US-Europe World Affairs

The National Day of Prayer is a special annual event observed on the first Thursday of every May in the United States.

Although the day was established and declared by a joint resolution of Congress and President Harry S. Truman in 1952, the history of this significant yearly event goes back to the first prayer which was held in 1774 at the request of the Continental Congress to pray for wisdom and spiritual guidance for establishing the United States of America.

“On this day, may our faiths enable us to sow the seeds of progress in our ever-changing world.  Let us resolve to guide our children and grandchildren to embrace freedom for all, to see God in everyone, and to remember that no matter what differences they may have, they, just like we, will always be united by their common humanity.”  Excerpt from Presidential Proclamation — National Day of Prayer, President BARACK OBAMA ©White House National Day of Prayer, 2016.

Additional: Chaplains announce plans for May ‘Spiritual Readiness Month’ events

• Prayer breakfast brings Camp Zama community together for food, fellowship
• Building spiritual readiness in the Pacific
• Spiritual resiliency team shares food for thought
• Army chaplain shares Ramadan with Muslim prayer group
• Perseverance through spiritual readiness
• Be inspired with hope and faith by Joel Osteen

Acknowledgments: Sources: U.S Army, The White House. Image Chaplain (Maj.) Castelly prays for the command teams during the National Day of Prayer. Soldiers from various faiths joined together in prayer to strengthen their spiritual wellbeing. May 5th, 2022, ARIFJAN, KUWAIT. Photo by Capt. Joshua Sik, 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command © DoD/U.S Army. Article by Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief.

In October 2022, the military officials from the U.S and Europe attended in the Northern Europe Chiefs of Defense Conference to discuss current regional security and strengthening defense cooperation. 

The 13 participant nations were including: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. And the military representatives from:

• The U.S. National Guard Bureau and the State Partnership Program (SPP)
• The Illinois National Guard (in SPP with Poland)
• The Maryland National Guard (in SPP with Estonia)
• The Michigan National Guard (in SPP with Latvia)
• The Pennsylvania National Guard (in SPP with Lithuania)

The two day conference was a crucial gathering and discussion platform which facilitated and reaffirmed among others the following objectives:

• Highlighting the multi-dimensional aspects of the regional security;
• Enhancing mutual defense cooperation among NATO members and partners;
• The current developments in military technology and how to upgrade and complement the interoperability of NATO members and partner nations.

The conference is a yearly military event established by the U.S. European Command, taking place each year in a different European capitals. In 2021 the conference was held in Helsinki, Finland and the latest conference was in Oct 2022, in Warsaw, Poland.

“There has not been a moment in years when such a meeting has been so critical,”…….             “Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has served as an opportunity for all of us to come together to discuss important matters of national and collective defense.”  elaborated U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, Commander of U.S. European Command ©U.S. European Command Oct 2022

News from: U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

• U.S KFOR Regional Command East 
• U.S European Command
• U.S Army Europe and Africa     
• US Naval Forces Europe-Africa           
• U.S Air Force Europe-Africa
• The 7th Army Training           U.S Mission to NATO 

Acknowledgment: Sources: U.S. European Command Public Affairs. Photo Military leaders in Northern Europe chiefs of defense conference, Oct. 19-20, 2022, Warsaw, Poland. ©Polish General Staff/U.S European Command Public Affairs. By Editor in Chief, Catherine S. Schmidt  

Promoting security and cooperation in the Artic region has been long the United States foreign policy. 

In late November the military leaders, representing the North America and Europe, attended in the 13th Roundtable forum of the Arctic Security Forces, to discuss a comprehensive range of critical issues. The forum was held virtually and its main objectives were: 

• To address the Arctic awareness; security, challenges and stability
• To build a closer partnership and cooperation in the Arctic region

Founded in 2010 by U.S. European Command and the Norwegian Defence, the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable (ASFR) is a military forum scheduled twice a year. One with the participation of the military leaders from the Arctic nations: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden or the U.S.  And the second one with the observer nations: France, Germany, the Netherlands or the United Kingdom. 

The ASFR addresses the present and emerging challenges, and promotes military cooperation in the Arctic region.

• More news on: U.S European Command         
• U.S Arctic Commission  
• U.S Air force Europe- Africa                
• U.S Army Europe and Africa 
• U.S Arctic Council Chairmanship 2015-2017
• Arctic Security Forces Roundtable co-chairs meet, focus on strategy

Acknowledgment: Sources U.S EUCOM. By Editor in Chief, Catherine S. Schmidt   

Dear viewers/readers,

Please know that there are several fake blogs, sites that have published biography, quotes from me, those are not mine. They are Illegal, FAKE containing spams.

Also the blogs that offer downloads of my books are Illegal and they contain  malwares. We have already informed the authorities. 

Director, Editor in chief,

Catherine Stella Schmidt

This year’s International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference ‘IMCCC’ took place on the virtual platform from February2-3, hosted by the United States (U.S European Command). The conference brought together over 100 military chaplains from 40 countries of NATO members and partner nations across the world.

The theme of this year evolved on ‘Religious Freedom’ 

“Religious freedom is a fundamental human right and the first among rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, as well as many constitutions in the world.”……….

“Religious freedom provides the right to think, express, and act upon what one deeply believes.” highlighted USEUCOM Chaplain (U.S. Air Force Col.) Kleet Barclay. ©USEUCOM Feb.04. 2022

The IMCCC is an annual event established and hosted originally by the U.S European Command ‘USEUCOM’ in Stuttgart in February 1990. Since then the conference has been held every year in different parts of the world hosted by the members and representatives of NATO states and partner nations. The United States ‘USEUCOM’ supports the conference as its co-host every year.

