Lakehurst Two-star generals from the northeastern United States recently participated in a change of command ceremony at the Army Reserve.
Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve, officiated the change of command service for the Army Reserve’s 99th Readiness Division. Major Gen. Laurence Scott Linton was the incoming commanding general of the 99th Readiness Division, while Major Gen. Kris A. Belanger was the outgoing commanding general.
The 99th Readiness Division headquarters on the Joint Base served as the venue for the ceremony. In order to improve individual and unit preparedness for Army Reserve force mobilization and deployment, the U.S. Army Reserve’s northeastern commanding general oversees the division’s efforts to integrate capabilities with Reserve Commands.
At the event, Major Gen. Belanger said, “I want everyone to know how much of an honor and privilege it has been to serve you and this great nation, and to end my career in the same place it began 39 years ago,” according to Sgt. 1st Class Deziree Lau of the 99th Readiness Division.
Your presence is overwhelming, but more significantly, I am incredibly appreciative of your assistance over the previous two years. Belanger, who was born in New Jersey, added. We worked really hard together to increase relevance and readiness.
He joked that he would be negligent if he didn’t emphasize how much he would miss pizza, sweet corn, and all that delicious Italian food from New Jersey. Growing up, Belanger lived in Sussex County.
According to Harter, the 99th has an amazing team, with outstanding troops and citizens working together to do amazing things. They also have an excellent commander in Kris Belanger, a Jersey girl who has been back home for a few years. Kris made an impact while serving as the commanding general of the 99th RD. She pursued our top objective in the Army Reserve, which is to prepare units for battle.
Kris Belanger is as talented and committed as they come, Harter said. Maj. Gen. Linton, who takes charge of the almost 45,000 Army Reserve Soldiers stationed in the northeastern United States, succeeded Belanger.
“I realize command is a privilege, and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to lead the 99th,” Linton said. Nearly every action we take has an impact on a soldier or their family. After graduating from the State University of New York at Cortland in 1992, he was commissioned as an armor officer after joining the Army in 1985 as a non-commissioned officer.
After serving as the deputy commanding general-USAR, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command in 2022 and the deputy commanding general, Center for Initial Military Training in 2024, the next commander joins the division.
Linton has a master’s degree in strategic studies, a bachelor’s degree in economics, and a master’s degree in human resources technology.
The division’s primary responsibilities from its headquarters at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst are as follows:
- Managing over 500 Army Reserve installations, local training areas, buildings and facilities throughout the division s 13-state region stretching from Maine to Virginia.
- Maintaining Army Reserve unit vehicles and equipment at nearly three dozen Area Maintenance Support Activities and Equipment Concentration Sites.
- Supporting Army Reserve Soldiers, families, employers and communities through numerous programs, initiatives and partnerships.
- Assisting with defense support to civil authorities by providing disaster relief and emergency management in the form of equipment, facilities and personnel.
- Providing more than 550 units consistent, realistic training support, modern equipment and personnel readiness to be ready now and help shape the Army Reserve for the demands of tomorrow.
In Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia, the 99th Readiness Division is in charge of over 51,000 Army reserve soldiers in over 550 units spread across 332 reserve-component facilities and 33 maintenance facilities.
In terms of the number of workers, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is the second-largest employer in New Jersey, after the State of New Jersey.
