Halfway through deployment, 28th ECAB remains focused
January 25, 2021
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter operated by Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade takes off from an airfield in the 28th ECAB's area of operations in the Middle East.
1185th Sentinels Stand Ready to Support Iron Union 14
January 23, 2021
Humvees, M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other vehicles are staged for transfer at the Port of Shuaiba for the upcoming Iron Union exercise Jan. 21, 2020 at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. The recurring, bilateral exercise between the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates strengthens relationships and increases interoperability between the two nation's military forces. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zoran Raduka, 1st TSC Public Affairs)
Commanding General of Task Force Spartan, Major General Patrick Hamilton and Chief of Staff, Colonel Michael Hunt Operate the Theater Engineer Brigade's Massive D9 Dozer.
January 23, 2021
Commanding General of Task Force Spartan, Major General Patrick Hamilton and Chief of Staff, Colonel Michael Hunt Operate the Theater Engineer Brigade's Massive D9 Dozer.
Erbil Air Base among first locations in CENTCOM to receive COVID-19 Vaccine
January 21, 2021
The U.S. Navy's expeditionary medical unit along with medical personnel from the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team administer COVID-19 vaccines to Service members at Erbil Air Base (EAB), Iraq. Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) received 300 vaccines for the Combined Joint Operations Area, 110 of those were administered at EAB. At this time, like many locations, CJTF-OIR’s supply of the vaccine is limited and will be administered to prioritized personnel. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Noshoba Davis)
Task Force Iron Castle and 891st Engineer Battalion's 996th Engineer Construction Company begin a joint training mission with engineers of the Kuwait Land Forces at the Land Force Institute, constructing a Forward Operating Base and Command Post Exercise
January 17, 2021
Task Force Iron Castle and 891st Engineer Battalion's 996th Engineer Construction Company begin a joint training mission with engineers of the Kuwait Land Forces at the Land Force Institute, constructing a Forward Operating Base and Command Post Exercise
Diamond Brigade Soldier Receives Battlefield Promotion While Deployed To The Middle East
January 11, 2021
Sgt. Brandy Lopez, an Information Technology (IT) Specialist assigned to 75th Field Artillery Brigade, stands at the position of attention after being promoted to the rank of sergeant while deployed to the Middle East on December 28, 2020. For the past nine months, Lopez had provided countless hours of IT support and troubleshooting to every Diamond Brigade Soldier deployed to the Middle East and was selected as the only Specialist to be promoted through Battle Field Promotion within Area Support Group - Jordan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dustin D. Biven / 75th Field Artillery Brigade)
Sgt. Kha'lee Gooden Recognized by FCoE and Fort Sill SJA
January 5, 2021
Sgt. Kha'lee Gooden, the National Security Law Paralegal Non-commissioned officer assigned to the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, the “Diamond Brigade”, of Fort Sill, OK, poses with a coin he had just received from Col. Tonya Blackwell, the Staff Judge Advocate for the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, while deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve, December 15, 2020. Sgt. Gooden has continued to demonstrate outstanding leadership both within and outside of the Diamond Brigade. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dustin D. Biven / 75th Field Artillery Brigade)
SABOT Academy graduation in Kuwait
January 5, 2021
2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division held a SABOT Academy socially distanced graduation ceremony for Kuwaiti Land Force Soldiers, Kuwaiti National Guardsmen, and Soldiers within the unit, near Camp Buehring, Kuwait on January 5, 2021. “This course is intended to prepare Soldiers for the rigors of Master Gunner School,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jackson Leflar, SABOT Academy instructor and 2ABCT Abrams Bradley fighting vehicle master gunner. “SABOT Academy was designed more as a crash course and personal assessment of the ability to process and retain the information that is being taught.” (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Michael West)
Alpha Battery Deploys in Response to Diamond Tempest
January 3, 2021
Soldiers from 1-14th Field Artillery Regiment, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, receive instructions on loading the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System onto an Air Force Cargo aircraft model 17, or C-17, before departing to Udari Range, to fire the HIMARS as part of live-fire exercise Diamond Tempest in Kuwait, Dec. 22, 2020. Soldiers mobilized for the exercise to demonstrate the battalion's ability to dynamically deploy troops in response operations throughout Southwest Asia. After receiving an initial alert, Soldiers had 24 hours to prepare their equipment for movement to conduct the air-land raid live-fire exercise.
