The Story of the United States Armed-Forces in Europe
…….is the story of General George Washington’s Continental Army …..and the French Idealistic Commander, Gen. de Lafayette. It is the story of greatest Army in the World, the United States Army, who has defended Europe from long centuries ago…..until the present time in an unconditional ways. It is the story of the greatest partnership of U.S-European Armed-Forces, the formation of the closest Allies fighting in the same battle ground…… for keeping the light of Freedom …….and Humanity alive. It is the story of U.S-European shared values….shared ideals and belief, that goes beyond the time and the geographical locations. The story of the United States Armed Forces in Europe is the story of Freedom Defenders, the story of the U.S Army and its vivid golden Star………
………..the tale of bravery……sacrifices…..and heroism that project the well destined Triumph and Victory.
By Catherine Stella Schmidt (Copy righted material)
African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) is the continuation of U.S. Army’s commitments to African continent. This year the 2022 Summit hosted by the U.S Army Chief of Staff, took place from March 21-25 with the theme on the
Official and military leaders from over 40 African countries’ armed-forces, encompassing the representatives of two third of the continent, came to Columbus city -Georgia in the United States to attendthe 10th African Land Forces Summit.
African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) is a multinational annual military event inaugurated in Washington D.C in 2010 with its theme on “Building and MaintainingStrong Relationships”. ALFS is coordinated bythe U.S ArmySouthern European Task Force Africa ‘SETAF-AF’and is held each year in different parts of Africa and the United States.
The U.S Army, Nebraska National Guard, and the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) worked around the clock to help restoring the water supply and the drinking water pipe in Djibouti village in Horn of Africa. The project which started in December 2021 was completed in a short period of time with the helping hand of the locals from the Chabelley village in the Arta region of Djibouti.
SPECIAL EDITION INTERVIEW WITH U.S ARMY KFOR REGIONAL COMMAND EAST (Series-2)
Interview with Capt. Jace Rivard, KFOR Regional Command East Public Affairs Officer, conducted by Editor in Chief
Sir, we are very grateful to have this special occasion with you. Thank you for accepting the invitation.
Q 1: The United States has been continuously supporting Kosovo by all means of political, diplomatic, economic assistance as well as military contributions in the multinational NATO-led KFOR mission. Could you give us the posture of the U.S troops in this mission at the current time?
U.S. Soldiers in Kosovo are currently supporting NATO’s KFOR Regional Command – East which is one of two regional commands postured beneath KFOR higher headquarters. The mission continues to be ensuring a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo.
And what battalions, National Guards, Army Reserve, and Active Duty are parts of this mission?
KFOR Regional Command-East is currently led by Commander, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Col. Brey Hopkins. The Brigade Headquarters is from the Vermont Army National Guard and is currently deployed to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo. The aviation Task Force supporting KFOR RC-E at Camp Bondsteel from its normal headquarters in Connecticut and is constructed of units of 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, with the Connecticut, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico and Maryland Army National Guard. The KFOR RC-E Maneuver Battalion is led by Commander, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment (Mountain), Maj. Zach Fike. This Vermont headquartered unit is currently deployed to Camp Novo Selo and Camp Nothing Hill in Kosovo. There are a multitude of enabling units to include an Active Duty medical support company from Fort Bragg, N.C. as well as a detachment from the 29th Military Police Company with the Maryland Army National Guard.
Life, Liberty, and the PursuitBy: By U.S. Army Chaplain (Maj.) Eric Stuepfert, KFOR Regional Command – East Chaplain.
The trees are beginning to turn. It’s one of the most beautiful times of the year, even for the locals. Just weeks ago, the rolling mountains stood tall, covered in green as far as your eyes could see. As a Vermont Green Mountain Boy, you’d think I’d be used to this by now. The difference this year, is that I’m not in Vermont. The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) is currently deployed to Kosovo on a NATO peacekeeping mission named Kosovo Force or KFOR.
