Khaberni - The dismissed Chief of Staff of the US Army, General Randy George, informed Pentagon officials in an outgoing email that American soldiers deserve "brave leaders with strong character", after War Secretary Pete Highsith asked him to step down and retire immediately.
Following his dismissal, an outgoing email attributed to George spread, which CBS News confirmed as authentic last Saturday.
An American official told CBS News that George sent the message to Daniel Driscoll, the US Army Secretary, in addition to generals and high-level officers of the military staff.
George wrote: "It has been a great honor for me to serve alongside you, and to lead soldiers in support of our nation".
He continued: "I know you will all continue to focus wholly on the mission, keep innovating, and work tirelessly to overcome bureaucratic hurdles to provide everything our soldiers need to achieve victory in the modern battlefield".
He added: "Our soldiers are truly the best in the world, deserving of rigorous training and brave leaders with strong character. I have no doubt that you will continue to lead with courage, strong character, and unwavering determination".
George previously served as the Chief Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin from 2021 to 2022, during the Biden administration. He assumed the position of Chief of Staff of the Army, a post usually lasting four years, in 2023.
Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, said in a statement, "George will retire from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately. The War Department expresses gratitude to General George for decades of service to our nation. We wish him well in his retirement".
The current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, General Christopher Lanive, who was previously a military assistant to Highsith, will take over as the acting Chief of Staff of the Army.
Highsith has dismissed more than a dozen high-ranking military officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C.Q. Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General James Slyve, and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse.
