News | U.S. Army Central

Grappling with Allies
June 28, 2019 — U.S. Army Sgt. Linsey Williams, a public affairs specialist with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, got her first taste of grappling in the basic combatives course during her initial entry training with the U.S. Army in 2011... MORE

Sergeant. Linsey William, a public affairs specialist with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, poses for a photo June 28, 2019, on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. William teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club on her off time while stationed in Kuwait.

U.S. Service Members and Kuwaitis Compete in Combatives Tournament
June 28, 2019 — Service members from the United States and Kuwait armed forces had an opportunity to showcase their martial arts skills in a combatives tournament at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, June 23, 2019... MORE

Kuwaiti armed forces participate in a team huddle before a combatives tournament at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, June 23, 2019. U.S. Army Central hosts events such as the combatives tournament to strengthen its relationship and build partner capacity with the Kuwaitis. USARCENT operates throughout the Middle East region and appreciates the generosity of the host nation’s willingness to maintain bilateral defense relationships.

Kuwait Contracting Brigade Changes Command
June 28, 2019 — Colonel Mary O.B. Drayton officially took command of the 408th Contracting Support Brigade during a ceremony June 27 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait... MORE

Colonel Mary O.B. Drayton, left, incoming commander, 408th Contracting Support Brigade, accepts the unit colors from Col. Christine A. Beeler, deputy to the commanding general for outside the continental United States for Army Contracting Command, during the change of command ceremony June 27, 2019, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. This is Drayton’s third assignment within the 408th CSB.

Annual report declares Shaw AFB water ‘safe’
June 27, 2019 — Leadership from the 20th Fighter Wing and the 20th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight released the Shaw Air Force Base Annual Drinking Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report, officially declaring Shaw’s drinking water safe for all consumers, June 27... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jack Gordon, 20th Medical Group bioenvironmental engineer, tests water contamination levels at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, June 18, 2019.

Utah linguists enhance Exercise Steppe Eagle 19
June 27, 2019 — Utah Army National Guard Linguists' dual-language skills made them valuable assets at Steppe Eagle 19, an annual, multinational exercise meant to enhance coalition interoperability and operational readiness, promote regional security, and improve military cooperation in the Central and South Asia region... MORE

Spc. Gregory Thomson (far left), Utah Army National Guard, interprets for a media role player during cordon and search training with the Kazakhstani Ground Forces at Exercise Steppe Eagle 19 at Chilikemer Training Area near Almaty, Kazakhstan, June 25, 2019. Kazakhstan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan all sent participants for the exercise, while India, Turkey, and Uzbekistan sent observers. Steppe Eagle 19 is an annual U.S. Army Central-led exercise that promotes regional stability and interoperability in the Central and South Asia region.

U.S. Army’s Area Support Group – Qatar Changes Command
June 26, 2019 — U.S. military service members from throughout Area Support Group-Qatar along with U.S. government and Qatari military officials bade farewell to one, while welcoming that unit’s, newest brigade commander during a traditional change of command ceremony at Camp As Sayliyah on June 24, 2019... MORE

Col. Steve Fabiano addresses an audience of more than 160 service members during his brigade change of command ceremony inside one of Camp As Sayliyah's recreation facilities on June 24, 2019. Fabiano is the new commander of Area Support Group-Qatar.

U.S. physician teaches SE19 medical participants to ‘race the Reaper’
June 22, 2019 — Opening his classroom to 25 military physicians from the Central and South Asia region, U.S. Army physician, Maj. Michael Eiffert, M.D. taught a Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Health Service Support in Peacekeeping Operations class at exercise Steppe Eagle 19... MORE

U.S. Army physician, Maj. Michael Eiffert, M.D. (far left), presents a Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Health Service Support in Peacekeeping Operations class, June 20, 2019, to medical participants at Steppe Eagle 19 at Illisky Training Area in Kazakhstan. The class was designed to teach medical providers from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic about trauma care and preventive medicine.

USARCENT Hosts Safety Fair in Kuwait
June 22, 2019 — Safety is becoming a habit for Soldiers and civilians at Camp Arfijan, Kuwait, as the U.S. Army Central’s 101 Critical Days of Summer safety program is in full swing. The ARCENT Safety Office hosted a safety fair June 21 to focus on seven specific safety areas... MORE

Army Maj. Kristjan Rauhala, right, adjutant, U.S. Army Central (Forward), discusses the importance of firearms safety with attendees at the ARCENT Safety Fair at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, June 21, 2019. The safety fair is a highlight of the U.S. Army Central’s 101 Critical Days of Summer safety program that encourages leaders to engage with their Soldiers and to stress the importance of being safe in everything they do.

How Data Driven Analysis Can Reduce Operational Risk
June 21, 2019 — After three vehicle accidents in the first month of their rotation at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, the 594th Transportation Company (594 TC) created a program called the Operational Soldier Tracker (OST) to provide leaders at every level a comprehensive assessment to help ensure each truck has a skilled driver or truck commander... MORE

Capt. Andrew Nowak, 594th Transportation Company commander, 129th Sustainment Battalion, 300th Sustainment Brigade, and 1st Lt. Fletcher Hopkins, executive officer, use the Operator Skill Tracker to evaluate Soldier’s skills for future operations at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, May 13, 2019.