As a Chaplain, I have had the great pleasure of meeting many of the religious leaders throughout Regional Command East and have been able to observe many of the religious traditions and customs found within Kosovo. I have visited historic sites that I read about as a child, and have seen the magnificent architecture of churches and mosques throughout the Balkans. Recently I had the privilege of speaking at the Kosovo Center for Peace in Pristina.
Special Edition, Interview with U.S. Army Europe and Africa Spokesperson (Series-4)
Special Edition, Interview with the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Spokesperson (Series-4)conducted by Editor in Chief
Sir, it is a great honor to have you with us in this interview. Thank you for accepting the invitation.
Q: 1 Defender Europe 2021 has reached its final phase.
Please provide us a brief overview of the goals achieved and the challenges overcome during this exercise?
The U.S. Army Europe and Africa Spokesperson: Yes, U.S. forces are in the process of redeploying to the United States as DEFENDER-Europe 21 activities across Europe come to a close.
DEFENDER-Europe is an annual large-scale U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led, multinational, joint exercise designed to build strategic and operational readiness and interoperability between U.S., NATO allies and partners.
U.S., NATO allies and partners worked together throughout DEFENDER-Europe 21 to build readiness, enhance interoperability, and strengthen relationships. More than 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations conducted nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in a dozen countries.
“Interoperability is key to alliance readiness. DEFENDER-Europe 21 is evidence of the ironclad U.S. commitment to NATO, is a prime example of our collective capabilities, and demonstrates that NATO allies and partners are stronger together,” said Gen. Christopher Cavoli, U.S. Army Europe and Africa commanding general.
DEFENDER-Europe 21 concluded with the redeployment of U.S.-based forces and equipment. Strategic readiness includes the ability of the U.S. military to dynamically project force and set the theater by mobilizing and deploying forces, sustaining them in a crisis and redeploying them when their mission is complete. U.S. service members will now clear the training areas, return prepositioned stocks, move to ports and return to home stations.
The large-scale movement of troops and equipment for these exercises involve extensive support from each of the twelve host nations.
“We owe a great thanks to the host nations, their citizens and governments, and the participating units for their hard work and steadfast support throughout the exercise, said Cavoli. “This was an extremely complex exercise with activity going on across the theater at many different locations almost simultaneously. The coordination and cooperation required for DEFENDER demonstrate our allies ally and partner commitment to European military readiness and interoperability. And, to the various units throughout DoD that made DEFENDER successful, thank you for your participation and dedication to mission success.”
Throughout the exercise, U.S. forces demonstrated their ability to successfully train in a COVID environment. Critical to this success was the detailed planning, and the strict COVID prevention and mitigation strategy implemented by U.S. and participating nations. As the U.S. military members redeploy, they will continue to follow host nation requirements, as they did when entering Europe and during training.
DEFENDER-Europe 21 encompassed several linked exercises. Linked exercises shared coordinated mission command, mutual sustainment and a mission partner environment. Exercises linked to DEFENDER-Europe 21 included Immediate Response, Swift Response, Saber Guardian and a Command Post Exercise.
Q: 2 The area of responsibility of U.S. Army Europe and Africa covers also the African continent encompassing 54 countries. The African Land Forces Summit (ALFS), inaugurated in Washington DC in 2010, has been an important annual event since with the U.S. military officials’ participation. This year the ALFS was held on May 19th and virtually-hosted by the U.S. Army.
Could you speak about the overall theme of this year’s summit?
And how can this event assist the U.S. Army Europe and Africa to develop stronger partnerships with African nations’ armed forces?
The U.S. Army Europe and Africa Spokesperson: The 9th annual African Land Forces Summit, held virtually May 19, was themed “Maintaining security in a degraded environment.” The summit highlighted COVID-19-related challenges within the operational environment and encouraged dialogue to address military pandemic responses, as well as the pandemic’s effects on current and future operations.
U.S. Armed-Forces and NATO Allies in Atlantic Resolve
Atlantic Resolve is the continuation of U.S-led measure which began in 2014 under the Department of Defense ‘European Deterrence Initiative’ to enhance NATO military capacities.
