News | U.S. Army Central

Area Support Group Qatar Change of Command
August 17, 2018 — U.S. Army Capt. Rawlene Grandison relinquished command of the Headquarters Company (HHC) Area Support Group Qatar to U.S. Army Capt. Filiberto Pacheco in a change of command ceremony on July 31, 2018... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Filiberto Pacheco (left) and U.S. Army Col. Robert Kuth (right) conduct the exchange of the company colors during the Headquarters Company of Area Support Group Qatar’s change of command at Camp As-Sayliyah, Qatar, July 31, 2018. The exchange of the company colors symbolized Capt. Pacheco accepting command of the company.

Operation Deep Blue
August 17, 2018 — The 74th Dive Detachment was hard at work this month conducting a training exercise that encompassed $1.5 million dollars in unit equipment, and utilized support vessels for deep water diving operations, Operation Deep Blue... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Royce Clark, a 1st Class Diving Supervisor of the 74th Dive Detachment, enters the water from LCU 2027 in the Arabian Gulf on July 18, 2018. Clark will simulate a "fouled diver" emergency, requiring decompression and letting the supervisor in charge practice procedures to safely treat the diver.

Sharing Best Practices Across Borders
August 15, 2018 — U.S. Army Soldiers from the 157th Military Engagement Team, Wisconsin Army National Guard, assigned to U.S. Army Central, met with soldiers from the Royal Army of Oman's Border Guard Brigade to share strategies and ideas on how to better defend borders from a multitude of threats... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Ken Ginther, the officer in charge assigned to the 157th Military Engagement Team, Wisconsin Army National Guard, attached to U.S. Army Central, observes soldiers from the Royal Army of Oman's Border Guard Brigade performing a vehicle search as part of a practical exercise in which soldiers from each country demonstrated their preferred method of operating a vehicle control point in Haima, Oman, Aug. 8, 2018. The collaborative exercise increased interoperability between the U.S. Army and Omani Army by creating an opportunity for soldiers from each country to share best practices in border security.

USARCENT hosts 2018 Regional Artillery Symposium
August 14, 2018 — U.S. Army Central hosted the Regional Artillery Symposium with partner nations in Nashville Aug. 6-10, providing an open forum for partner nations to discuss field artillery operations, tactical planning and execution methodologies to strategically develop artillery assets in the USARCENT area of responsibility... MORE

Maj. Marc Sauter, assistant fire support coordinator, U.S. Army Central, discusses artillery targeting cycles and process integration at the Regional Artillery Symposium in Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 6, 2018. The symposium enhanced the interoperability and cooperation of regional partners by creating an open forum for partner nations to discuss field artillery operations, tactical planning and execution methodologies in order to strategically develop the use of artillery assets in the USARCENT area of operations.

Battlefield Detectives: the Forensic Exploitation Laboratory
August 14, 2018 — The Forensic Exploitation Laboratory – Central Command located in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait is one of the many facilities where enemy weapons such as IEDs are analyzed by highly trained and educated professionals in various disciplines of forensic science... MORE

A group of latent print examiners assigned to the Forensic Exploitation Laboratory – Central Command, work side-by-side to extract samples from captured enemy material at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, August 9, 2018. The FXL-C provides vital information to combatant commanders in the CENTCOM area of responsibility which helps them stay ahead of the fight.

Nations Gather for Exercise Steppe Eagle
August 10, 2018 — Exercise Steppe Eagle 18 opened with the raising of the flags and the playing of national anthems August 10, 2018, at McCrady Training Center, S.C... MORE

A member of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan salutes during the opening ceremony of Exercise STEPPE EAGLE 18. Kazakhstan continues to be a strategic and regional partner, and a significant contributor to regional stability. We are proud partners and welcome the opportunity to work together as a team.

U.S., Kuwait Land Forces refine communication
August 7, 2018 — Task Force Spartan and Kuwait Land Forces soldiers partnered with their staff-level counterparts for the Desert Observer command post exercise July 30... MORE

Soldiers of Task Force Spartan partner with their staff-level counterparts in the Kuwait Land Forces for the command post exercise Desert Observer. The exercise allows the two militaries to share, explore, and refine communication techniques and any differences in the ways they perform their duties. Command post exercises are scenario-based exercises in which situations are introduced by observers into the scenario. The staff reacts to the situations according to established protocols with the intent to evaluate how efficiently those protocols are and where they can improve.

