John W. Foss
Encyclopedia
General John William Foss is a retired United States Army four star general, and former commander of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
.
on February 13, 1933. He began his military career when he enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard
's 136th Infantry Regiment in April, 1950. He transferred to active duty as an infantryman in 1951, and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy
, and was commissioned in the infantry in 1956.
He has held a variety of command and staff positions. His overseas tours include four in Europe
and four in Asia
. Foss served as a platoon leader in the 504th
and 187th Infantry Regiments in both Germany
and Lebanon
and commanded a rifle company in the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry in Korea
. He served two combat tours in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division as the Operations Officer, 2nd Brigade and as the commander of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry.
His commands include the 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; the United States Army Infantry School
and Fort Benning
; the 82nd Airborne Division; the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg
; and Commanding General, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
He has also served as an instructor at the United States Military Academy
; the first exchaneg instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
; the G-3 of III Corps; Chief of the Joint Military Advisory Group, Manila, Philippines; Commanding General, Seventh Army Training Command in Germany; the U.S. Army Chief of Infantry; and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Department of the Army.
In addition to a Bachelor of Science
degree, he holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg State College. His awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster
s, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
, Silver Star
with Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Superior Service Medal
, Legion of Merit
with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross
and many other U.S. and allied awards. He has also earned the Ranger Tab
, Expert Infantryman Badge
, Combat Infantryman Badge
, the Master Parachutist Badge with over 300 jumps, and the Army Staff Identification
and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badges. He has been awarded parachute badges from the United Kingdom
, Philippines, Honduras
, and Egypt
. Foss was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1995.
. In retirement Foss has been Chairman of the Commission on the U.S. Army Reserve Command, served as a consultant to various defense industries, been on the Board of Advisors to both the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
and the National Infantry Foundation, Senior Mentor to Senior Joint Warfighting Course, Armed Forces Staff College and is a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Land Warfare of the Association of the United States Army
.In September 2009, Foss was awarded the Doughboy Award by the National Infantry Association
.
JSC
; Kevin M. Foss (wife Cristina), Portsmouth, VA, currently teaching Biology, Chemistry and Marine Science at Chesapeake Bay Academy
, Virginia Beach, VA and Julia Dunn (husband Jimmy) of Virginia Beach, VA. Through Julia the Foss' have three grandchildren: Bryana, Kyla and Brady.
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
Established 1 July 1973, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command is an army command of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is charged with overseeing training of Army forces, the development of operational doctrine, and the development and procurement of...
.
Military career
Foss was born in Hutchinson, MinnesotaHutchinson, Minnesota
According to the 2000 United States Census , there were 13,080 people, 5,333 households, and 3,418 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,763.6 people per square mile . There were 5,667 housing units at an average density of 764.1 per square mile...
on February 13, 1933. He began his military career when he enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
's 136th Infantry Regiment in April, 1950. He transferred to active duty as an infantryman in 1951, and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, and was commissioned in the infantry in 1956.
He has held a variety of command and staff positions. His overseas tours include four in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and four in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. Foss served as a platoon leader in the 504th
504th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment is an airborne infantry regiment in the United States Army, first formed in 1942 as part of the 82nd Airborne Division.-Organization:...
and 187th Infantry Regiments in both Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and commanded a rifle company in the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. He served two combat tours in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division as the Operations Officer, 2nd Brigade and as the commander of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry.
His commands include the 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; the United States Army Infantry School
United States Army Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade...
and Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
; the 82nd Airborne Division; the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
; and Commanding General, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
He has also served as an instructor at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
; the first exchaneg instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
; the G-3 of III Corps; Chief of the Joint Military Advisory Group, Manila, Philippines; Commanding General, Seventh Army Training Command in Germany; the U.S. Army Chief of Infantry; and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Department of the Army.
In addition to a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree, he holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg State College. His awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
s, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
and many other U.S. and allied awards. He has also earned the Ranger Tab
Ranger Tab
The Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
, Expert Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
The Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a military badge of the United States Army. Although similar in name and appearance to the Combat Infantryman Badge , it is a completely different award: while the CIB is awarded for participation in ground combat, the EIB is presented for completion of a...
, Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, the Master Parachutist Badge with over 300 jumps, and the Army Staff Identification
Army Staff Identification Badge
The Army Staff Identification Badge is a badge of the United States Army worn by personnel who serve at the Office of the Secretary of the Army and the Army Staff at Headquarters, Department of the Army and its agencies. Neither an award nor a decoration, the badge is a distinguishing emblem of...
and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badges. He has been awarded parachute badges from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Philippines, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Foss was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1995.
Army Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with one oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
Post military
He retired from the Army on September 1, 1991 and lives in Williamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. In retirement Foss has been Chairman of the Commission on the U.S. Army Reserve Command, served as a consultant to various defense industries, been on the Board of Advisors to both the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit think-tank focusing on issues of United States and Israel in national security. JINSA's stated aim is threefold: to ensure a strong and effective U.S...
and the National Infantry Foundation, Senior Mentor to Senior Joint Warfighting Course, Armed Forces Staff College and is a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Land Warfare of the Association of the United States Army
Association of the United States Army
The Association of the United States Army is a private, non-profit organization that acts primarily as an advocacy group for the United States Army. Founded in 1950, it has 125 chapters worldwide. Membership is open to everyone, not just Army personnel, nor is membership mandatory for soldiers,...
.In September 2009, Foss was awarded the Doughboy Award by the National Infantry Association
National Infantry Association
The National Infantry Association was established in 1994 as a professional association for Infantrymen and Infantry supporters. It was chartered as a private, non-profit, fraternal organization, to support the Infantry's role in the security of the United States, to assist Infantrymen in building...
.
Personal
Currently he resides with his wife, Gloria; dog (Charlotte) and cat (Ginger). He has three grown children: John W. Foss, Jr., (wife Theresa), Houston, TX currently working at NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
JSC
JSC
JSC may stand for joint steering committee, or one of the following:* Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, the National Air and Space Administration's mission flight control and astronaut training facility at Houston, Texas, United States...
; Kevin M. Foss (wife Cristina), Portsmouth, VA, currently teaching Biology, Chemistry and Marine Science at Chesapeake Bay Academy
Chesapeake Bay Academy
Chesapeake Bay Academy in Virginia Beach, Virginia is an independent coeducational day school.It is the only K-12 school in southeastern Virginia licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia and accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools for students with specific learning...
, Virginia Beach, VA and Julia Dunn (husband Jimmy) of Virginia Beach, VA. Through Julia the Foss' have three grandchildren: Bryana, Kyla and Brady.