1st TSC Soldiers Return From Six-Month Deployment
June 20, 2019 — Soldiers from 1st Theater Sustainment Command's Strategic Operations and Planning (SOaP) "Red Team" completed their six-month rotation and returned home to a redeployment ceremony at the Sadowski Center, June 19... MORE

Master Sgt. Edgar Zavala greets his family after returning home from a six-month deployment June 19, 2019.

U.S. Central Command Statement: Iranians shoot down U.S. drone
June 20, 2019 — "U.S. Central Command can confirm that a U.S. Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (or BAMS-D) ISR aircraft was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile system while operating in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz at approximately 11:35 p.m. GMT on June 19, 2019." ... MORE

Steppe Eagle 19 opening ceremony demonstrates strength of relationships, militaries
June 19, 2019 — As a Kazakhstani brass marching band played the national anthems of each nation in attendance, Soldiers representing six nations kicked off exercise Steppe Eagle 19 during an opening ceremony, June 17, to highlight the exercise's role in promoting stability in the Central and South Asia region... MORE

Kazakhstani Gen. Maj. Abubakirov, commander of the Kazakh Air Assault Forces and the presiding officer for the opening ceremony for Steppe Eagle 19, speaks to Kazakh Ground Forces Soldiers at illisky Training Area near Almaty, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2019. Steppe Eagle 19 is an annual U.S. Army Central-led exercise that promotes regional stability and interoperability in the Central and South Asia region.

Statement From Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan on Additional Forces to U.S. Central Command
June 18, 2019 — In response to a request from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for additional forces, and with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and in consultation with the White House, I have authorized approximately 1,000 additional troops for defensive purposes to address air, naval, and ground-based threats in the Middle East... MORE

The Quietly Determined Soldier
June 16, 2019 — In search of better opportunities, Brazilian-born Govinda L. Acuna moved to America in 2003 and enlisted in the U.S. Army several years later. Today, Staff Sgt. Acuna has earned his reputation as a "hard worker, high performer" with the 595th Transportation Brigade... MORE

Staff Sgt. Govinda L. Acuna, 595th Transportation Brigade, works out at 3:30 a.m. at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, June 4, 2019.

Bainbridge Answers Distress Call
June 13, 2019 — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) responded to a distress call from the M/V Kokuka Courageous in the Gulf of Oman the morning of June 13... MORE

GULF OF OMAN (June 13, 2019) Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) render aid to the crew of the M/V Kokuka Courageous. Bainbridge is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet areas of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason Waite/Released)

CENTCOM statement on recent events in the Gulf of Oman
June 13, 2019 — "U.S. Naval Forces in the region received two separate distress calls at 6:12 a.m. local time and a second one at 7:00 a.m. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command received the calls from the M/V Front Altair and M/V Kokuka Courageous, who were operating in international waters of the Gulf of Oman. ... MORE

Minnesota Guard partners with Kuwaiti Counterparts for Exercise
June 10, 2019 — Soldiers of Task Force Spartan gathered at the Kuwait Special Forces Training Center with counterparts from the Kuwait Ministry of Interior and Kuwait National Guard on May 2 for Al Watan One, a joint terrorism and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) exercise... MORE

Members of the Kuwait Ministry of Interior’s Special Weapons and Tactics team prepare to breach a building while pulling security on May 2, 2019, during a joint exercise with a simulated terrorist, explosive ordnance, and chemical situation at the Kuwait Special Forces Training Center. The exercise was crafted to build a shared understanding of Kuwait Civil Authorities and U.S. forces procedures while reacting to any disaster, natural and manmade alike.

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Changes Command
June 10, 2019 — Nearly two years after assuming command of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Cincu, Romania during a brigade rotation in Europe, Col. Michael J. Simmering relinquished command of the brigade to Col. Grant S. Fawcett in a change of command ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait on Saturday, June 8, 2019, as the brigade supports Operation Spartan Shield... MORE

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Haydt prepares to pass the brigade colors to outgoing commander Col. Michael J. Simmering one last time as a symbol of the passing of leadership during a change of command ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait on Saturday, June 8, 2019. Simmering relinquished command to incoming commander Col. Grant S. Fawcett.

Father, Son Strengthen Bond While Deployed Together
June 7, 2019 — Most fathers are happy to receive a tie or some other type of keepsake from their children for Father’s Day – especially once their children are grown. For Sgt. 1st Class Robert Scott, he will have something far more valuable to see while he is forward-deployed to Qatar this Father’s Day... MORE

Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Scott, left, and his son, Staff Sgt. John Scott, are both currently deployed to Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, where they serve with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s Centurion Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment. Robert is the Base Defense Operations Cell noncommissioned officer in charge and John is a platoon sergeant and operations noncommissioned officer. This is the second time the Scotts have been deployed at the same time, but only the first when they’ve been deployed together.

Identical Twins Share Deployment Together
June 4, 2019 — “It feels like I got a cheat code for a deployment,” said Pvt. Matthew Maurino, an infantryman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment. “You don’t feel as far away from home when your brother’s here. Especially your twin.”... MORE

Army Spc. Joseph Maurino, left, and his identical twin brother, Pvt. Matthew Maurino, are currently deployed together to Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. Both the Manalapan, New Jersey, natives are infantryman with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment. Matthew is with Alpha Company and Joseph is with Bravo Company.

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