FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov. 6, 2013) -- The Maneuver Center of Excellence bids farewell to the U.S. Infantry School Commandant Brig. Gen. David B. Haight during a departure ceremony Friday at Marshall Auditorium in McGinnis-Wickam Hall.
An audience of military and civilian leaders gathered to honor Haight, who leaves Fort Benning to become the deputy commanding officer of Regional Command-East in Afghanistan. He was promoted to brigadier general April 5 and served as the 53rd Chief of Infantry since August 2012. A replacement for Haight has not been announced.
Maj. Gen. H. R. McMaster, the MCoE and Fort Benning's commanding general, said Haight and his wife Bonnie's presence will be missed.
"It's going to be tough to see David and Bonnie go, but it's the right thing to do for our Army at this critical time for our campaign in Afghanistan," he said. "There's no one better than David Haight to take on very important responsibilities in Regional Command East where our Soldiers continue to fight alongside courageous Afghans and multinational partners."
As commandant, Haight was responsible for all facets of Infantry training, including all doctrine, policies and responsibilities relating to the Infantry force. More than 42,000 Soldiers and two divisions of Infantrymen were trained under his command. McMaster said Haight's leadership in improving doctrine and organization and creating combined arms training was a great asset to the MCoE.
"Dave has been an awesome leader in combat development as well as leader development across all of our schools," McMaster said. "Dave has done more than anyone I know to preserve the combat capability of American Infantrymen and ensure they have the toughness, stamina, courage, confidence and training to accomplish the mission in battle."
During Haight's assignment as the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, he served a combat tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom and commanded 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, with multiple combat tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He also commanded 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and served a combat tour in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Prior to his assignment as the Infantry commandant, Haight served as the executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the deputy director of the Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination Cell, J-5, Joint Staff.
Haight said it would be especially difficult to leave the Fort Benning and Columbus communities, where he raised his Family and made many valuable friendships. He thanked Infantry Soldiers and encouraged them to value their commitments to the Army.
"I would admonish them to remember things they learned here, stay in shape, keep studying their profession and practice and train hard, so they can fulfill their noble role in our brigade combat teams and formations in which they will be assigned," he said.
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