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Assistant Adjutant General – Army

Colonel Eric Orcutt

COL Orcutt enlisted as a forward observer (13F) with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 148th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) in February 2000. In 2002, he received his commission as a field artillery officer and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Idaho State University.

COL Orcutt’s first assignment as an officer was as platoon leader for Battery C, 1-148th FAR. In 2004, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III and served as the task force fire support officer for 2-116th Armor Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (CBCT). COL Orcutt assumed command of Battery B, 1-148th FAR, upon returning from Iraq in 2005 and served as battery commander from January 2006 to February 2009. In February 2009, he was assigned the battalion S-1 for 1-148th FAR and remained in that position through his second deployment to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn from September 2010 through September 2011.

In September 2011, COL Orcutt was assigned as the battalion fire direction officer for the 1-148th FAR. COL Orcutt was promoted to major in September 2012 and assigned as the plans officer in HHC, 116th CBCT. In June 2014, he became the assistant brigade fire support officer and attended the brigade’s 2015 National Training Center rotation. COL Orcutt was assigned as the 116th CBCT S-3 in October 2016. He was assigned as the executive officer for the 116th CBCT in July 2017. While in this position, the brigade completed a second rotation at the National Training Center in June 2019.

In February 2020, COL Orcutt was assigned as battalion commander of 1-148th FAR with a concurrent full-time position as the state training officer, G-3, for the Idaho Army National Guard.

COL Orcutt commanded the 116th CBCT from August 2001 to May 2024. Under his command, the 116th CBCT completed two back-to-back task force mobilizations in support of Operation Spartan Shield in the Central Command area of responsibility; two joint and multinational overseas training exercises in the Republic of Tunisia and the Kingdom of Morocco; and the continued modernization of 116th CBCT equipment.

COL Orcutt served as the chief of the joint staff from May 2024 to appointment as commander of the Idaho Army National Guard in August 2026.

COL Orcutt grew up in Lewiston, Idaho. In August 2020, he married his wife Valorie, and between them, they have six children. He has two sons: Kaden and Konner. Valorie has four children: Antony, Anzli, Autiana, and Ailani.

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES

1996, North Idaho College, Associate of Applied Science, Law Enforcement, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

2002, Idaho State University, Bachelor of Arts, Social Work, Pocatello, Idaho

2023, United States Army War College, Master of Strategic Studies, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

 

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED

2002, Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, In Residence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma

2008, Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course, By Correspondence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma

2009, ARNG BDE/BN S1 Course, In Residence, Little Rock, Arkansas

2010, Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Training, In Residence, Boise, Idaho

2010, Adjutant General Captain’s Career Course, By Correspondence, Fort Jackson, South Carolina

2015, Risk Management Basic Course, By Correspondence, Boise, Idaho

2016, United States Command and General Staff College – Common Core, By Correspondence, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

2017, United States Command and General Staff College – Advanced Operations Course, By Correspondence, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

2021, Pre-Command Course, In Residence, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

2023, United States Army War College, By Correspondence, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

2024, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, In Residence, Colorado Springs, Colorado

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. May 2002 – May 2004 Fire Direction Officer, Detachment 1, C Battery, 1-148 Field Artillery Battalion, Idaho Army National Guard, St. Anthony, Idaho
  2. May 2004 – June 2004, Fire Support Officer, HHB, 1-148 Field Artillery Battalion, Idaho Army National Guard, Pocatello, Idaho
  3. June 2004 – March 2006, Platoon Leader, HHB, 1-148 Field Artillery Battalion, Idaho Army National Guard, Pocatello, Idaho
  4. March 2006 – February 2009, Commander, B Battery, 1-148 Field Artillery Battalion, Idaho Army National Guard, Rexburg, Idaho
  5. February 2009 – February 2012, Personnel Officer (S1), HHB, 1-148 Field Artillery Battalion, Idaho Army National Guard, Pocatello, Idaho
  6. March 2012 – August 2012, Fire Direction Officer, HHB, 1-148 Field Artillery Battalion, Idaho Army National Guard, Pocatello, Idaho
  7. August 2012 – July 2014, Brigade Plans Officer, HHC, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho
  8. July 2014 – January 2016, Assistant Fire Support Officer, HHC, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho
  9. January 2016 – September 2016, Fire Support Coordinator, HHC, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho
  10. October 2016 – August 2017, Operations Officer (S3), HHC, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho
  11. August 2017 – February 2020, Executive Officer, HHC, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho
  12. February 2020 – August 2021, Commander, 1-148 Field Artillery Regiment, Idaho Army National Guard, Pocatello, Idaho
  13. August 2021 – May 2024, Commander, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho
  14. May 2024 – Present, Chief of Joint Staff, Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho

 

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

  1. June 2004 – November 2005, Fire Support Officer, 2-116 Armor Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM III,  FOB WARRIOR, Iraq
  2. September 2010 – September 2011, Personnel Officer (S1), HHB, 1-148 Field Artillery Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, OPERATION NEW DAWN, FOB PROSPERITY, Baghdad, Iraq

 

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (with 2  Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Army Commendation Medal (with 1  Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Army Achievement Medal (with 1  Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

National Defense Service Medal

Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Star Devices)

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)

Army Service Ribbon

Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with Bronze Numeral 2)

Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Bronze Numeral 2)

Idaho National Guard Emergency Duty Ribbon

Idaho National Guard Recruiting Ribbon

Idaho National Guard Service Ribbon (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

Montana National Guard Commendation Medal

Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Idaho National Guard Governor’s Outstanding Unit Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Cavalry and Armor Association

National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) – Lifetime Member

 

PROMOTIONS                     DATE OF APPOINTMENT

Second Lieutenant                18        May             2002

First Lieutenant                    18        May             2004

Captain                                23        January        2007

Major                                   15        January        2013

Lieutenant Colonel               25        January        2018

Colonel                                30        March          2022

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