USARCENT honors Fallen
August 6, 2018 — It has been said that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another. U.S. Army Central Soldiers, civilians, friends, family members and community leaders gathered in the hall of flags at Patton Hall to pay tribute to the brave souls who have made the ultimate sacrifice in support of our great nation... MORE

Lt. Gen. Michael X. Garrett (left), commanding general U.S. Army Central and Col. Joey T. Byrd (right), USARCENT chaplain, salute with the fellow Soldiers, civilians and family members at the USARCENT wreath laying ceremony Aug. 3 at Patton Hall to honor service members who died while assigned to USARCENT/Third Army over the past 100 years.

U.S., Jordanian Armed Forces conduct bi-lateral HIRAIN live-fire exercise
August 1, 2018 — The Lion Flight training exercise between the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) on July 23 was a highly effective validation of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) mission... MORE

Arriving at their destination on July 23, 2018, soldiers with the U.S. Army’s Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment and the Jordanian Army’s 29th Royal HIMARS Battalion quickly unchained the Jordanian M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and offloaded it from the C-17 Globemaster III during the bi-Lateral Lion Flight live-fire training exercise.

Army, Air Force dominate the sky
July 31, 2018 — “We provide the air missile defense coverage which allows our joint partners to conduct their plan and conduct their strategic level missions,” said Col. Issac Gipson, commander of the U.S. Army 11th Air Defense Artillery “Imperial” Brigade. “In any type of conflict, it has to be a joint force who goes out to conduct the mission.”... MORE

Col. Issac Gipson, commander of Top Notch 11th Air Defense Artillery “Imperial” Brigade, Task Force Spartan, presents U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Thompson, the lead production superintendent of 69th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit, a coin in appreciation for his unwavering support facilitating special events for Imperial on Jan. 12, 2018.

U.S. Soldiers take part in Kuwaiti Special Olympics 50th anniversary celebration
July 31, 2018 — Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 28th Infantry Division/Task Force Spartan, had the opportunity to attend a Special Olympics 50th anniversary event at the Kuwait Towers July 19, 2018... MORE

More than a dozen Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 28th Infantry Division/Task Force Spartan, attended an event at Kuwait Towers to mark the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics. The Kuwaiti event was part of a worldwide celebration July 19, 2018.

U.S., Emirati Army soldiers join forces for Iron Union 7
July 30, 2018 — Soldiers with Task Force Spartan and the United Arab Emirates Land Force Component joined together to improve coordination and communication during exercise Iron Union 7 on July 9, 2018... MORE

Soldiers with 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team (Mississippi Army National Guard), Task Force Spartan and the United Arab Emirates Land Force Component discusses courses of action during the Iron Union 7 exercise July 9, 2018. The exercise brought together U.S. and Emirati soldiers to improve coordination and communication.

Soldiers spend the day with kids at Kuwait hospitals
July 25, 2018 — U.S. Soldiers in Kuwait, some from the Indiana National Guard, had an opportunity to visit and spend time playing with children coping with critical illnesses in two Kuwait hospitals on July 10. Through the 'Every Soldier an Ambassador' program, participating Soldiers will share in a six-week rotation of play therapy with hospitalized children... MORE

NBK children’s hospital staff and soldiers pose for a group photo during the Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) play therapy day through Task Force Spartan’s participation in the Every Soldier an Ambassador program.

