4th Infantry Division temporarily relocates headquarters to Lithuania

By 4th Infantry Division Mission Command ElementJuly 1, 2015

Boots on the ground
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – United States Army Soldiers assigned to the 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element (MCE) out of Fort Carson, Co., move to buses on the tarmac at the Vilnius International Airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, after a flight from Germany on a Boeing C... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Everybody off
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – United States Army Soldiers assigned to the 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element (MCE) out of Fort Carson, Co., disembark from a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III after it's arrival at the Vilnius International Airport, Vilnius, Lithuania, July 1,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Mission Command Element
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lithuanian Land Forces Dalius Polekauskas, Chief of Staff, Lithuanian Land Forces, (left) talks with U.S. Brig. Gen. Michael J. Tarsa, deputy commanding general for support, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Co., after he and the 4th ID's Mis... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brig Gen Tarsa
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – United States Army Brig Gen. Michael J. Tarsa, deputy commanding general for Support, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Co., and head of the 4th ID's Mission Command Element speaks at a press conference after arriving at the Vilnius Internati... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
MCE jump
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – United States Army Brig. Gen. Michael J. Tarsa, (fore-ground) Deputy Commanding General for Support, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Co. and Sgt. Maj. Willie Pearson, 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element Sergeant Major, disembarks ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Welcome to Lithuania
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lithuanian Land Forces Col. Dalius Polekauskas, Chief of Staff, Lithuanian Land Forces, (left) shakes hands with U.S. Brig. Gen. Michael J. Tarsa, deputy commanding general for support, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Co., after he and the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element temporarily moved its headquarters from Germany to Lithuania on July 1, 2015 to exercise its expeditionary capability and to demonstrate the U.S. unwavering commitment to our Allies.

The 4th Inf. Div. is the U.S. Army's division regionally aligned with U.S. Army Europe and is validating the Army's concept for regionally aligned forces. This movement to Lithuania demonstrates the division's ability to command and control military operations from anywhere in the Alliance.

This training event will improve both countries' ability to operate as a combined force, which increases NATO's ability to deter aggressors.

As an example of interoperability, the MCE was flown from Germany to Lithuania with a flight crew made up of Hungarian, Polish, and U.S. service members.

The 4th Inf. Div. is in Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Operation Atlantic Resolve is a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and to enduring peace and stability in the region, in light of Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine.

Army Europe is leading the Operation Atlantic Resolve enhanced land force multinational training and security cooperation activities taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Bulgaria to ensure multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, contribute to regional stability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.

In light of Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine, Operation Atlantic Resolve is a visible demonstration of U.S. commitment to the security of NATO allies. In meeting our global security commitments, the United States must have strong, committed and capable allies, which is why we have fought, exercised and trained with our European allies for the past 70 years. The U.S.-European strategic partnership is built on a foundation of shared values, experiences and interests in a Europe that is stable and prosperous.

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