Red Bull Division Commander Promoted to Major General

Army Brig. Gen. David J. Elicerio was promoted to major general Sunday morning at an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Rosemount National Guard Armory.

"Brig. Gen. Elicerio has worked for me in Bosnia, Iraq and Minnesota and his talent as a leader is unsurpassed," said Army Maj. Gen. Richard C. Nash, Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General.

“Without a doubt he is the most talented officer that I have served with in 39 years,” Nash told the Red Bull Infantry Division audience Sunday morning. “He’s got courage, both personal and moral. He’s got candor, at times a little too much. Commitment, confidence and certainly competence. But above all, he’s passionate and cares a lot about soldiers.”

Residing in Ham Lake, Elicerio has been a member of the Minnesota National Guard since 1980, said Army Maj. Jason K. Burley, public affairs officer for the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.

Elicerio currently is the commanding general of more than 10,000 soldiers in the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.

“It has been a long road,” said Elicerio. “I think it was 14 June 1980 second lieutenant Elicerio reported to that Owatonna armory, to then first lieutenant Richard C. Nash.

“Always we tried to do the right thing,” Elicerio added. “That sentence means so much to my career that I think I should share that with you and if you take just that one sentence away and apply it wherever you go and to whatever you’re doing, you’ll do OK. Try to do the right thing today.”

Major General is the highest permanent rank in the U.S. Army.

Elicerio served as the Chief of Joint Military Affairs during the Minnesota National Guard’s peace keeping mission to Bosnia in 2003. In 2005, he commanded the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division.

Before taking command of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division in April, Elicerio served as the deputy commander for the division and completed his second tour to Iraq.

He received his commission in 1980 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Minnesota. He has served as the Chief of Joint Military Affairs at Eagle Base in Tuzla, Bosnia/Herzegovina for Stabilization Force 14.

Elicerio was assigned as the 1/34 Brigade Combat Team Commander where he commanded more than 4,000 soldiers conducting 16 months of security operations throughout the Iraq theater of operations. He most recently completed a tour of duty as the Deputy Commander, 34th Infantry Division, United States Forces-South, Basra, Iraq.

“Many of you know of his ability to lead at the highest level,” Nash said of Elicerio. " … This signifies obviously the trust that not only the Army but that I have placed in Major General David J. Elicerio to lead the 34th Red Bull Division. General Elicerio has commanded, as you just heard, at every level leading up to this well deserved promotion. And I have witnessed at firsthand his talent, his commitment and his accomplishments.”

“The unfortunate part about being promoted and assigned here today is the end point is now in sight,” said Elicerio. “I know that there will probably be a division change in command in September 2014 and I will take off the uniform and you guys will have to figure out how to run this army without Elicerio around. So the challenge between now and then is for each of us to figure out how to make this organization as good as possible. The best it can be in three quick years. It’s a good, good division. It’s going to be difficult to make it better.”