“The United States is demonstrating to NATO allies and the world its continued commitment to peace, security and stability in Europe.” highlighted the Department of Defense on the importance of the Atlantic Resolve
This year as well the operation continues to execute series of bilateral and multilateral training in different parts of Europe with the participation of the armed-forces from most European States including:Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. Indicated by U.S Army Europe and Africa,7000 soldiers from U.S are assigned on rotational deployment to Europe as a part of Atlantic Resolve.
“U.S. Army Europe’s Operation Atlantic Resolve demonstrates continued U.S. commitment to collective security. This reassures NATO allies and partners of America’s dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region following Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.” described the U.S Army in 2017
“Deterrence requires ready and capable allies in Europe, which is why we have enhanced the frequency and complexity of exercises with NATO allies and partners, while augmenting the U.S. air, ground, and naval presence in the region.
The U.S.-European strategic partnership is built on a foundation of shared values and common experience, and we build on that foundation with a robust training and exercise plan.” announced the White House in 2016
U.S-NATO Member, Partner Nations’ Armed-Forces in Defender Europe 21
28,000 Multinational Participants of 26 Nations’ Armed Forces from:
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States with the U.S Army,U.S Navy,U.S Air Forcein:Defender Europe 2021.
There are also participants of 2,100 National Guard from: Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia added with 800 Army Reserve joining in this U.S-ledmilitary exercise from March until mid June when Defender 21 finalizes its activities and training.
As the continuation of the previous year, Defender Europe 2021 is to emphasize NATO’sCollective Defense. Its objectives underline:
To train and exercise together for establishing the much higher scope of readiness;
To fortify the synchronous interoperability of U.S-NATO member and partner nations’ Armed–Forces.
U.S National Guard State Partnership Program-4 MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD
Dating back to 1993, the National Guard’s State Partnership Program (SPP) started with only 3 Baltic States. The initial objective of the program though was to improve the economic conditions and to give support and facilitate democracy in the Eastern European States devastated under communist law, the SPP developed rapidly and enlarged to a wide range of programs from economic aid to military training and joint exercises, civilian projects and humanitarians assistance.
“Our effort today to broaden and deepen our mutual relations [is] an effort that can make an important contribution to our ultimate goal of a united, free, and peaceful Europe.”elaborated Secretary of Defense Cheney in his speech at NATO Headquarters in Brussels in April 1992.¹
In the course of almost three decades the National Guard (SPP) evolved, has expanded to 78 partnerships in 6 geographic Combatant Commands with 84 nations across the world. In today’s world not only in Europe but also in diverse parts of the world fostering democracy, stability, peace and building security and defense in many ways have been intertwined and connected to the U.S National Guard State Partnership Program.
The Maryland (MD) National Guard is one of the pioneer States’ National Guard that formed the ‘SPP’ with one of the three Baltic countries, Estonia, from the beginning of the program in 1993.
MD National Guard has two State Partnership Programs (SPP) in Europe:
With Estonia established in 1993
With Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) since 2003
Both State Partnership Programs have been expanding through years. Just in 2019 the MD National Guard finalized successfully 84 projects, military exercises, events and training with its two SPP partner countries,announced by the National Guard.
With 28,000 multinational military personnel, Defender Europe 21 is the largest multinational U.S Army Europe and Africa-led exercise to augment, enhance and fortify the U.S and NATO allies and partner nations’ interoperability and readiness. This year the exercise started in March, with the participants of U.S Air Force , U.S Navy, over 2000 U.S National Guard, 800 Army Reserve, and will continue through June.
The exercise plan for April:
“12 European country’s airports receiving equipment and personnel from the U.S;
3 Army Prepositioned Stock sites being utilized with1,000 pieces of equipment being drawn;
The V Corps in Poland Made the Long-Awaited U.S Army Presence to be Materialized
With about 635 soldiers on a rotational deployment, the V Corps Headquarters (Forward) was officially inaugurated in November 2020 in Poznan, Poland. The plan was decided as the continuation of comprehensivemilitary cooperationbetween the U.S Army and itscounterpart.
