Battlefield Fallujah Warriors: Lieutenant Colonel James Rainey, U.S. Army
Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry
Episode 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
Interviewer: Unidentified ABC News Reporter
Fallujah, Iraq - November 2004
Courtesy of the Department of Defense
On 12 October 2018, Lieutenant General Rainey assumed the position of Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A) and Deputy Chief of Staff Security Assistance (DCOS SA), Headquarters RESOLUTE SUPPORT. Prior to assuming command of CSTC-A, Lieutenant General Rainey was the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters Department of the Army.
Lieutenant General Rainey graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1987 and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer. Lieutenant General Rainey has served since in a variety of command and leadership positions from platoon leader to division commander. As a Lieutenant, Maj. Gen. Rainey served as a Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and later as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
Following the Infantry Advanced Course, he commanded the Long Range Surveillance Detachment in the First Cavalry Division and Hotel Company, 3rd United States Infantry (The Old Guard). He later served as the Executive Officer of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and commanded Task Force 2-7 CAV in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He returned to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson. Following Brigade Command, Lieutenant General Rainey assumed responsibility as the Director of the Mission Command Center of Excellence.
He then served as the Deputy Commanding General of 4th Infantry Division and Regional Command-South, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, and returned to Fort Benning to serve as the Infantry School Commandant and Chief of Infantry at the Maneuver Center of Excellence. Lieutenant General Rainey was the 3rd Infantry Division Commander and served as Deputy Commanding General-Support United States Forces – Afghanistan, Commander Bagram Airfield, and Commander, Joint Task Force-3 in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel.
Lieutenant General Rainey has served in key staff assignments including Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern in Washington, D.C.; Chief of Plans for the 2nd Infantry Division and Operations Officer for 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment; Executive Officer to the III Corps Commander; G-3 Operations Officer in the V Corps Assault Command Post in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Chief of War on Terror Plans for U.S. European Command; G-3 of the 4th Infantry Division and the Multi-National Division-Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lieutenant General Rainey’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (three oak leaf clusters), Bronze Star (six oak leaf clusters), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and Joint Chief of Staff Identification Badge.
He graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He earned his Master’s Degrees in Advanced Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and in Public Administration from Troy University. He was also a Senior Service Fellow from the Korbel School of International Relations, Denver University.
Source: Department of Defense
