CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Lt. Gen. William G. Webster, a Baton Rouge, La., native and Third Army commanding general, will retire June 3 after serving 37 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.
“The leaders and soldiers of Third Army continue to inspire me,” said Lt. Gen. Webster. “It has been an honor to serve with every soldier, sailor, airmen and Marine that make up our great team.”
Lt. Gen. Webster received his commission June 5, 1974, from the United States Military Academy at West Point. During his 37 years of military service as an armor officer, he has commanded at the platoon, company, battalion, brigade, division and army levels.
He commanded the National Training Center. He commanded 3rd Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was the Deputy Commander of Land Forces in the initial 2003 attack. After the division returned from Iraq in June 2003, Lt. Gen. Webster took command of the 3rd Infantry Division through June 2006. Lt. Gen. Webster trained the division and redeployed it to Baghdad. He commanded the 40,000 men and women of Multi-National Division-Baghdad from 2005 to 2006. During his command, the 3rd Infantry Division was the first division in the Army to be organized under the new modular system.
“We trained an awful lot at 3rd Infantry Division,” said Lt. Gen. Webster. “We always stayed focused on priority tasks and the things we would have to do next in Iraq.”
Prior to taking command at Third Army, Lt. Gen. Webster was the deputy commander of United States Northern Command/Vice Commander, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
Throughout his military career, Lt. Gen. Webster has had a strong military background to help guide his path and core principles.
His father served in the Louisiana National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard for more than 30 years and retired as an acting first sergeant with a military police unit. Lt. Gen. Webster’s wife, Kimberly, grew up in a house where her father served 30 years in the Army and retired as an infantry colonel. Lt. Gen. Webster’s son, 1st Lt. Will Webster, has just ended a deployment to Afghanistan.
“I learned the value of doing something right the first time from my father,” said Lt. Gen. Webster. “And [my wife’s] father taught me the value of service,” he added.
During his command at Third Army, Lt. Gen. Webster redefined readiness and led the Army transformation to full-spectrum operations while executing a theater-wide engagement plan and providing support to Third Army’s area of responsibility.
The progress Third Army achieved during Lt. Gen. Webster’s command was hard-earned and the accomplishments have made history. In those two years, Third Army oversaw the Drawdown of Iraq and the Build-up in Afghanistan; known as Operation Nickel II. This was the largest operation since World War II.
Lt. Gen. Webster hailed leaders, non-commissioned officers and soldiers with whom he has worked during his command at Third Army. According to Lt. Gen. Webster, NCOs at Third Army always set the standard for ensuring a mission’s success.
“I learned early in my career to listen to NCOs,” said Lt. Gen. Webster. “I believe it’s important to ask questions, rehearse and prepare for each mission. Because of the leaders and NCOs here at Third Army, this command has become more ready to conduct combat operations since the spring of 2003.”
Lt. Gen. Webster gave some final advice. Staying focused on Mission, People and Teamwork will allow leaders and soldiers to accomplish anything in life according to Lt. Gen. Webster.
Before his retirement, Lt. Gen. Webster received high praise from Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan.
“It was a true pleasure to soldier with [Lt. Gen. Webster] in those various assignments and watch with admiration as he repeatedly demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities and extraordinary skills as a planner and operator, and most significantly, a commander,” said Petraeus.
Maj. Gen. (P) Vincent K. Brooks will take command of Third Army after serving as the commanding general of 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. The change of command ceremony is scheduled for June 3 at Fort McPherson, Georgia.