“The primary mission of the new forward headquarters will be to conduct operational planning, mission command and oversight of the rotational forces in Europe. It will also provide additional capability to support allies and partners in the region.” announced U.S Army in September 2020
An Exclusive Interview with U.S Army Europe and Africa-3 (Part-2)
An exclusive interview with U.S. Army Europe and Africa Spokesperson. Conducted by U.S Europe World Affairs Editor in Chief.
Q 4. The Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, General Cavoli, visited Finland 10-12 January. The event was described in the framework of Army Arctic training. What could be emphasized about this training, and the special relations that exist between the United States and the Finnish Defence Forces?
U.S Army Europe and Africa Spokesperson: Last month, Gen. Cavoli conducted an official visit with ourFinnish partners, to include Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces Gen. Timo Kivinen and Chief of the Finnish Army Lt. Gen. Petri Hulkko. These joint meetings reinforced the shared defense goals between these two nations. The U.S. and Finnish joint military partnership was formally solidified when Finland joined the Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997. As a fellow Arctic nation, the United States is dedicated to maintaining readiness in the region and training with Finland, an Arctic partner that has vast experience dealing with the challenges of the High North. The U.S. and Finland also coordinate with other Arctic nations on the Arctic Council, ensuring peace and security in the region.
This trip proved invaluable as our Finnish and U.S. military colleagues discussed and observed Arctic military training, and the U.S. leadership gained a broader understanding of the country’s unique and incredible terrain.
An Exclusive Interview with U.S Army Europe and Africa-3 (Part-1)
An exclusive interview with U.S. Army Europe and Africa Spokesperson. Conducted by U.S Europe World Affairs Editor in Chief. It’s a great pleasure to have you in this interview Sir. Thank you for your time.
Q 1. In November 2020 the department of Army announced to consolidate the U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Africa into a single Army Service Component Command. What are the immediate and the long-term strategic interests for this consolidation? And please cast a light on the missions of this new (USAREUR-AF) structure?
U.S Army Europe and Africa Spokesperson: The U.S. Army recently announced the consolidation of U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Africa into one Army Service Component Command. This is an exciting change, and it’s a change that will allow the U.S. Army to expand its focus and enhance its commitment to both the European and African continents.
This consolidation is an example of how the U.S. Army is modernizing, we are thinking across hemispheres rather than artificially dividing problem sets. But this is not just a consolidation of a headquarters, it’s a consolidation of capabilities across theaters.
The European and African theaters are inextricably linked. Their close geography and economic ties suggest a regional security issue left unchecked could quickly spread between both continents.
U.S National Guard State Partnership Program-3 Iowa National Guard
The National Guard’s State Partnership Program (SPP) aspires to accentuate on building mutual, and enduring relationships between the National Guard states and territories with the partner countries. Under this program, the United States provides a wide range of assistance and aids to the partner countries, including:
Capacity building;
Military and security training;
Helping to establish and develop the democratic and accountable civil and governmental institutions and offices;
Public safety;
Assisting in economic development and growth.
The Iowa National Guard and its SPP with Kosovo dates back to 2011. The partnership’s goals are additionally in the fields of military and security cooperation, education, economic and business development in both public and private sectors, agriculture and market. Along with this program, the Iowa National Guard has been serving in KFOR ,the NATO-led Operation for peace and stability in Kosovo since 1999.
An Exclusive Interview with U.S Army KFOR Regional Command East
An exclusive interview with MAJ. Sam K. Otto, Spokesperson of the Public Affairs, U.S Army KFOR Regional Command East. Conducted by U.S Europe World Affairs Editor in Chief.
Sir, it is a great honor to have you with us in this interview. Thank you very much.
Q: Since 1999 KFOR has been the pillar of security and stability in Kosovo. Could you give us an overall picture of KFOR mission and the crucial role that the U.S Army holds in it.
