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The University of Southern Mississippi
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The University of Southern Mississippi

LEARN HOW PEOPLE HAVE GAINED FROM ROTC

LEADERSHIP THAT LASTS A LIFETIME

One of the best ways to see if Army ROTC is right for you is to learn how alumni have benefited from the experience. See how the skills they learned in ROTC have helped them build successful and satisfying careers.

COL Mike Cloy and COL Russell Cloy while on deployment

CLOY Brothers

MAJ GEN Buford Blount

Major General Buff Blount has been servingas the Army’s Deputy G-3 since Oct 2003. Previously he was the CommandingGeneral, 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart and Hunter ArmyAirfield.  Major General Blount gave up command of the 3 ID after bringingthem home from Iraq where they were the lead force in capturing Baghdad. Before his command Major General Blount was stationed in Saudi Arabia where hewas the Program Manager for the Saudi Arabian National Guard ModernizationProgram.

Major General Blount has served in a variety of command and staffpositions.  His command assignments include Commander, Combat SupportCompany and B Company, 3d Battalion, 77th Armor, 5th Infantry Division(Mechanized), Fort Polk, LA; Commander, A Troop, 15th Cavalry, 197th InfantryBrigade, Fort Benning, GA; Commander, 3d Battalion, 64th Armor, 3d InfantryDivision (Mechanized), USAREUR and Seventh Army, Germany; Commander, 3dBrigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Carson, CO.  Betweencommand assignments he has served as the Operations, Plans and TrainingOfficer, 2d Battalion, 69th Armor, 197th Infantry Brigade, Fort Benning, GA;Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized),Fort Polk, Louisiana,Chief, Test Support Division, United States Army InfantryBoard, Fort Benning, Georgia Chief, Armor Plans and Operations Officer, Officeof the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program,Saudi Arabia; Executive Officer, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor, and 2d Brigade,24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, GA; and Division Chief ofStaff, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Hood, Texas.

Major General Blount is a graduate of theUniversity of Southern Mississippi and was commissioned an armor officer in1971.  He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, the InfantryOfficer Advanced Course, the United States Army Command and General StaffCollege, and the United States Naval War College where he earned a Master ofScience Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

His awards include the DistinguishedService Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (with two Oak Leaf Clusters),Meritorious Service Medal (with six Oak Leaf Clusters), and the ArmyCommendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters).