Senior Officer Returns to Royal Warrior Battalion

Cadet Battalion Commander Jessica Persoon '13 (left) and Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Remley (right), professor of military science, present Major General Terry '79 with a Royal Warrior Battalion Belt Buckle for his service to the Army and for his speaking with the cadets in the military science program.

On Monday, Dec. 3, Major General Michael J. Terry ’79 returned to The University of Scranton to meet with cadets of the Royal Warrior Battalion and tour campus.  Major General Terry, a native of Dickson City, graduated from Scranton with a degree in criminal justice and earned his commission as a quartermaster officer through the school’s Army ROTC program. In June 2012, Major General Terry assumed command of the U.S. Army TACOM (Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command) Life Cycle Management Command. 

During his time with the Royal Warrior Battalion, Major General Terry engaged with cadets from the sophomore, junior and senior class. He shared with cadets his experiences while attending the University and participating in military science courses as a cadet, as well as offered insight into how these future leaders can prepare themselves to become successful officers.

“Major General Terry had very insightful remarks on how to prepare as a new 2LT in the Army,” said Military Science Level III Cadet Morganne Hedden. “I thought his advice on how to manage soldiers and problems in general was extremely helpful because they are issues that will come about no matter what your branch or rank is. By attending Major General Terry’s session, I feel more comfortable with becoming a commissioned officer in another year and a half.”  

Added Military Science Level III Cadet Nicholas Constanino,“It was nothing short of an honor to meet Major General Terry. It was inspiring to see such a success story from someone who came out of the same program that I am currently a part of. It was an amazing learning experience to be able to talk to a General about his experiences and ask him for advice about the future.”

After meeting with cadets and receiving a briefing on the battalion’s current operations and training by the Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Remley, professor of military science, Major General Terry toured the campus by Military Science Level IV Cadets Sean Cogan, Jessica Persoon and Carina Hanks.  Among the stops along the tour were the new Loyola Science Center, the library, St. Thomas Hall and the new fitness center.

Major General Terry has held a number of commands across the Army. He commanded a company in the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany. He also served as commander of the Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, as well as the 64th Corps Support Group (Forward), 13th Corps Support Command. He has served as assistant division commander for support, 7th Infantry Division (Light) and Fort Carson, as well as commanding general, 13th COSCOM, later re-designated as the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). 

During his command time, he led the 64th Corps Support Group during the initial invasion of Iraq. He deployed the 13th Sustainment Command to New Orleans and Southwest Louisiana in support of humanitarian relief efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and then to Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM rotation 06-08.

His next command assignment was as the commanding general, US Army Security Assistance Command, Ft Belvoir, Va.  Prior to assuming his current command billet, Major General Terry served as the commanding general, 8th Theater Sustainment Command in Hawaii. 

U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command is headquartered in Warren, Mich., and in partnership with the Army's Program Executive Offices, and is one of the Army's largest weapon systems research, development, and sustainment organizations. Subordinate organizations include several Army Depots such as Red River in Texas, Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois and Anniston in Alabama.

The mission of U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command is to develop, acquire, field and sustain soldier and ground systems for the warfighter through the integration of effective and timely acquisition, logistics and cutting-edge technology.

Major General Terry’s military education includes the quartermaster basic and advance courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Naval War College. While at the Naval War College, he earned a graduate degree in national security and strategic studies.

Major General Terry will return to The University of Scranton in February to speak with the entire cadet battalion on leadership and the challenges junior officers in the Army face today.