MAJ. Sam K. Otto, Spokesperson of the Public Affairs: The US along with NATO and Allied partners are leading a peace support operation in Kosovo to build peace and stability in the area. Under the authority of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 KFOR’s mission is to contribute to a safe and secure environment, support the development of a stable, democratic, multi-ethnic and peaceful Kosovo, support and coordinate the international humanitarian effort and civil presence in the region. Regional Command East (RC-E) is the US led team responsible for the KFOR mission in the eastern part of Kosovo. This team includes aviation, medical, and forces capable of monitoring the safety and security of Kosovo citizens along with providing a response if needed.
U.S National Guard and its State Partnership Program-2 D.C National Guard
The State Partnership Program (SPP) initiated originally by Department of Defense in 1991, is a solid joint project with the State Department. The program is mainly implemented by the National Guard of every U.S State, territories, and the District of Colombia, as currently partnering with 89 nations across the different continents.
Added to military engagements, the partnership also includes diplomatic, economic development, and capacity building plans.
The National Guard of District of Colombia has been in partnership with Jamaica (Western Hemisphere) since 1999. This partnership incorporates the completion of almost 20 engagements a year on a mutually benefited outcome.
The integral part of these engagements are highlighted as follows:
Military training and exercises;
Military police training and domestic security, counternarcotic;
Border, port and aviation security;
Training against violent extremist organizations;
Detect, mitigation, and respond to natural/human-made disasters;
Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief;
Crisis management;
Medical, dental training, as well as the combat medical events.
The U.S National Guard and its State Partnership Program with the World-1
Established in 1993, the State Partnership Program (SPP) is the Department of Defense initiative that enables the National Guard of every U.S State to form a long term and mutual partnerships and a military to military engagements with a specific country across the globe. This partnership encompasses all areas of civil and military components, opening the pathway to robust engagements between the U.S Armed Forces and the military of the partner countries.
Spanning nearly three decades of achievements and connectivity with the world, the SPP has materialized the valuable partnerships with one third of the world countries, building the most enduring international cooperation and bonds with over 89 nations in:
Africa;
Asia;
Central Asia;
Europe (Eastern, Western, Central, and the Baltic Region);
Western Hemisphere.
In the framework of the National Guard State Partnership Program this time we introduce Alabama National Guard.
Through the SPP, Alabama and Romani have achieved over 200 crucial engagements which benefited both sides of the Atlantic.
Members of the Alabama National Guard welcome a team of specialists from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense at Montgomery Aviation. May 25, 2020
Uncommon, paramount and brave, for centuries the U.S flag has been standing as the pillars of the Human Rights and Democracy……..transcending every political thought and the form of governments.
The U.S flag not only illustrates the red, white, and the blue blended with the splendorous stars, but above that it presents and magnifies the ideals of Freedom and Liberty on the world-dimensional setting. It is the unparalleled, first……. and the final aspirations of hope.
By Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief (Copyrighted material)
June 8, 2020
The Story of the United States Armed-Forces in Europe
Happy Birthday U.S. Army Europe
The Story of the United States Armed-Forces in Europe,
…….is the story of General George Washington’s Continental Army …..and the French idealistic commander, Gen. de Lafayette. It is the story of greatest Army in the World, the United States Army, who has defended Europe from long centuries ago…..until the present time in an unconditional ways. It is the story of the greatest partnership of U.S-European Armed-Forces, the formation of the closest Allies fighting in the same battle ground…… for keeping the light of freedom …….and humanity alive. It is the story of U.S-European shared values….shared ideals and belief, that goes beyond the time and the geographical locations.
The story of the United States Armed Forces in Europe is the story of the U.S Army and its vivid lustrous Stars………that shine….and fortify the ideals of Liberty and Freedom on European continent and beyond.
………..the tale of bravery……sacrifices…..and heroism that project the well destined Triumph and Victory of Light.
An exclusive interview with U.S. Army Europe spokesperson conducted by U.S Europe World Affairs Editor in Chief.
Thank you very much Sir, it is a great honor to have you here.
Q: Could you please give us a general picture of the U.S Army’s structure in Europe: its mission, political concepts, aspirations and the long term goals?
