Incoming Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley vowed that the service will “remain ready as the world’s premier combat force.” Speaking at the change-of-command ceremony in which he succeeded outgoing Gen. Ray Odierno, Milley said, “Wars are ultimately decided on the ground, where people live, and it is on the ground where the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Special Operations forces must never, ever fail.”