Author: migration

WIESBADEN, Germany — U.S. Army Europe and Africa and NATO Allies successfully concluded Avenger Triad 26 on Oct. 15, marking the end of a 10-day, distributed command post exercise that tested simulated large-scale, multi-domain combat operations across Europe.

Conducted from Oct. 6 to 15, the exercise brought together approximately 2,000 U.S. service members and 2,000 multinational personnel operating from command posts across France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Avenger Triad 26 was synchronized with NATO’s premier command post exercise, Steadfast Duel 26, which linked strategic and operational decision-makers across all 32 Allied nations.

Operating primarily from the Combined Operations and Intelligence Center at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, USAREUR-AF and NATO’s Allied Land Command functioned as a converged, integrated warfighting headquarters, turning NATO’s regional defense plans into synchronized operational action.

“Steadfast Duel and Avenger Triad demonstrated that our collective defense is not just an idea on paper; it is an active, trained reality,” said Lt. Gen. Jez Bennett, acting LANDCOM commander. “By deploying our LANDCOM staff to Wiesbaden to fight alongside our U.S. partners as a single, connected headquarters, we tested our people, validated our processes and refined our ability to deliver decisive action under pressure. Our strength lies in interoperability, and this exercise proved our readiness to defend every inch of Allied territory.”

Avenger Triad 26 placed headquarters staffs under continuous operational strain, simulating combat conditions against a simulated opposing force in a complex, multi-domain environment. Participating Allied corps included the U.S. Army’s V Corps, the 2nd Polish Corps, the 1st French Corps and the 1st German-Netherlands Corps, supported by specialized theater commands including the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and Multi-Domain Command – Europe.

A central objective of the exercise was putting concepts from NATO’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative into operational practice. Rather than relying solely on static lines of defense, EFDI integrates advanced sensors, unmanned aerial systems, cloud computing and shared data environments to shorten the time between threat detection and target engagement.
Command posts utilized next-generation command-and-control software, including the Maven Smart System, to establish a unified common operating picture across dispersed national headquarters. This common data backbone enabled military planners to process vast amounts of operational data, accelerate commander decision cycles and coordinate deep fires across the land, air, sea, cyber and space domains.

“What we accomplished in Wiesbaden was a real test of how we will fight if called upon,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Lowin, LANDCOM deputy chief of staff for operations. “Operating as one team, we proved that we can connect distributed sensors to effectors through a resilient digital backbone. While artificial intelligence and modern data tools help us cut through noise and deliver information rapidly, warfare remains fundamentally human. Our staff analyzed those options and gave our commander the clarity required to act decisively.”

Lowin noted that the progress made during this year’s exercise built directly on lessons identified in previous iterations, moving NATO’s operational transformation from concept to frontline execution.

“Last year we finished at a high level, and this year we started at that level,” Lowin said. “The credibility of our deterrence rests on our capability. When an adversary sees that 32 nations can share data seamlessly, command corps-level formations across thousands of kilometers and coordinate joint fires in minutes, it sends an unmistakable signal: attacking NATO will not succeed.”

Avenger Triad 26 and Steadfast Duel 26 also underscored European Allies taking on greater operational responsibility for theater defense, ensuring that national and multinational corps can seamlessly integrate into NATO’s overarching command structure during an Article 5 collective defense scenario.

The operational insights and digital workflows refined during Avenger Triad 26 will inform planning for upcoming theater maneuvers, including NATO’s large-scale field exercise Steadfast Defender 2027, where these command post concepts will be tested with live formations in the field.

For more information, please contact the U.S. Army Europe and Africa media desk at media@army.mil.

A multidisciplinary group of nine newly arrived medical providers and staff members recently visited Hospitales Lavinia ASISA (HLA) Hospital Jerez Puerta del Sur to learn about the facility’s healthcare capabilities and engage with their host nation counterparts. The group represented family medicine, pediatrics, urology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and nursing leadership.

Participants met with HLA Hospital Jerez Puerta del Sur providers and members of the hospital’s international team to discuss available specialty services, referral processes, and opportunities for continued collaboration. The engagement gave the clinicians a clearer understanding of the host nation resources available to service members and their families.

The visit strengthened a partnership built through years of communication, collaboration, and mutual trust. Connecting newly arrived military medical personnel with Spanish healthcare professionals improves coordination across the overseas medical network and reinforces the relationships needed to provide timely, high-quality care.

These enduring partnerships extend beyond individual patient encounters. They increase the capacity and resilience of the regional healthcare network, support the health of the broader military community, and help service members return to duty. Continued cooperation with host nation providers strengthens the relationship between the United States and Spain while sustaining a medically ready force capable of responding to operational demands and executing the mission.

Strategically positioned on the Iberian Peninsula, the hospital plays a critical role in defending, restoring, and elevating the health of warfighters and their families. USNH Rota provides ready, reliable care to 8,400 service members and their families.

