Beaudette inducted into Distinguished Members of Ops Group

By JEAN DUBIEL
Guardian Staff Writer

FORT POLK, La. — Before Lt. Gen. Francis Beaudette became the commander of U.S. Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he served in many other positions and units. Among his first assignments was a stint with the Joint Readiness Training Center Operations Group from 1993-1994, and it is that connection that has placed him among the ranks of the Distinguished Members of Operations Group, or DMOG.

In an induction ceremony held March 19 at JRTC Ops Group Headquarters, Beaudette became a member of the DMOG, a group that includes Gen. Mark A. Milley, 39th and current Army Chief of Staff, and retired Sgt. Maj. Jack P. Hardwick, who was the Ops Group command sergeant major when the JRTC relocated to Fort Polk from Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

“General Beaudette served (here) as a tactical intelligence officer with Geronimo,” said Col. David Gardner, commander, JRTC Operations Group. “Thank you, sir, for coming back here and giving us this opportunity to recognize you and put your name on the wall.”

Beaudette said he is a life-long member of Geronimo and vividly remembers his time at JRTC. “I feel that I grew up here as a leader in the Army,” he said. “I went to war every month with a great group of Soldiers and I learned a lot from our battalion commander about mission command, what mission and intent, task and purpose were all about, and what the expectations are. I think that without this formative experience, I wouldn’t be standing here today, and I may not have taken the career path that I am on.”

Gardner said induction into DMOG isn’t just about honoring the nominee — it’s also a demonstration of the effect JRTC Ops Group has on the entire Army.

“The hope is (that those who serve) as members of Ops Group are influenced by what they experience down here and take that out into the Army,” said Gardner.

“I think when people walk past our (DMOG) wall and they see names like Milley and Beaudette, it sets the tone that this isn’t just where the infantry comes to train — it’s where the Army comes to train.”

To become eligible for induction in the DMOG, nominees must have made a significant, positive or lasting contribution to Operations Group or the Army; can be active-duty, retired or separated Soldiers or Department of the Army civilians that have served with Operations Group; and must have been nominated by Dec. 1 (this is an annual selection) by someone other than the nominee; or fall into one of the following categories:

• Any Ops Group Soldier listed as killed in action while serving with Ops Group.

• Any former Ops Group command sergeant major or sergeant major serving at the nominative level.

• Any former Ops Group Soldier who reaches the rank of lieutenant general.

• Any former Ops Group Soldier who receives a valorous award of the Silver Star or higher.

After his assignment at Fort Polk, Beaudette completed Special Forces training and went on to command two detachments with 3rd Special Forces Group as well as the Headquarters Company and served as the group assistant S-3; became aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and for the deputy commanding general of Kosovo Forces; commanded a Special Forces company at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Kosovo; served as battalion executive officer and group operations officer for the 10th Special Forces Group in Colorado and Iraq; did a tour on the Joint Staff in the J3 Deputy Directorate for Special Operations; commanded 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group in Germany and Special Operations Task Force 10 in Afghanistan; became the G3 and chief of staff for U.S. Army Special Forces Command; commanded the 1st Special Forces Group and Joint Special Operations Task Force in the Philippines; became the executive officer to the commander of USASOC; was the deputy commanding general of the 1st Armored Division and director of Central Command Forward (Jordan); served as assistant commanding general with Joint Special Operations Command; became the commanding general of 1st Special Forces Group; and is currently the commander of U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Beaudette is also a graduate of the Citadel, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.

“This (induction) means a lot to me,” said Beaudette. “It came as a bit of a surprise in recent weeks and I appreciate it.”