ISAF Joint Command Welcomes New Commander

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012 – Army Lt. Gen. James L. Terry today took command of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command from Army Lt. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti during a change of command ceremony held at the ISAF Joint Command headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Terry will also serve as the deputy commanding general of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan.

ISAF’s commander, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, presided at the ceremony.

Scaparrotti served as the commander of ISAF Joint Command and deputy commanding general of U.S. Forces–Afghanistan from July 11, 2011, to June 12, 2012. He is the commanding general of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord located near Tacoma, Wash. Scaparrotti previously served as the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. As the 82nd’s commander, he deployed to Afghanistan as the commanding general of Joint Task Force-82 in eastern Afghanistan.

“I want to thank my Afghan and coalition partners. It has been an honor and privilege to serve with you,” Scaparrotti said at the ceremony. “Together, over the past year, we have made great progress. Our actions have delivered opportunity; opportunity for the Afghan people to secure their future, and opportunity for the Afghan people to secure peace.”

Terry is the commander of V Corps based in Wiesbaden, Germany. Prior to taking command of the corps, he served as commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division (Light), based at Fort Drum, N.Y., from September 2009 to November 2011. As division commander, Terry deployed to Afghanistan and served as the commander of ISAF Regional Command-South from October 2010 to October 2011. From August 2004 to February 2007, he served as the 10th division’s deputy commanding general of operations, and deployed to Afghanistan as the deputy commanding general of operations for Combined Joint Task Force-76 from January 2006 to February 2007.

“We left our comfortable homes and loved ones to become part of a team that will take the next steps in bringing lasting stability to Afghanistan,” Terry said. “Our success also secures our own nations by denying Afghanistan as a safe haven for terrorists. We will make a difference, at home, in this region and throughout the world.”

In other news across Afghanistan, an Afghan and ISAF patrol detained one suspected insurgent and discovered more than 1,000 pounds of hashish in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. The hashish was destroyed.

In June 10 operations, a combined force seized and destroyed a narcotics processing facility in the Baghran district of Helmand province. The combined force seized 44 pounds of morphine base, 33 pounds of wet opium, 385 pounds of ammonium chloride, 1,430 pounds of morphine waste, one large press, 120 barrels and numerous narcotics precursors. Wet opium is the key ingredient in the production of heroin. The drugs were destroyed.

On June 9, a coalition patrol killed several insurgents and detained one suspect in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. The patrol found IED-making components, 11 anti-personnel mines, a rocket-propelled grenade, four AK-47 rifles and eight motorcycles.