Sgt. James Whitlock named Warrior of the Month for Task Force Spartan
December 31, 2020
Sgt. James Whitlock, right, a multichannel transmission system operator-maintainer assigned to 75th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, OK, poses for a photo while deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve, December 18, 2020.
Citizen soldier receives special call for the holidays
December 30, 2020
New York Police Officer and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Samuel Garcia, intelligence analyst noncommissioned officer, 719th Movement Control Battalion, poses for a photo after a special holiday call from New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Dec 23, 2020. During the call Shea thanked Garcia for his continued service to the nation as he serves his country in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
Active Shooter and Mascal Exercise in Jordan
December 16, 2020
Staff Sgt. Terrell Echols, 1-35th Armored Regiment, searches room by room during Active Shooter exercise at the Joint Training Center in Jordan, Dec. 16, 2020. The purpose of the exercise was to validate the readiness of the JTC emergency response staff, and test how they respond to an active shooter event on post with multiple injuries and mass casualties, known as a MASCAL. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Scovell)
U.S. Army Central announces Career Counselor of the Year
December 9, 2020
U.S. Army Central leadership congratulated Staff Sgt. (P) Abelardo Gonzalez of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, for earning the USARCENT 2020 Career Counselor of the Year title, Dec. 8. The announcement followed the Army Service Component Command’s two-day virtual competition held Dec. 7-8, which featured a packet evaluation to include a previously completed Army Combat Fitness Test, a written examination, and a virtual board.
The 2020 CyberBowl
December 9, 2020
The 2020 U.S. Army Central Best Cyber Warrior Competition concluded on Dec. 3, 2020, and took place virtually over a three-day period. The competition focused on the partnership between cybersecurity experts from USARCENT, coalition and regional partners and fostered a competitive learning environment through multiple challenges including reverse engineering, web security, digital forensics and network security. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Osburn)
KNG Bushmaster Course
December 7, 2020
In a socially distanced ceremony full of senior military leaders from the Kuwait National Guard and 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Soldiers of the KNG were awarded course completion certificates near Kuwait City, Kuwait on December 7, 2020. 2ABCT is deployed to southwest Asia in support of Operation Spartan Shield to support regional partners and sustain stability in the region. (U.S. Army Photo by: Staff Sgt. Michael West)
Top Army Adjutant General Leaders visit, discuss AG Corps future with U.S. Army Central HR professionals
December 4, 2020
US Army Adjutant General's Corps
The pride of the arrowhead, the tip of the spear
December 2, 2020
A Commander's Community Information Exchange demonstrates cohesion on Camp Arifjan
December 1, 2020
U.S. Army Maj. Alex Duffy, deputy director of the Directorate of Public Works at Area Support Group - Kuwait takes notes during a Commander’s Community Information Exchange December 1, 2020, on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The meeting gave leaders from units currently deployed to ASG-KU under the U.S. Army Central Command, the opportunity to receive current base related activities, events, and training directly from the garrison staff. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Khylee Woodford)
Security enterprise marks 25th anniversary of Riyadh bombing
November 30, 2020
Honorary display at a remembrance ceremony to honor eight headquarters personnel and staff, that were killed in a terrorist bombing, 25 years ago, at the headquarters for OPM-SANG, a subordinate unit to Army Security Assistance Command, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. OPM-SANG hosts the annual remembrance so that it's legacy is not forgotten. (Courtesy photo)
President Trump makes Thanksgiving calls to TF Spartan Troops
November 27, 2020
U.S. service members with Task Force Spartan celebrate Thanksgiving with a call from the U.S. president via video teleconference in Southwest Asia on Nov. 27, 2020. Sgt. Lamar Armstrong Jr. of Houston, Texas, said: “He would be proud, my Dad would definitely be proud, he’s prior military. I would tell my friends that I got to interact with the United States President; it was an eye-opening experience.”

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