U.S. Army Europe Spokesperson: U.S. Army Europe’s mission is to provide ready, combat-credible land forces to, and set the essential conditions for, U.S. European Command and NATO to deter aggressionfrom any potential adversary in the European theater. There are approximately 38,000 U.S. Army Soldiers, 11,000 Department of the Army civilians and 13,000 local nationals assigned and deployed throughout Europe, strategically positioned across our 51-country area of responsibility to deter aggression and reassure our allies and partners of the U.S. commitment to peace and stability in Europe.
In the Exclusive Interview Series, this time we have the special occasion of presenting our interview with the United States Army Europe. The interview has been conducted with the Team of Public Affairs of the U.S Army Europe HQ in Germany.
Q: The United States and Europe are immensely interconnected, not only by Historical Heritage, Values and Ideals for centuries, but also by Political Landscape, Security and Defense.
Would you please elaborate on the importance of this Relation on the domain of Security and Defense.
Public Affairs of the U.S Army Europe HQ in Germany: Our history is absolutely the foundation of what connects the United States and Europe. During the Warsaw Summit in July PresidentBarack Obamasaid, “In this challenging moment, I want to take this opportunity to state clearly what will never change – and that is the unwavering commitment of the United States to the security and defense of Europe, to our transatlantic relationship, to our commitment to our common defense.”
The U.S Army Europe and the 7th Army Training Command in Combined Resolve VIII
The U.S-European Armed Forces are participating in one of the most crucial exercises of the U.S Army Europe: Combined Resolved VIII
The exercise is launched on April 19th and is under leadership ofthe United States 7th Army Command based in Germany, will be continued through June 16. The participants of over 3,400 Soldiers are from the Armed Forces of Albania, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine, and the United States.
A View to U.S Army Reserve (7th MSC) in Europe and its Vital Role and Contributions
For 60 years……..without stop….. Army’s Reserve Units in Europe, Army’s 7th Mission Support Command, established initially in 1956 as ‘the 7th Civil Support Command’ has been the front Force to defend Europe and strengthen the European Armed-Forces.
U.S Military Capabilities Strengthen the European Armed-Forces and NATO
“The United States is absolutely committed to the defense of NATO, and that means having full-spectrum capabilities not only within U.S. forces, but with NATO and partner nations as well.” highlighted the U.S Department of Defense in the news-article on December 13,2016.
While Military capabilities are known by the number of the troops and Military personnel –Power and Defense assurance are projected by advanced equipment, technology, the best training that could execute the required strategies, command and tactics in the theater fields.
The U.S Amy Europe and its 7th Army Training Command in Germany, has been the main center to build the NATO members’ Armed-Forces by regular training that to maximize the interoperability; the multinational exercise, joint maneuvers, the exchange of ideas and commands — aimed all to fortify the U.S-European Armed-Forces and bolster the NATO members’ Military to the higher capabilities of Physical and Cyber Defense.
In early 2016 the United States has announced also the increase of the budget for NATO in the European Reassurance Initiative plan, as a further demonstrations of U.S commitment to safeguard European Freedom, Peace and Security.
The United States Armed Forces and its new Strategic Concept in Europe
While still the state and non -state sponsored adversarial threats are posing challenges to the security and stability of European landscape –the United States has audibly in many ways, reaffirmed its commitment to Europe.
Albeit with the less number of its troops, yet with the deployable rotational forces, the U.S has promised for a long stay, to defend and fortifies its European partners.
Coextending with that– the United States military has conceptualized a new strategic planning which empowers the U.S with the 30,000 troops, and the stepped up rotational forces, to maintain the same efficacy of 300,000 boots on the grounds.
With this new military concept of the Department of Defense formulated in the recent years as ‘The European Reassurance Initiative (ERI)’ signed by President Obama in December 2014, the U.S conveys explicitly and forthright that its Armed-Forces will always be part of European allies and provide every assurance for European Security and Defense.
With that the U.S Armed Forces in Europe has redefined its vision, role– reshaping its partnerships with the European counterparts into a new level of political and military proximity and closeness.
