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U.S. European Command’s mission is to maintain Ready Forces to conduct a full range of operations. Forces are assigned to, trained and equipped by service-specific headquarters or joint and multinational trainers when participating in joint operations or joint exercises.

U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR), U.S. Marine Forces Europe (MARFOREUR), U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR), U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), and Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) provide the forces for all military-to-military engagements with partner nations, provide a deterrence function in the region, and serve as deployable units for contingency operations.

As a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United States is obligated to provide troops to contingency operations. Having Ready Forces in Europe allows a closer relationship between EUCOM and partner nations. It has the ability to train with and when necessary instruct partner nation militaries to build regional partner capacity in various types of missions – from combat and counterinsurgency operations to cyber security and logistics.

EUCOM often works with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition partners to prepare units to deploy to Afghanistan, like the MARFOREUR-led Georgia Deployment Program (GDP-ISAF). Training partner nation forces allows them to step up deployments and share the burden in conflicts that require extensive manpower.

Ready Forces are also involved in peace operations throughout the region. Alongside other NATO troops, they help maintain a safe, secure environment and citizens’ freedom of movement, regardless of ethnic origin. Additionally, EUCOM forces provide humanitarian assistance, improving infrastructure and responding during disasters. 

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  • February 23, 2012

    Prepping for Congressional Testimony

    One of the most important things I do each year is to testify in front of the US Congress. I'm at home this weekend preparing carefully for this annual opportunity to lay out the challenges, linkages, and initiatives of U.S. European Command.
  • December 20, 2011

    NATO in 2011 – Five Key Events

    As I look back on 2011, I think we had a reasonably good year in the operational sense. Lots of good “end of the year” retrospectives are appearing in various magazines and on-line sites, and I thought I’d chip in with my own top five operational moments for the Alliance this past year – and a hope that it stays at least relatively quiet between now and the end of the year.Stavridis
  • December 1, 2011

    LOGEX 2011: A Review

    During the past two weeks I really came to realize what a joint environment was really like. Having worked for the EUCOM J4 for only three months my experience was limited at best, despite three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan under my belt.
  • October 17, 2011

    Cyber Education: Why it's important to You

    Shaun Cavanaugh's thoughts on formal cyber education and workforce development.
  • October 5, 2011

    October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

    How will you help protect the networks that are used as a tool to assist warfighters, planners, and commanders by preserving freedom of action in Cyberspace?
  • October 4, 2011

    Briefing the Ministers …

    This coming week, the 28 Ministers of Defense of the NATO alliance will gather in Brussels for meetings and discussions. They will be accompanied by another 22 Ministers from additional troop contributing nations in Afghanistan — in essence, the entire coalition will be represented.
  • September 23, 2011

    Operational Energy Issues Discussed with ASD Sharon E. Burke

    Sharon E. Burke, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Programs visited EUCOM this week and stopped by our office to talk about issues regarding operational energy.
  • August 23, 2011

    Operation Unified Protector

    I spent much of last night working on what appears to be the endgame of the Libyan campaign. By the morning of 22 August, it appears that the end was in sight for the Kaddaffy regime, although events are moving fast and nothing is ever sure until it actually occurs.
  • August 8, 2011

    Balkan Ghosts

    Libya and Afghanistan seem to get all the headlines about NATO these days. But lately, I've been thinking and working on the Balkans. We need to make sure that the Balkan ghosts of violence from the 1990s don't reappear.
  • August 1, 2011

    Ramadan Mubarak!

    I like to recognize the start of Ramadan so that we can all be sensitive to our colleagues and friends who are fasting, making sure to keep this time of year in mind when planning events. This is particularly the case in places like Afghanistan, where our interactions with government counterparts must take into consideration the adjusted work hours.

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  • May 18, 2012

    European Tanker Symposium

    NATO forces must work together during global military conflicts and seamless integration isn’t possible without training and an exchange of ideas. Enter the European Tanker Symposium; where members of the Royal Air Force as well as Italian, French, and Belgian air forces talk shop to increase NATO’s Air Power. SSgt Lance Daigle reports.
  • May 18, 2012

    USS Cole drops anchor in Rota, Spain

    It’s been almost a dozen years since the USS Cole bombing. The destroyer recently pulled into Rota, Spain, to showcase its advanced weapons systems and visitors to the ship are finding out she’s more powerful than ever. Petty Officer Ryan Seelbach has the story.
  • May 17, 2012

    Maritime partnership

    Nobody performs combat on the sea better than the Marines. Seaman Brent Pyfrom reports from Souda Bay, Crete, on how the Greek service members benefit from this kind of training with the United States.
  • May 17, 2012

    Precious cargo

    Shoving a helicopter into the belly of a C-17 Globemaster is not an easy task, especially when the helo belongs to a partner nation. SSgt Lana Mills takes us to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, for the details.
  • May 15, 2012

    Keeping jets in the air

    Bulgarian and American pilots are honing their skills at Exercise Thracian Star. Before they can take to the sky, there’s some prep work on the ground that needs to be done. Robert Sekula has more.
  • May 14, 2012

    The ability to communicate

    Exercise Thracian Star allows the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Forces to train together. But before pilots can take to the skies the communication between the two nations needs to be locked in tight.
  • May 11, 2012

    The 172nd Infantry Brigade recently returned from Afghanistan.

    After a year-long deployment, nothing feels as good as being in the loving arms of family. The 172nd Infantry Brigade recently returned from Afghanistan. SGT Chris Jackson, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, tells us just what they came home to.
  • May 9, 2012

    Setting up save landing zones for Airbornes

    U.S. Army pathfinders make up a small part of the military. They undergo intense training to make sure they always accomplish their mission. SGT Benjamin Boggess explains.
  • May 9, 2012

    Serving as Ambassadors

    The joint training exercise Thracian Star, in Bulgaria, provides more than an opportunity for bilateral Air Force training. Robert Sekula explains.
  • April 13, 2012

    Training allied nurses for deployment

    NATO allies often train together to strengthen their skills and enhance our ability to work side by side. A1C Shane Mitchell tells us about a class in Landstuhl, Germany, that helps prepare Belgian nurses to be ready for any emergency situation.

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