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U.S. Army relieves V Corps commander Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza
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The U.S. Army has relieved Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza from command of V Corps, one of its main units in Europe, with less than two months remaining in his tenure. The Army confirmed the firing but did not specify reasons, stating only that the matter has been referred to appropriate authorities. Brig. Gen. John Mountford has been named interim commanding general. Costanza, who took command in April 2024, has an extensive background including leading the 3rd Infantry Division and deployments to Iraq and Syria. His removal is the latest in a series of leadership shakeups in U.S. Army Europe, following the cancellation of major troop deployments to Europe in May and the early departure of Gen. Christopher Donahue as head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in June. The Pentagon is also conducting a review of American force posture in Europe.
Source report
One of the U.S. Army's top generals in Europe has been relieved of command. Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, head of V Corps, was removed from his post in recent days with less than two months remaining in his tenure.
V Corps is one of the Army's primary units in Europe, working closely with NATO allies and coordinating with U.S. forces rotated in as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Costanza is among several high-ranking officers to be removed from their positions in recent months.
ABC News first reported on Costanza's removal. The Army confirmed the firing to Task & Purpose.
"Lt. Gen Charles D. Costanza, commanding general, V Corps, was removed from command," an Army spokesperson said in a statement. "The matter has been referred to the appropriate authority in accordance with Army regulations."
The statement did not elaborate on the reason for Costanza's removal after he held the post for more than two years. The Army said that Brig. Gen. John Mountford, currently serving as deputy commanding general of readiness for V Corps, is serving as interim commanding general.
Succession and Background
Last month, the Department of Defense named Maj. Gen. Thomas Feltey as the nominee to lead V Corps. Feltey, who relinquished command of the 1st Cavalry Division on Aug. 4, is set to replace Costanza in October.
Costanza took over V Corps in April 2024. He commissioned in the Army in the armor branch and has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. He has an extensive history of leadership roles in the Army, including leading the 3rd Infantry Division from 2021 to 2023.
V Corps and Recent Shakeups
V Corps was reactivated in 2020 to bolster the U.S. military presence in Europe. Headquartered in Fort Knox, Kentucky, its forward deployment hub is Camp Kościuszko, Poland, which is home to U.S. Army Garrison, Poland.
Costanza's removal is the latest shakeup to hit the Army in Europe in recent months:
- In May, the Pentagon canceled two major troop deployments to Europe following diplomatic disputes with some heads of state, including a planned rotation of 4,000 soldiers to Poland. After public outcry, President Donald Trump said that 5,000 troops would go to Poland. In July, the Polish defense minister stated that rotations would resume "in the coming weeks."
- In June, Gen. Christopher Donahue relinquished command roughly halfway through his tenure as head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
- Last month, the Pentagon announced it had nominated Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral to replace Donahue.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon recently initiated a review of American force posture in Europe, which could determine troop presence on the continent.
Source
Task & PurposeWestern
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U.S. Army Relieves Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza from V Corps Command in Europe