### High-ranking General Under Investigation for Alleged Altercation with Airman

The U.S. Army has launched an investigation into Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, following allegations that he shoved an airman during a heated incident on a C-17 Globemaster III flight to Israel in early September. Confirmation of the investigation was provided by a defense official and a spokesperson for the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

According to a source with direct knowledge of the incident, Gen. Kurilla, who is responsible for overseeing U.S. military operations in Asia and the Middle East, reportedly became upset over communication access issues and engaged in a heated argument with the flight crew, which culminated in him allegedly putting his hands on the airman.

"The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is aware of an alleged incident and is currently looking into it," stated Mark Lunardi, a CID spokesperson. He did not provide additional details regarding the ongoing investigation.

Gen. Kurilla has not been suspended from his duties as of Thursday afternoon. Typically, senior officers suspected of conduct violations are suspended with pay until the completion of an investigation—a process that can extend for several months.

Kurilla's notable military career includes leading the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the 75th Ranger Regiment. Commissioned as an infantry officer in 1988, he has earned the Bronze Star for valor and two Purple Hearts, and he has served in numerous major conflicts, including the U.S. invasion of Panama, the Gulf War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This investigation into Gen. Kurilla follows the suspension of Army Gen. Charles Hamilton, head of Army Materiel Command, amid allegations of subverting the Army’s selection process for senior commanders. The decision on Hamilton's potential termination now rests with Army Secretary Christine Wormuth. If carried out, Hamilton would be the first Army 4-star general dismissed from their position in a decade.

The unfolding situation casts a spotlight on the conduct expectations and disciplinary measures within the highest ranks of the U.S. military.