Fort Liberty's 82nd Airborne Division welcomes new commander

The 82nd Airborne Division welcomed a new commanding general Friday morning at Fort Liberty.

More than 4,000 members of the 82nd Airborne Division stood at attention on Pike Field. The Paratroopers welcomed their new commander with tradition and style.

The 82nd Airborne Division Band played as soldiers marched, cannons blasted and helicopters cut through the sky.

The soldiers were here to say goodbye to Major General Christopher LaNeve. They welcomed their new commander, Brig. Gen. James Work. His boss, Lt. Gen. Chris Donahue, said Work comes aboard with his work cut out for him.

"Absolutely the right leader at the right time," Donahue said. "As he takes them out to Europe to makes sure that our European community remains exactly the way it should be. He's the right man for it."

General Work's remarks after assuming command were brief. He told his paratroopers that they are a national treasure unmatched by anything on this earth.

"I respect you. I know you care a hell of a lot more about what your commanders do than what they say," Work said. "I look forward to serving you and serving with you as we ready this division for war."

The 82nd Airborne Division is a 2-star command. The incoming general right now is a brigadier general, a 1-star. Brig. Gen. Work will become major general in a promotion.

Gen. Work will be taking the division's headquarters to Europe to replace soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division. It's a deployment that was scheduled since August of 2022 and is unrelated to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.