Army removes head of V Corps from command

One of the Army’s top generals in Europe was removed from his command in recent days. Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, head of V Corps, was relieved with less than two months left in his tenure. 

V Corps is one of the Army’s main units in Europe, working closely with NATO allies and coordinating with U.S. forces rotated in as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Costanza is one of several high ranking officers to be removed from their posts in recent months. ABC News first reported on Costanza’s removal. The Army confirmed his 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 why Costanza was removed from command after holding 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 the interim commanding general.

Last month, the Department of Defense named Maj. Gen. Thomas Feltey as the nominee to lead V Corps. Feltey, who relinquished command of 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. He has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve, and has an extensive history of leadership roles in the Army, including leading the 3rd Infantry Division from 2021-2023.

V Corps was reactivated in 2020, meant to bolster the U.S. military presence in Europe. Headquartered in Fort Knox, Kentucky, its forward deployment hub is Camp Kościuszko, Poland. That base is home to U.S. Army Garrison, Poland. 

Costanza’s removal of command 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 fights with some heads of state. That included a planned rotation of 4,000 soldiers to Poland. After outcry over the canceled deployments, President Donald Trump said that 5,000 troops would go to Poland. In July, the Polish defense minister said 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 that it nominated Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral to replace Donahue.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon recently started a review of American force posture in Europe. That review could determine troop presence on the continent.