Featured Stories | U.S. Army Central

Task Force Spartan Soldiers participate in Jordanian Operational Engagement Program (JOEP) Graduation
July 11, 2020 — After a laborious 14 weeks of training, Soldiers with the Jordan Armed Forces’ 4th Royal Guard Mechanized Battalion graduated from the Jordanian Operational Engagement Program July 9, 2020. Since March, Soldiers of Task Force Spartan, led by the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division, have taken part in two separate rotations of the JOEP's training, as well as a JOEP Instructor Training Course (ITC). Currently, The Illinois Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, is conducting the training, with Task Force Spartan – Jordan, providing oversight and maintaining situational awareness of the program... MORE

Jordanian Armed Forces soldiers conduct sniper training under the watchful eye of HHCs trained and certified sniper teams on June 23, 2020. The HHC falls under the Illinois Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, and is conducting the training, with Task Force Spartan – Jordan, providing oversight and maintaining situational awareness of the program.

NAVFAC Southeast awards contract for Mission Training Complex at Shaw AFB
July 9, 2020 — JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $22.9 million firm-fixed-price contract July 2 to Bristol General Contractors, LLC, from Anchorage, Alaska, for a Mission Training Complex at Shaw Air Force Base (AFB) in Sumter, South Carolina... MORE

Task Force Javelin Soldiers Awarded Combat Patch
July 8, 2020 — 21 Soldiers from Task Force Javelin were awarded their Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Former Wartime Service in a ceremony held in the CENTCOM area of responsibility July 1. “The basic mission [of Task Force Javelin] is to provide rotary-wing support to Task Force Spartan and U.S. Army Central,” said Lt. Col. Paul Fowler, the Commander of Task Force Javelin. “We cover general lift missions to medical evacuations, providing logistical moving of persons and equipment.”... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Task Force Javelin were awarded the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division on July 2, 2020 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The SSI was awarded to 21 members of TFJ for their service in a designated combat zone. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Trevor Cullen)

USARCENT Honors Volunteer with Top U.S. Army Civilian Award
July 1, 2020 — SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- U.S. Army Central Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Jeffrey Van, presented Katrin Galeano with the Meritorious Public Service Medal, the third highest honors the Department of the Army can award to a private citizen. The award celebrates Galeano’s exceptional public service in support of her military spouse, families, civilians, the local Sumter community and the military community across the globe... MORE

U.S. Army Central Chief of Staff Brigadier General Jeffrey Van presented Katrin Galeano with the Meritorious Public Service Medal, the third highest honors the Department of the Army can award to a private citizen. The award celebrates Galeano’s exceptional public service in support of her military spouse, families, civilians, the local Sumter community and the military community across the globe.

Mail operations during COVID-19
June 30, 2020 — Not rain, snow, sleet, extreme heat, or even COVID-19 can stop delivery of the mail. “There are 58 mail rooms here on Arifjan alone,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Harris, the mail operations non-commissioned officer in charge for Task Force Spartan. “We alone are responsible for 1,300 people.”... MORE

Soldiers with Task Force Spartan work to keep mail operations open while deployed overseas in Kuwait. During Covid-19 with little for soldiers to look forward to mail helps to keep moral up. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Andrew Winchell)

Spartan Engineers Train to Clear Obstacles on the Battlefield
June 30, 2020 — Operating breach vehicles with a hundred meters of C4 explosive is a rare opportunity in the world of engineers. Spartan Soldiers assigned to the North Carolina Army National Guard, 236th Brigade Engineer Battalion conducted breach training with an M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle, equipped with a Mine Clearing Line Charge in the CENTCOM area of responsibility... MORE

30th Armored Brigade Combat Team Soldier's conduct training with Mine Clearing Line Charge in Kuwait on June 17, 2020. The Mine Clearing Line Charge is a line of explosives used to detonate mines in the ground. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Winchell)

Task Force Spartan Maintainers Keep the Task Force Moving
June 23, 2020 — Soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Division working in the motor pool play a critical role in keeping the division and Task Force Spartan Shield mission capable and is responsible for more than just working on equipment. “We have to order parts to keep all of Task Force Spartan operating,” said Sgt. Eric Monk. “Without us staying on top of things here, vehicles would go down and we wouldn’t be mission capable... MORE

Soldiers of Task Force Spartan perform maintenance on vehicles to keep them mission capable on June 23, 2020 in Kuwait. Soldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division have been tasked with keeping Task Force Spartan vehicles ready from Humvees for missions to gators used to move around post. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Winchell)

EOD Unit Trains Future Techs
June 23, 2020 — The continued success and existence of any profession depends on preparing those that will eventually replace us. For Spc. Chloe Schneiderman of the 741st Ordnance Battalion (EOD), deployed to the CENTCOM area of responsibility in support of Operation Spartan Shield, this means organizing a training exercise... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers with the 741st Ordnance Battalion conduct explosives training in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, June 9, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Valenza)

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.

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