One of the main spheres of this yearly military event is to explore and build the shared values, spirituality, religious support, understanding of other faiths and beliefs , and enduring friendship.

“We are deeply unified by our shared human connection of faith and yearning for peace.” expressed Dr. Franz-Josef Overbeck, the Catholic bishop of the German armed forces in The International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference in 2020 © U.S Army

Additional:

• Chaplains from 40 countries meet to address critical issues, social well-being at worldwide conference, USEUCOM 2022
• Chaplains explore religion’s role fostering well-being and resilience during pandemic, USEUCOM 2021
• The 31st International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference, U.S Army 2020

By  Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief  

Sources: U.S European Command/U.S. Air Force Captain Christina Judd/U.S Army

Excerpt from President Trump’s speech on the National Day of Prayer  

Excerpt of the President’s speech at National Prayer Breakfast  in Washington DC, February 2, 2017

“Freedom is not a gift from government, but that Freedom is a gift from God” 

“But we are all united by our faith in our Creator and our firm knowledge that we are all equal in His eyes.  We are not just flesh and bone and blood.  We are human beings, with souls.  Our Republic was formed on the basis that freedom is not a gift from government, but that freedom is a gift from God.”

“It was the great Thomas Jefferson who said,  

 “The God who gave us life, gave us liberty.”  

Jefferson asked, “Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?

Among those freedoms is the right to worship according to our own beliefs.  That is why I will get rid of, and totally destroy, the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.  I will do that — remember.”

“America will succeed as long as our most vulnerable citizens — and we have some that are so vulnerable — have a path to success.  And America will thrive as long as we continue to have faith in each other and faith in God.

That faith in God has inspired men and women to sacrifice for the needy, to deploy to wars overseas, and to lock arms at home, to ensure equal rights for every man, woman and child in our land.  It’s that faith that sent the pilgrims across the oceans, the pioneers across the plains, and the young people all across America to chase their dreams.  They are chasing their dreams.  We are going to bring those dreams back.  

As long as we have God, we are never, ever alone.  

Whether it’s the soldier on the night watch or the single parent on the night shift, God will always give us solace and strength and comfort.”

 “That’s why President Eisenhower and Senator Carlson had the wisdom to gather together 64 years ago to begin this truly great tradition.  But that’s not all they did together.  Let me tell you the rest of the story.  Just one year later, Senator Carlson was among the members of Congress to send to the President’s desk a joint resolution that added “under God” to our Pledge of Allegiance.

That’s a great thing. Because that’s what we are and that is what we will always be, and that is what our people want:  one beautiful nation, under God.”

Acknowledgments: Excerpts of President Trump’s speech on the National Day of Prayer May 2017 ©The White House. Image: President Donald Trump Inauguration January 20, 2017 @ Fox News. Article by Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief. 

Besides conducting a variety of missions like training, maneuvers, and joint exercises with its global partners, the U.S. Navy also actively supports the European Naval Force’s Operation Atalanta.

This partnership is a demonstration of the United States’ broad commitment to international maritime security and cooperation.  

It simultaneously ensures:

·         The protection of global commerce;

·         Enforcement of international law;

·         The security and stability of the international waters;

·         And the enhancement of maritime capabilities of its global partners.

One of the U.S main vessels in supporting the Operation Atalanta is the USNS Laramie. Equipped with chopper deck, the gigantic U.S Naval ‘Laramie’ is a Military Sealift Command Replenishment Oiler of HENRY J. KAISER Class, launched in 1995.

Since then, the ship has been on long-haul missions across the globe. From the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Aden, it has provided vital support to U.S. and European naval forces, including aircraft carriers, frigates, and patrol ships.

As a part of this ongoing Operational Support and the Replenishment at Sea, the USNS Laramie met in a close contact with the Operation Atalanta’s new Flagship, HNLMS Tromp  of the Royal Netherlands Navy on August 8th  2016, in the Atalanta’s Operational field, the Gulf of Aden.

The EU NAVFOR Operational Force Commander, Commodore Luyckx was welcomed for a visit by the Commanding Officer of U.S Naval Replenishment Vessel, Captain William Wiggins.

Follow us on the next episode:

The United States Navy in Operation Atalanta-2

Official references of the recent time:

1. United States Navy Supply Ship Supports Operation Atalanta With A Combined Replenishment At Sea
2. US Supply Ship USNS Laramie Supports Operation Atalanta off the Coast of Somalia
3. US Navy Ship Supports EU Naval Force  Ships Off The Coast Of Somalia
4. EU Naval Force Warship ESPS Infanta Cristina Carries out Replenishment at Sea with Supply Ship USNS Laramie
5. EU Naval Force Warship ESPS Navarra has carried out Replenishment at sea (RAS) with re-supply tankers, including the US logistical ship USNS Laramie

• News from EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta
• News from Royal Netherlands Navy
• News from US Naval Forces Europe-Africa
• News from US Air Force Europe-Africa

Acknowledgments. Sources: U.S Navy, EUNAVFOR. Image-1 U.S Naval Replenishment Ship ‘USNS Laramie’ (center) off the Coast of Somalia,  supporting Operation Atalanta. December 17, 2015 © EU NAVFOR. Article by Editor in Chief, Catherine S. Schmidt (Copyrighted material)