U.S., European, Canadian senior leaders: Interoperability Support, Readiness, Modernization

Photo By Staff Sgt. Dani Debehets | At the conclusion of the 26th Conference of European Armies U.S. Army Europe Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley give his closing remarks on the importance of allies and partners working together at U.S. Army Headqueters, Germany. This year's event highlights the improtance of interoperability between ally and partner nations, and how commanders can go forward to stregnthen it. ( DoD photo by. Sgt. Dani Debehets/Released)  

WIESBADEN, HE, GERMANY

10.19.2018

Story by Sgt. Dani Debehets 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

Land force commanders from Europe and Canada came together for the 26th annual Conference of European Armies Oct. 17-19 at U.S. Army Europe Headquarters, Germany.
U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley and U.S. Army Europe Commanding General Lt. Gen. Christopher Cavoli hosted this year’s event to discuss interoperability support, readiness and modernization.
The three day conference kicked off with opening remarks given by key note speaker Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of Europe British Gen. Sir James Everard.
“There is real power in political and military interoperability.” Everard said. “And we should value its preservation, its enhancement and its success in protecting the Euro-Atlantic area, as in now and in the future.”
This year’s conference included five sessions led by NATO leaders and officer participants from six of the 34 nations represented at the conference.
The first session of the conference covered the topic, “Approaches to Interoperability.” It was led by Polish Lt. Gen. Slawomir Wojciechoswki, French Lt. Gen Laurent Kolodziej, Norwegian Maj. Gen Odin Johannessen and Romanian Brig. Gen. Iulian Berdila.
The second session covered the topic, “Operational Readiness through Interoperability.” It was led by NATO Allied Land Command Lt. Gen. John Thomson, Italian Lt. Gen. Roberto Perretti and Netherland Lt. Gen. Michiel Van der Laan.
The final session of the conference covered the topic, “Modernization Supporting Interoperability.” This topic was led by the Director, Concept Development and Learning Directorate Brig. Gen. Mark Odom, British Lt. Gen. Rim Radford and Dr. Pippa Malmgren.
To cap off the conference, Milley stressed the importance of all European ally and partners working together now and in the future. He highlighted the how the U.S. Army is moving forward in modernization, re-organizing itself and setting priorities.

“We created out of whole cloth the Army Futures Command and we stationed it in Austin, Texas,” Milley said. “I would give them three to four months to get settled in, then get whomever you designate to get with them linked into that organization. That organization will be the organization drives the U.S. Army into the future, in terms of modernization in future conflicts.”
Since 1988 the CEA has given commanding generals of ground forces a setting to bolster the commitment to regional and global security and sharing training opportunities that will enhance the cooperation between ally and partner nations.

• Date Taken: 10.19.2018
• Date Posted: 10.23.2018 08:12
• Story ID: 297339
• Location: WIESBADEN, HE, DE