By Staff Sgt. Alex Licea and Sgt. Carlos M. Burger II
Third Army/U.S. Army Central Public Affairs Office
FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. – Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., Army chief of staff, praised Third Army/U.S. Army Central's support to the ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan during a visit Tuesday. Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb, the USARCENT commanding general, received the senior army leader at the Third Army headquarters.
Whitcomb's focus during the hour-long visit was to update Casey on USARCENT's current operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism. He highlighted that USARCENT's mission is much greater than providing logistical support to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. The command also builds and fosters relationships with foreign militaries through a Theater Security Cooperation program.
"It [TSC] has become one of my main priorities. These engagements are essential to the stability of the region," Whitcomb said.
Casey concluded his visit by telling of his appreciation to USARCENT for its continued efforts to support Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
"Thank you for two and a half years of magnificent support," said Casey referencing USARCENT's support during his time as the top military commander in Iraq. "I never had to worry about anything coming out of Third Army."
USARCENT, known as "Patton's Own," is the Army Service Component Command of U.S. Central Command. Currently, USARCENT provides the lifeline of logistical support to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. In addition, to supporting the warfighters, the command also engages foreign militaries to build enduring relationships across the CENTCOM area of responsibility, which spans from the Horn of Africa through southwest Asia to central Asia.
Casey recently left Iraq, where he was the commander of Multi-National Force – Iraq, to become the 36th chief of staff of the Army on April 10, 2007, assuming the position from Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker. Prior to deploying to Iraq in 2003, he served as Schoomaker's vice chief of staff. MNF-I is a coalition of more than 20 countries that serves as the U.S. military's commanding headquarters in Iraq.
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