Featured Stories | U.S. Army Central

Starting and ending your day with a salute
June 23, 2020 — SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Twice a day, Soldiers stand at the position of attention, saluting the U.S. flag during the playing of reveille and retreat. Soldiers often rise well before the sun, dutifully following steps of a routine to prepare for the challenges they will face each day. A Soldier’s day does not truly begin until they take part in a ritual that dates back to the founding of our nation's military: rendering honors to the colors during the playing of reveille and retreat... MORE

Service in the Family
June 22, 2020 — A father, a sister, and two brothers. The Grams are not only a family by blood but are also brothers and sisters in arms. These four members of the Grams clan have all served in the Minnesota National Guard with Grams senior, (RET Sgt. 1st Class) Harlan Grams, having served 24 years and sister Olivia Grams serving in the Air National Guard as a Staff Sgt. for six years before hanging up the uniform. Now only Chief Warrant Officer 2 Marshall Grams and Sgt. 1st Class Garrett Grams continue to serve, but Sgt. 1st Class Grams says having that shared experience means a lot to him and his family... MORE

The Grams brothers, Sgt. 1st Class Garrett Grams (left) and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Marshall Grams (right), are currently deployed together to the Middle East with the 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. Their passion for service is a family affair, as their father and sister have both served in the Minnesota National Guard as well.

Chapels Reopen Doors for In-Person Gatherings
June 20, 2020 — Over the weekend, religious services throughout Camp Arifjan re-opened their doors for in-person gatherings. Services were halted earlier this year in response to COVID - 19. With social distancing implemented, attendance capacity was limited to 25 personnel, along with limited seating... MORE

NSA Bahrain Cuts Ribbon on new USACE Built Medical Facility
June 17, 2020 — The Naval Medical Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) Bahrain held a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the successful completion of a multi-faceted medical clinic on June 16. The ceremony was led by Navy Capt. Greg Smith, the commander of the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain... MORE

Naval Support Activity Bahrain along with personnel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Navy Medicine held a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new medical and dental clinic on Naval Support Activity Bahrain. The new 56,000 square foot facility, will substantially increase medical capacities and capabilities for sailors and their families stationed in Bahrain. Construction was overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in December of 2019.

Washington Army National Guard completes Jordan rotation, transfers mission to the Illinois Guard
June 13, 2020 — The 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment (1-303 CAV), Washington Army National Guard, completed their partnership mission with the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) this Thursday... MORE

Lt. Col. Timothy Ozmer (right), Commander of the 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment (1-303 CAV), and Cmd. Sgt. Maj. John Hurt (left), case their unit colors during the transfer of authority ceremony

Joint Efforts Lead to Life-Saving Transport and Treatment of Military Working Dog
June 13, 2020 — The sight of a helicopter for the average deployed Soldier is not exactly a noteworthy event. That is unless the passenger happens to be of the four-legged variety. Cvoky, a 120-pound Belgian Malinois, who serves as a U.S. Air Force military working dog, was recently rushed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with a potentially life-threatening condition... MORE

U.S. Air Force Military Working Dog Cvoky was recently transported to Kuwait to receive treatment for a heat injury on June 9, 2020. Cvoky has made a full recovery and is waiting to return to the United States. (Courtesy photo)

U.S. Army Central Celebrates the 245th U.S. Army Birthday
June 11, 2020 — SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. – United States Army Central celebrated the U.S. Army’s 245th birthday with an observance in the command’s headquarters, Patton Hall. While maintaining all COVID-19 guidelines, USARCENT members observed reenactments of Medal of Honor recipients performed by headquarters Soldiers, listened to personal stories that highlighted the significance of diversity, and watched the command team cut the celebration cake... MORE

The U.S. Army Central command team pose with USARCENT Soldiers who reenacted moments of Medal of Honor recipients during the 245th U.S. Army birthday observance, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., 11 Jun. 2020. S All COVID-19 guidelines were followed, and the audience maintained social distancing. The observance concluded with a cake cutting with the USARCENT command team, to include the youngest and oldest Soldier from the headquarters.

Spartan Chaplains Maintain Morale and Faith in spite of COVID-19
June 10, 2020 — The chaplains of Task Force Spartan are working overtime to maintain morale amid social distancing and other restrictions Soldiers face in a COVID-19 environment. "COVID started when we got here, we've been dealing with it every day the past few months," said Lt. Col. Douglas Brock, the 42nd Infantry Division chaplain... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Timothy Miller, the Task Force Spartan Deputy Command Chaplain, assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division, gives a Christian Service in the Central Command Area of Operation, May 10, 2020. Miller gave the outdoor services in compliance with Department of Defense guidelines. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Valenza)

Allies Visit Task Force Spartan Mobile Command Post
June 8, 2020 — Recently, a special guest visited Task Force Spartan continuing a long successful history of cooperation and partnership between the U.S. and Kuwait Land Forces. During his visit, Col. Raed al-Sakran, Chief of Plans for the Kuwait Land Forces, toured the task force's mobile command post (MCP) and was briefed about its capabilities... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Shawn Tabankin, the Chief of Plans for Task Force Spartan, shows Col. Raed al Alsakran, Chief of Plans for the Kuwaiti Land Forces, a mobile command post in Kuwait on June 8, 2020. This meeting allows U.S. Forces and Kuwaiti Land Forces to share ideas and best practices. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Trevor Cullen)

A Career of Service
June 6, 2020 — MIDDLE EAST – “I was going to do 20 years and split,” said Sgt. 1st Class Boyd Brinker, platoon sergeant for Charlie Company, 2-147th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade (ECAB). “Obviously 20 years has come and gone, and I still feel useful. I guess when I get to the point when I don’t feel useful, I’ll stop then.”... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Boyd Brinker raised his right hand on June 6, 2020, to re-enlist for another six year contract with the Iowa National Guard while deployed to the Middle East with the 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operations Spartan Shield. He has already served his state and country for 35 years so this final contract will put him over 40 years of service. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette)

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