Lieutenant General Charles D. Costanza has been removed as commander of the US Army V Corps, the unit responsible for overseeing American forces in Europe and operating from Camp Kościuszko in Poznań. ABC News reported the decision on Friday, and a US Army spokesperson confirmed it without giving an official reason.
The dismissal comes as the Pentagon’s leadership undergoes a broad shake-up under Army Secretary Pete Hegseth. ABC News noted that more than two dozen senior officers have been fired or pushed aside during that reorganization, often without public explanations. Costanza had led the V Corps since April 2024.
Command transition and Senate-approved successor
His replacement is Major General Thomas Feltey, whose nomination has already been confirmed by the US Senate. Feltey is expected to take over in October, but until then Brigadier General John B. Mountford will serve as acting V Corps commander, overseeing combat readiness.
Costanza’s departure was not the only recent event involving the corps in Poznań. Defence24 reported that he appeared there on Monday for a ceremony marking the transfer of Command Sergeant Major duties to Philip Blaisdell. The ceremony was attended by representatives from Poland, the Baltic states, Romania, Denmark and France. Costanza said their presence demonstrated NATO’s enduring strength and shared commitment to security and stability across Europe.
US force posture and new troops for Poland
The US Army has reduced its footprint in Europe this year, according to ABC News. President Donald Trump, however, announced in May that the United States would send another five thousand soldiers to Poland.
– In connection with the electoral success of the current President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, whom I proudly supported, and our relations with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will send another five thousand soldiers to Poland. Thank you! President Donald J. Trump – wrote on Truth Social.
The V Corps, part of the regular US Army, has a history stretching back to World War I and World War II, and later took part in the Kosovo War and the war on terror. Today it supervises US Army forces and coordinates operations across Europe, with headquarters in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Camp Kościuszko in Poznań.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