For more information on USNH Rota and its mission, visit www.rota.tricare.mil (http://www.rota.tricare.mil/).

BÖBLINGEN, Germany — Loud shouts and metallic banging echoed from inside a darkened bunker at Stuttgart Army Airfield on Oct. 8 as senior garrison leaders crawled through smoke and confined tunnels in full firefighting gear during Fire Prevention Week.

All geared up and ready for a challenge, U.S. Army Stuttgart Garrison Commander Col. Edward J. Sanford and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Melendez entered the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) confidence maze to experience firsthand the physical and mental challenges that first responders face daily.

While firefighters typically complete the confidence course at least twice a year, this particular training was organized by USAG Stuttgart’s Directorate of Emergency Services to “create a hands-on experience of Fire Prevention Week and boost first responder morale through leadership example,” DES Director Lt. Col. Daniel Jimenez said.

To simulate a real-life training experience, trainers pump artificial smoke and raise the temperature in the bunker while trainees navigate the dark maze relying on limited flashlight beams.

“SCBA confidence maze training is a cornerstone of a firefighter’s professional qualification,” USAG Stuttgart Fire Chief Michael Ambacher said.

The training helps firefighters master life-safety survival skills and maintain operational readiness while building confidence in their ability to operate in tight spaces without panicking.

“Firefighters complete this training so that their first experience with zero-visibility and entrapment happens in a monitored training environment and not while trapped inside a collapsing, active structure fire,” Ambacher said.

Ambacher said instructors closely monitor and look for signs of stress, panic, or hesitation, such as rapid breathing, elevated speech, or freezing. They assess whether firefighters can remove and don their SCBA in zero visibility to pass through tight spaces, whether they correctly apply right- or left-hand search sweeps, and how effectively they work together as a team.

For USAG Stuttgart garrison leadership, stepping into the dark box demonstrates solidarity with the garrison’s first responders.

“Going through this course gives you an immediate appreciation for the grit and trust our firefighters must have every time the alarm sounds,” Sanford said. “It is one thing to review training reports, but experiencing the heat and sensory overload in person reinforces just how important their preparation is.”

LANDSTUHL, Germany — Three Public Health Command Europe employees recently participated in “The Stinky Cheese Man”, a Kaiserslautern Military Community community-theater production. Ann Larson, a chemist in the Organic Chemistry Division; Christopher Veis, an environmental health engineer and Lt. Col. Carpaccio Owens, director for Environmental Health Sciences, contributed to the show as performers and music staff.

Larson, Veis and Owens recently joined the cast and production team for “The Stinky Cheese Man”, a community-theater production that brought together volunteers from across the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

For Veis, the path to the stage began with an interest in local productions and a willingness to audition.

“Community theaters are in place not only at Ramstein, but also through KMC Onstage,” Veis said. “You can follow their social media, see what shows they are doing and if one interests you, show up for auditions.”

Veis was selected to portray the Old Man. Owens, who had previously performed with his wife in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”, auditioned because he wanted to work with the show’s director, Brianna, whom he had met during an earlier production of “Legally Blonde”.

“I liked her energy and what she brought as an actor,” Owens said. “When I saw she was directing the show, I thought it would be fun to work with her.”

Owens and his wife initially auditioned together for different roles. His wife was cast as Cow Lady, while Owens became the voice of the Giant.

For Larson, involvement began behind the scenes. She was recruited to assist with teaching music for the production, then became one of two music directors.

“I honestly did not think I had time to do this,” Larson said. “Somehow you make it work, because you want to so badly.”

The show’s fractured-fairy-tale format gave Larson an opportunity to help connect an unconventional mix of music while working with performers as they learned songs.

“I’ve done music a lot in my life, but helping with a theater production like that was new for me,” Larson said. “It was really fun, just exercising that part of yourself and working with people.”

For the three public health professionals, theater provides more than a creative outlet. It offers a space away from demanding jobs, tight timelines and the responsibilities that come with supporting the military community.
“I’ve always found theater to be a great stress reliever,” Veis said. “It is a place that is not work. You find a lot of like-minded people who usually have stressful day jobs and in the evening, we get to play, have fun, sing fun songs and do crazy characters.”

Theater also builds connections among coworkers who may otherwise interact only in a professional setting.
Veis said participating in the production helped the cast members get to know one another beyond their roles at work.

Larson said acting has reinforced the value of actively listening to others and maintaining focus on a shared goal.
“Really pay attention to the other people that you work with,” Larson said. “That is important to understand what you need to communicate and how you should respond. We are all working toward the same goal.”

Veis said theater has made him more mindful of how messages are received.

“On stage, you know immediately if you communicated well by how the audience reacts,” he said. “At work, it is important to remember that it is not just how I heard something—it is how the other person hears it.”

