James L. Terry

Lieutenant General James L. Terry was born in Chatsworth, Georgia in 14 May 1957. A 1978 ROTC graduate from North Georgia College commissioned in the Infantry, Terry has commanded at multiple levels across the Army. Terry is the current commanding general of United States Army Central. Terry served as the last commander of V Corps before its inactivation in 2013. While commanding V Corps, he concurrently served as Commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC), and as deputy commander of United States Forces Afghanistan. He was the Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from 2009 to 2013.

Military career
Terry has served in a wide variety of assignments, to include rifle platoon leader, company executive officer, and anti-tank platoon leader while stationed with the 1-15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division in Kitzingen, Federal Republic of Germany; S-4 (logistics) and S-3 (operations) for the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; assistant professor of military science and the assistant commandant of cadets at North Georgia College in Dahlonega, Georgia; battalion executive officer for the United Nations Command Security Force Battalion, the Joint Security Area, in Panmunjom, Korea; deputy G3 and brigade executive officer with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell; executive officer to the Inspector General of the Army; chief of initiatives and deputy commander of the Joint Warfighting Center, U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia; and operations officer for the Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Army Central Command, at Camp Doha in Kuwait.

In 1981 he commanded A Company of the 2-327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell. He took command of the 2-22nd Infantry Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), at Fort Drum, New York, in June 1994. During this command, he deployed with the battalion to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy. From April 1998 until July 2000, Terry commanded the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light Infantry), at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. After this assignment, he commanded the operations group of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Terry then assumed duties as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), in August 2004. From January 2006 to February 2007, he deployed with the unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations) for the Combined Joint Task Force 76 in Afghanistan.

10th Mountain Division
From 2009 to 2011, Terry was the Division Commander of the 10th Mountain Division (LI). In October 2010, the division headquarters was designated as Combined Joint Task Force – 10, responsible for the command and control of coalition military forces in RC-South which encompasses five of Afghanistan’s southern provinces. Terry assumed command of RC-South from outgoing commander Major General Nick Carter in November 2010. On 1 October 2011, command of RC-South was transferred to Major General James L. Huggins, the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division.

V Corps
On 3 August 2011, the Department of Defense announced the nomination of Terry to the rank of Lieutenant General and for command of V Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army. On 5 November 2011, Terry handed over command of the 10th Mountain Division to its new commander Major General Mark A. Milley. Terry assumed command of V Corps in Wiesbaden, Germany on 10 January 2012. In May 2012, V Corps deployed to Afghanistan to serve as the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC) for a period of one year. Terry will continue to command V Corps while also serving as commander of IJC, and as deputy commander of United States Forces Afghanistan. Terry formally assumed command of IJC from LTG Curtis Scaparrotti on 12 June 2012.

Training and education
Terry earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from North Georgia College. He has a Master of Arts in Business Administration from Webster University and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy and Policy from National Defense University.

His military training includes Basic Airborne School, Army Ranger School, Air Assault School, Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Inspector General Course, the Command and General Staff Officer Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.

Awards and decorations
Terry's awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three four leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Army Achievement Medal. The is entitled to wear the Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.

On 12 September 2013, Terry was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada. Terry was presented this honor for his leadership of Regional Command South from November 2010 to October 2011. He is credited with supporting Canadian forces and promoting the importance of their mission in Afghanistan.