Under the same scheme, the U.S European Command has intensified, in the recent years, its engagement in preparing and upgrading the European Armed Forces from south and the Black sea to the northern European hemisphere the Baltic sea– to the highest military architectural format—effectively interoperable with the U.S military in any operational environments.
The new strategic planning in Europe encompasses a wide range of trainings, joint maneuvers and exercises which are formulated to increase:
The interoperability of U.S-European Armed-Forces;
Modernization of European military weaponry equipment, technology and technique;
Advancement and the upgrade of European military capabilities from air to the cyber- space.
The planning goes further with a special focus to bolster:
European capability for deterrence;
Their strength and their combat power, simultaneously.
This new concept and its wide-scope of applicable approach– has also inaugurated a new chapter towards the standardization of U.S-European Armed-Forces, enabling them to prepare and maintain the high readiness for countering the global crisis, in a curtailed frame of time yet with the most effective measures in place.
By Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief (Copyrighted material)
The U.S-European Armed Forces in Exercise Combined Resolve VII
The U.S Army’s European Rotational Force with over 15 European States are participating in one of the biggest U.S-European Multinational joint training: Exercise Combined Resolve VII.
The exercise has been held from August 8 to September 15 in southeastern Germany with the participation of 3,500 soldiers from the Armed-Forces of: Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and the United States.
Source: US Army Europe/ the US 7th Army Training Command. By Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief (Copyrighted material)
August 2016
‘Strong Guard 2016’ has concluded its Training
Exercise Strong Guard 2016 was a unique US-European Military Training Exercise, executed during a three day time frame, to boost the close Partnership and the Interoperability of U.S National Guard, Military Police Battalion, Marines, with the Land-Forces and National Guards of Lithuania and Latvia. The Training was finalized successfully with a Military ceremony on August 14, 2016.
There were Soldiers, in variety of uniforms…… presenting their Brigades, Battalions, and Units– stood in salute in the closing ceremony. In a normal day or an ordinary condition, after three days and nights of heavy Training, which had challenged the toughness of Minds and the strength of Physique beyond all limits– one would had resigned before the finishing line and to exhaustion. But far from that– these were the Soldiers that have surpassed every extremes. Standing firm, …..their eyes were radiating with the the heights of pride……, and strength was yet visibly depicted in every steps of their movements….. as they marched towards the Garrison at their Commander’s behest.
Source: US Army Europe/Staff Sgt. Kimberly Bratic. By Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief (Copyrighted material)
With more than 5000 Soldiers and Airmen from 10 NATO Allied Armed-Forces, Swift Response 16 was one of the greatest Multi-National Military Crisis Response Training for Airborne Forces. The Training was executed in Poland and Germany from May 27- June 26, with a successful outcomes.
The Armed -Forces participating in this Training-Exercise were from: Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United States.
The Overall objective in the Exercise was formulated to:
Enhance the Readiness of the Combat Core of the U.S. Global Response Force
Conduct Rapid-Response
Joint-Forcible Entry
Follow-on Operations alongside Allied High-Readiness Forces in Europe (described by the U.S Army Europe)
Source: U.S Army Europe. By Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief (Copyrighted material)
Special Edition October 2015
Interview with Minister Lucia Puttrich and her official visit to U.S Army European Command
Interview with H.E. Minister Lucia Puttrich, Minister of European and Federal Affairs and Representative of the State of Hessen at the Federal Government of Germany, conducted by U.S Europe World Affairs Editor in Chief.
Your Excellency thank you very much indeed for accepting this interview.
My visit to the US-Army Europe headquarters in Wiesbaden was very interesting. We, as state government, have a close and trusting relationship to the US armed forces in Hessen. This is certainly due to a long history. We, as Germans, are very grateful to the USA that we were given the chance to rebuild our country according to democratic principles after the Second World War. For this, important decisions were made in Hessen. In 1948, the Hessian Constitution was signed at the Headquarter of the US armed forces and on July 1, 1948, the eleven West-German Minister-Presidents were given the mandate to prepare a German constitution.
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