dunford tee praised Milley for his wouldn’t be expected who abandoned his post in as Air Force chief of staff
will serve his full term. Ryder “direct, insightful military until early next year. Offi- Afghanistan and was held in 2016, so wouldn’t be ex-
referred other questions to assessments based upon cials had said the Air Force captive by the Taliban for pected to step down until
the White House. He said his intellect and years of chief, Gen. David Goldfein, five years. the summer of 2020.q