FORT KNOX, Ky. –
U.S. Army Recruiting Command welcomed a new command team during a change of command and change of responsibility ceremony here July 23.
Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen became the 27th USAREC commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Foley accepted responsibility as the new senior enlisted leader of the command.
The two follow Maj. Gen. Frank Muth and Command Sgt. Maj. Tabitha Gavia, who had been leading USAREC since July 2018.
Vereen most recently served as the provost marshal general of the U.S. Army and commanding general, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. In those roles he served as the principal military advisor on policing matters and as the Department of the Army’s independent criminal investigative authority reporting directly to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army. He is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and he commissioned into the Army as a field artillery officer after graduating from Campbell University in 1988. Vereen later became a military police officer.
Foley joins the USAREC team after serving as post command sergeant major for the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He started his career as a patriot missile crewmember in 1989. He is a native of Panama City, Florida, and served more than 15 years of his career overseas and deployed.
The new command team takes responsibility for the recruiting mission for the active Army and the Army Reserve with about 14,000 personnel stationed at about 1,400 locations around the world. Neither leader is completely new to the command. Vereen served as USAREC’s deputy commanding general-operations from 2017-2019, and Foley served as an Army recruiter from 1995-1998.
Vereen said he is honored to return to lead the USAREC team.
“(Maj. Gen. Muth and Command Sgt. Maj. Gavia have) spent the last two years leading this great organization with high energy, passion and commitment,” Vereen said. “I am honored to be able to accept command from Maj. Gen. Muth, and I know what condition this outstanding organization is in.”
Muth told the team in attendance in person and online that he and Gavia have been honored to lead the formation for the final two years of their careers. Both leaders are retiring from the U.S. Army after 34 and 32 years, respectively.
“USAREC has been one of the most challenging assignments in my career, it has also been one of the most rewarding,” Muth said. “The rest of the Army needs to witness the dedication of the Soldiers and civilians in this formation. I am humbled to stand in formation with every one of you every day. You work tirelessly every day because you are truly passionate about this mission.”
He thanked recruiters for bringing their creativity and ingenuity to them to propel Army recruiting from the Industrial Age to the Digital Age and recognized the commanders and command sergeants major for providing leadership during some challenging times.
Muth and Gavia both applauded the USAREC team for their ingenuity and adaptability.
“Our recruiter rock stars, my final words to you,” Gavia said. “Know how important and powerful you are. Where would our great Army be without you? You have a direct impact on Army readiness. Never forget that. Each and every one of you are vitally important to me, our (commanding general) and the Army. I’m so incredibly thankful that I have had this opportunity.”
Foley demonstrated his own passion for the Army and excitement for the recruiting mission during his first remarks as the command’s new senior enlisted leader.
“I'm glad to be back to serve in this command,” Foley said. “I vow to learn what you do, to make everybody around us better, to improve our recruiters and our command, and to make this organization better, this nation better and our Army better.
Gen. Paul Funk, commanding general of Training and Doctrine Command, hosted the ceremony and spoke highly of the leadership Muth and Gavia have provided over the last two years.
“Maj. Gen. Muth and Command Sgt. Maj. Gavia were the textbook definition of team,” Funk said. “They traveled to recruiting stations together, worked out together, and even took selfies together. Most importantly they ‘put ‘em in boots’ together. They were recently described to me as peas and carrots. I can’t think of a better way to describe this dynamic duo. Together, this incredible team of peas and carrots, rewrote the book of recruiting.”