Austin S. Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Austin S. Miller
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Miller in 2018
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| Nickname(s) | "Scott" |
| Born | 15 May 1961 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1983–2021 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Resolute Support Mission, U.S. Forces in Afghanistan Joint Special Operations Command United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta |
| Battles/wars | Operation Gothic Serpent
Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy |
Austin Scott Miller (born on May 15, 1961) is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was a commander of the special forces unit known as Delta Force. General Miller was the last commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan from 2018 to 2021.
Before that, he led the Joint Special Operations Command from 2016 to 2018. He took part in many important military operations, including the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan after 2001. General Miller retired from the Army in December 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Austin Scott Miller was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 15, 1961. He went to the United States Military Academy (also known as West Point) and graduated in 1983. After graduating, he became an infantry officer in the United States Army.
Military Career
After graduating from West Point in 1983, Miller became a second lieutenant. He completed Ranger School, which is a tough training program for soldiers. He then led a platoon in the 3rd Battalion, 325th Infantry (Airborne). From 1986 to 1987, he was a platoon leader with the 2nd Ranger Battalion.
In 1989, he became a Company Commander in South Korea. Later, from 1991 to 1992, he was an instructor at the Special Operations Division School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In 1992, Miller joined the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, often called Delta Force. He held many leadership roles there, including troop commander and unit commanding officer from 2005 to 2007.
He was involved in several combat operations, such as Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia and Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia. He also served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In October 1993, Miller was the ground force commander during the Battle of Mogadishu.
After these experiences, he continued his military education. He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1997 and the United States Marine Corps War College in 2003.
As a colonel, Miller worked at the United States Special Operations Command in Florida from 2007 to 2008. He also worked for The Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. From 2011 to 2012, he helped the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization, which works to stop dangerous homemade bombs.
From 2013 to 2014, Miller was the commanding general of the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command in Afghanistan. This role meant he was in charge of special operations forces there. In 2014, he became the commanding general of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence. From 2016 to 2018, Miller led the Joint Special Operations Command.
Commander of U.S. and NATO Forces in Afghanistan
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In 2018, General Miller took command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and NATO's Resolute Support Mission.
On October 18, 2018, General Miller was present during a shooting incident in Kandahar. A gunman shot the provincial police chief. General Miller was not hurt, but he helped the wounded and flew out with them.
On July 1, 2021, Miller gave an interview about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He officially ended the Resolute Support mission on July 12, 2021. After the largest U.S. base, Bagram Air Base, was left empty, some parts of it were looted. Miller expressed concern about the future of Afghanistan. He said that the people of Afghanistan would always be in his thoughts.
On July 14, 2021, he met with President Joe Biden, who thanked him for his service. Miller later told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he had recommended not pulling all U.S. forces out of Afghanistan at once. His retirement as a general was approved in December 2021.
Scams Using Miller's Name and Image
General Miller's name and photos are often used by scammers online. These fake social media accounts try to trick people, especially older women, into sending money or gifts. U.S. Forces-Afghanistan reported almost 900 fake accounts pretending to be Miller in just a few months of 2021.
The U.S. military has warned that General Miller does not use public social media accounts. If you see a fake account using his name or picture, you should report it to U.S. Forces-Afghanistan.
Dates of Rank
| Rank | Date |
|---|---|
 Second lieutenant |
25 May 1983 |
 First lieutenant |
24 November 1984 |
 Captain |
1 May 1987 |
 Major |
1 December 1994 |
 Lieutenant colonel |
1 June 1999 |
 Colonel |
1 May 2004 |
 Brigadier general |
15 June 2009 |
 Major general |
2 June 2012 |
 Lieutenant general |
24 March 2016 |
 General |
2 September 2018 |
Awards and Decorations
 Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award) |
.svg){kind=icon} Master Parachutist Badge |
 Ranger tab |
 Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge |
.svg) Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
 Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan Combat Service Identification Badge |
 325th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia |
 16 Overseas Service Bars |
 Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
 Army Distinguished Service Medal |
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 Legion of Merit |
 Bronze Star |
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 Meritorious Service Medal |
 Joint Service Commendation Medal |
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 Joint Service Achievement Medal |
 Army Achievement Medal |
 Army Presidential Unit Citation |
 Valorous Unit Award |
 Army Superior Unit Award |
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 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
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 Iraq Campaign Medal (with three campaign stars) |
 Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
 Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
 Korea Defense Service Medal |
 Army Service Ribbon |
  Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 2 |
 NATO Medal for service with ISAF |
