Brigadier Gen. Remo Butler was a trailblazer – making history as the first Black Special Forces general.
Born in Mississippi, Butler grew up in a military family. His father served three decades, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major. Yet Butler admits he wasn’t initially eager to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“I joined ROTC when I was in college, not because I was looking to join the military,” Butler recalled, “but I wanted to ensure I had a decent job when I graduated.”.
That practical decision came at a pivotal time. In 1974, when Butler graduated from Austin Peay State University, the economy was struggling, and jobs were scarce. The military, while demanding and not his first choice for a career, offered stability.
Still, it wasn’t easy at first.
“I didn’t like the rules and regulations that came with ROTC,” he said. “But I overcame it and received my commission.”
Butler began his Army career as a field artillery officer before transitioning to infantry. It was there that a chance conversation changed the course of his career and life. His commander – an Army Special Forces captain – suggested Butler had what it took to join the elite Green Berets.
“We chatted and he said they needed guys like me in Special Forces,” Butler recalled.
Intrigued, Butler took the challenge. He completed the Special Forces qualifying course in 1977.
“I never looked back knowing I made the right decision,” Butler said. “Special Forces is made up of a unique group of individuals. We’re a different breed of person.”
From that point on, Butler built his reputation by leaning into the toughest jobs. He embraced challenges others avoided and excelled in them.
“Let me tell you how you become successful,” he explained. “Do the hard jobs. Do the things that people can’t do or won’t do, and do them well. If you commit to doing that, things will work out for you. You’ll be successful.”
But success didn’t come without obstacles. As one of the few Black officers in Special Forces, Butler often encountered racism throughout his career. In 1996, while attending the U.S. Army War College, he wrote a groundbreaking research paper titled Why Black Officers Still Fail.
In it, Butler highlighted disparities in promotion rates and command selections, finding that Black officers were consistently falling behind their white counterparts at the lieutenant colonel level and above. The paper drew national attention, sparking conversations across the Army.
“That paper did and still does get a lot of attention,” Butler said. “I do my best to mentor and be a role model for other Black men, to help them be successful. I take a lot of pride in that.”
What began as a way to secure a “decent job” became a career of historic impact. Butler served nearly 30 years—just shy of his father’s service record.
“I did 29 and a half years,” he said with pride. “That’s not nothing.”
Now retired, Brig. Gen. Remo Butler is working on a book about his military career – a story of resilience, trailblazing leadership, and breaking barriers for future generations.