Owens compared live performance to the need to adapt when plans change.

“Sometimes people get nervous, sometimes things just happen, and they have to adjust,” Owens said. “The supporting cast members adjust with them so there is not a huge pause.”

That mutual support, Owens said, is one of the strongest qualities of community theater.

“People are volunteering their time, talents and resources to make it all come together,” Owens said. “They are appreciative of the people who are there and the space they are in.”

For Larson, Veis and Owens, “The Stinky Cheese Man” was more than a performance. It was an opportunity to build confidence, strengthen communication and find community.

By Hyungbin Ju, 403rd AFSB Public Affairs

CAMP HENRY, South Korea – The 403rd Army Field Support Brigade and the Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon successfully concluded series of engagements here, Oct. 7.

The program brought together KAAY cadets and 403rd AFSB Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians for professional mentorship, English-language practice and cultural exchange. The engagements were designed to build the cadets’ confidence in communicating in English and help prepare them for their future responsibilities as Republic of Korea Army officers.

Nine mentors from the 403rd AFSB visited KAAY on Sept. 22 and 28. During the visits, each mentor was paired with a group of English major cadets. The cadets guided the mentors through academy facilities and queried them about their military careers, training experiences and the skills required to accomplish their missions.

“Cadets from the academy’s English department partnered with leaders from the 403rd AFSB to exchange cultural perspectives and leadership lessons. These future ROK Army leaders had the opportunity to engage with and seek advice from experienced U.S. Army leaders,” said Lt. Col. Curtis A. Gibbs, executive officer, 403rd AFSB. “The mentorship relationships established through these engagements will continue to benefit the ROK-U.S. Alliance for years to come.”

The mentors also provided feedback on the cadets’ use of English and shared their professional and personal experiences. Drawing on their extensive experience with the Army, the U.S. mentors shared the values, leadership lessons and practical knowledge essential for junior officers. These discussions not only allowed the cadets to practice English in a real-world setting but also provided a strong foundation for their development into capable and effective Army officers.

As part of the reciprocal engagement, KAAY cadets and faculty members visited Camp Henry. The visit started with a briefing on Contested Logistics presented by Col. Jason P. Book, commander, 403rd AFSB. The event also included lunch with mentors at the Sustainer Grill Warrior Restaurant, and tours of Camp Henry facilities and the brigade headquarters. The visit gave the cadets an opportunity to observe a U.S. Army installation, learn about the U.S. forces’ role on the Korean Peninsula and reconnect with the mentors they had met at KAAY.

“The engagement with the Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon cadets marked another important step in strengthening the alliance between the Republic of Korea Army and the U.S. Army,” said Staff Sgt. Courtney B. Roberts, S3 maintenance noncommissioned officer, 403rd AFSB.

“These future leaders were highly inquisitive, professional and are well prepared to meet the challenges they will face as ROK Army officers,” Roberts said. “Their questions and perspectives demonstrated a strong commitment to learning, teamwork and leading Soldiers. Based on my experience with them, I believe these cadets represent some of the Republic of Korea’s brightest young leaders and have tremendous potential to serve with distinction. Opportunities like this allow us to learn from one another and reinforce the enduring strength of our alliance.”

The engagements provided the cadets with valuable academic, military and cultural experiences while giving 403rd AFSB personnel an opportunity to contribute directly to the development of future ROK Army officers. The program also enhanced the U.S. participants’ understanding of their role in South Korea and reinforced the importance of person-to-person relationships in maintaining the ROK-U.S. Alliance.

“I am a U.S. Army officer, and these cadets will soon become Republic of Korea Army officers. Together, we will be brothers and sisters in arms, standing shoulder to shoulder to strengthen the ironclad alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea.” said Lt. Col. Jung Y. Schorr, commander, Army Field Support Battalion–Northeast Asia. “I was once a brand-new second lieutenant, and I still remember what one of my company commanders told me, ‘Your time as a lieutenant is the closest you will ever be to your Soldiers. It is the time to master the fundamentals of the Army and truly learn how to train and lead Soldiers.’”

“Spending these two days with the cadets at the Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon reminded me exactly why I serve,” Schorr said. “Sharing my experiences and hearing about the officers they aspire to become was deeply inspiring. Being an officer begins with being a good Soldier, but it also means leading these outstanding young men and women as they carry forward our proud Army traditions and values. Together, we are building a better, safer world where our children can grow up believing they can ‘Be All They Can Be.’”

The 403rd AFSB and KAAY plan to continue engagements as a recurring program. The brigade has also been invited to participate in the KAAY Cadet Festival in November, and mentors may have an opportunity to attend the cadets’ commissioning ceremony in February 2027.

Through continued mentorship and professional exchange, the two organizations seek to strengthen their partnership, support the development of future Army leaders and further reinforce the enduring ROK-U.S. Alliance.