USARCENT’s Digital Liaison Detachment holds Change of Command
July 24, 2018 — Col. Oscar W. Doward Jr. relinquished his role as commanding officer to Col. Douglas W. Mills during the change-of-command ceremony for the 2503rd Digital Liaison Detachment at U.S. Army Central headquarters July 19... MORE

Maj. Gen. David C. Hill, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Central, speaks to the audience during an award ceremony to honor Col. Oscar W. Doward Jr., outgoing commander of the 2503rd Digital Liaison Detachment, before a change-of-command ceremony July 19, 2018, at USARCENT headquarters on Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Von Marie Donato)

A Day in the Life of EOD
July 20, 2018 — Three years ago, Zachary Meyer sat in an Army recruiting office in Illinois. Growing up an Army brat, finding his way into the recruiting office was natural. But he wasn’t really interested in joining until he saw the Explosive Ordnance Disposal recruiting video... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Scott Cotner, Spc. U.S. Army Zachary Meyer and U.S. Army Spc. Jonathon Peterson, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialists with 797th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, get an update on the whereabouts of a found UXO from Area Support Group-Kuwait security force, April 25, 2018 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Divers Conduct Operation Salvage Rodeo
July 20, 2018 — U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 74th Engineer Dive Detachment implemented salvage and recovery operations on multiple projects utilized for training purposes and scenarios May 11, 2018, at Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait. The training included lift bag operations, affected diver scenarios, and underwater hydraulic tool operations. The evolution ended with building patches and dewatering a sunken fuel tanker... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Cody Jacobs, left, a 2nd Class Diver assigned to the 74th Engineer Dive Detachment, uses an Oxy-Acetylene torch to build hooks that will support patches as water is evacuated and air takes its place at Kuwaiti Naval Base, Kuwait, May 11, 2018. Soldiers of the 74th Engineer Dive Detachment implemented salvage and recovery operations on multiple projects utilized for training purposes and scenarios.

Task Force Spartan Spotlight: Staff Sgt. Brian Lang, HIMARS crew chief
July 20, 2018 — Staff Sgt. Brian Lang is a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System crew chief for Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Task Force Spartan. “I’ve been in for little over six years now,” said Lang. “I started off as a driver in a ’270’ – a 270 is a track unit vehicle that will carry two of the rocket pods instead of one.”... MORE

Staff Sgt. Brian Lang, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System crew chief for Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Task Force Spartan, coordinates with one his Soldiers to raise the pod to load the simulated rounds for the HIMARS on June 29, 2018. Lang, a six-year field artilleryman, is also the ammunition section chief for Bravo Battery.

335th Signal Command (Theater) (Provisional) welcomes new commander
July 19, 2018 — Brig. Gen. Nikki L. Griffin Olive assumed command of the 335th Signal Command (Theater) (Provisional) from Brig. Gen. John H. Phillips at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, July 19. Griffin Olive has served over 28 years as an Army Signal Corps officer, and her immediate prior assignment was Deputy Commander for Sustainment of the 335th Signal Command (Theater), East Point, Georgia... MORE

Brig. Gen. Nikki L. Griffin Olive receives command flag from Lt. Gen. Michael Garrett after assuming command of the 335th Signal Command (Theater) (Provisional) at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, July 19.

From Family Readiness to the Front Line
July 17, 2018 — Like many military spouses, Theresa Scott is no stranger to seeing her husband deploy. She knows what it is like to stay behind, rear a family, pay all the bills and maintain a “normal life” while he travels overseas. Unlike most spouses, however, Scott recently had a chance to experience life on the other end of the spectrum... MORE

Theresa Scott, family readiness support assistant, 1st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC), stands in front of the 1st TSC Theater Gateway T-Wall, June 18. Scott traveled to Camp Arifjan to experience life as a Soldier on deployment.

USARCENT hosts 2018 senior strategy session
July 16, 2018 — U.S. Army Central hosted leaders from eight partner nations for the 2018 Senior Strategy Session – Arabian Peninsula / Levant from July 9-12 in Arlington, Va... MORE

Gen. Joseph L. Votel, commanding general, U.S. Central Command, spoke to participants about the regional priorities addressed in the U.S. National Security Strategy, to include the impacts of Iranian malign influence, at the 2018 Senior Strategy Session – Arabian Peninsula / Levant in Arlington, Va, July 9, 2018. The conference promoted the successes of ongoing coalition action against emerging threats and improved shared understanding of regional land force counterparts to invest in the right capabilities to achieve better interoperability and greater effectiveness in pursuing mutual national interests. Over the four-day conference, speakers and participants will engage in discussions centering on the complexities and lessons learned from Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental and Multinational (JIIM) efforts during ongoing theater campaigns that have global implications. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Von Marie Donato)

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