U.S. Army Africa: Mapping the way ahead

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Lance Pounds | Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington, U.S. Army Africa commanding general, discusses his priorities to achieve fiscal year 2017 mission objectives during a senior leaders forum Aug. 23-25, 2016 at the Golden Lion conference center, Caserma Ederle. Harrington hosted the forum to share his vision and mission statements and priorities for the upcoming year with USARAF staff, subordinate and allocated units, and U.S. Army Garrison tenant organizations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Lance Pounds – 160823-A-BP709-030)  

VICENZA, ITALY

08.25.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Lance Pounds 

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

VICENZA, Italy – Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington, U.S. Army Africa commanding general, hosted a senior leaders forum Aug. 23-25, at the Golden Lion conference center, Caserma Ederle, to share his vision, mission and priorities for fiscal year 2017 with USARAF staff, subordinate and allocated units, and U.S. Army Garrison tenant organizations.

Harrington opened forum discussions saying, “What I would like to do here… is commit to you my plan for fiscal year 2017.”

Assuming command of USARAF in June, Harrington said one of the first things he did was create a list of priorities to help him better understand what an Army service component command is and does, as well as identify optimal routes to meet requirements set forth by U.S. Africa Command.

Coincidentally, the forum was held near the end of Harrington’s 90-day evaluation of the unit and served as a perfect time to share his direction with the command, according to Col. Clint Howard, assistant chief of staff and USARAF plans and operations director.

The forum is a three-day biannual event and provided Harrington an opportunity to convey his direction and plan for future endeavors. During the forum the USARAF commander also assessed the current capacity and capability of participating staff and forces. Approximately 100 military and civilian personnel from 15 organizations attended in the forum.

The event brought together senior leaders from organizations under the umbrella of USARAF to develop a clear understanding of the commander’s intent and a consensus on how to achieve it while fostering partnerships between regional counterparts.

Multiple briefings included topics such as: current planning cycles, lessons learned from the previous year and the incorporation of U.S. Africa Command’s theater campaign plan and lines of effort. The end goal of the forum was for attendees to return to their respective organizations with a firm grasp of the commander’s map of the way ahead.

Once complete, Harrington said he would like for attendees to implement his plan within their own organizations and provide feedback as to what did and did not work.

“Those of you in this room can help move this command in a forward direction,” said Harrington.

• Date Taken: 08.25.2016
• Date Posted: 08.25.2016 04:33
• Story ID: 208099
• Location: VICENZA, IT