Cureton achieves lieutenant colonel rank
Maj. Benjamin F. Cureton III, son of Benjamin F. Cureton, Jr. and Ruth Neely Williams, was promoted Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Nov. 1, at Fort Bragg.
In 1983, LTC Cureton received a Football and Track scholarship to West Virginia University, graduating in 1987 with a BS in Physical Education (Sports Management). He started his military career in 1991 in basic training as a 55R (Ammunition Stock Control Accountant) with first duty station in Karlsruhe, Germany.
After two years in the Army, he made Sergeant. He then went to Officer Candidate School in the fall of 1994; attended Armor Officer Basic Course, Scout Platoon Leader Course and Ranger School; was then assigned to 2nd ACR in Fort Polk, La., as Scout Platoon Leader for 24 months and then Executive Officer for 15 months of an Anti-Tank Company.
In 2000, then Cpt. Cureton went to Kosovo as an Assistant Brigade Operation Officer for seven months, then served as a Tank Company Commander for 24 months from 2000 to 2002.
In 2005-06 then MAJ Cureton went to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a Military Transition Team Advisor Team Chief to the Iraqi Military for 12 months.
In 2007-08, he went back to OIF as Liaison Officer to Joint Special Operation Task Force for 15 months.
Then, Maj. Cureton went to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and completed Command and General Staff College where he also completed his Master of Science in Administration (Leadership) from Central Michigan University from 2009-10.
In 1989, Cureton married his college sweetheart the former Darla Cottingham who is AER Case Manager at Fort Bragg. They have three children: son Devan, 20, and daughters Dominique, 15, and Dalaney, 12.