KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (Sept. 22, 2015) -- To ensure the equipment needs of Soldiers in Europe are being met, senior leaders of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, or AMC, visited sites, units and locations across Germany and Belgium, Sept. 13-19.
Led by Gen. Dennis L. Via, AMC commanding general, the team began their week-long trip with a visit to U.S. Army Europe, or USAREUR, headquarters, where they received an update on the Strong Europe campaign. The campaign, initiated by USAREUR in support of the European Command, seeks to improve interoperability, enhance and improve joint exercises, and ultimately build and maintain partnerships among allied nations.
"AMC's role in support of the Strong Europe campaign is to provide our Soldiers here the best equipment and materiel to accomplish the mission," Via said. "This visit allows us to assess our processes, meet with our people, and ensure we are providing the most modern equipment we can put into hands of our Soldiers so they can be efficient and effective in rapidly responding to contingencies and operations here in Europe."
A focal point of that rapid response capability is the AMC-managed European Activity Set, or EAS. The EAS, expanded from a battalion-sized set of equipment to a brigade-sized set this year, is drawn by rotational units in support of multinational training exercises across Europe. The EAS can be issued in 96 hours for rapid deployment capability.
"The EAS represents the most modern and ready equipment available," said Via, who spoke with Soldiers drawing the equipment in Mannheim, in support of Exercise Trident Juncture in Spain.
AMC Command Sgt. Maj. James K. Sims also visited the EAS site in Grafenwoehr, where units were preparing to support Combined Resolve V. Leaders stressed the importance of engaging both the AMC teams issuing the equipment and the units drawing the equipment to better understand successes and challenges.
"It's been very informative to talk to them about the processes they have in place, the facilities they're working in, and improvements we can make to ensure it's a quality and safe workplace for them to perform their mission," Via said. "We can build on each rotation with lessons learned, so as we issue this equipment to our units and receive it back in for repair and refurbishment, we'll better understand how we can improve our processes."
While AMC was successful in quickly growing the EAS to its current size, Via said the command is also looking forward.
"We're prepared to expand those sets as the Strong Europe campaign moves forward, as directed by the Department of the Army and in conjunction with U.S. Army Europe, to determine what future requirements are needed and ensure we're postured to provide that in a rapid way and be responsive to the missions here."
In addition to USAREUR, AMC leaders met with NATO, U.S. Africa Command, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 5th Signal Command, 598th Transportation Brigade, 405th Army Field Support Brigade, or AFSB, and 409th Contracting Support Brigade. AMC's first lady, Linda Via, also visited various garrisons, schools and Army Community Service offices to assess and support Family and community initiatives.
"Having the opportunity to address our senior leadership and accompany them on visits to other commands that we support here in Europe was incredibly beneficial," said Col. Todd Bertulis, 405th AFSB commander. "The visit allowed us to provide the AMC leadership with a common picture of our operations on the ground, including our successes and challenges."
At the end of a trip that took the leaders to installations across Germany, Via said he remains impressed by the Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Department of the Army civilians and Families in the European theater.
"I'm passionate about making sure that they have the best equipment that the Army Materiel Command can provide each and every day," he said. "AMC is committed to a Strong Europe, and to making sure that we're doing our part to provide the equipment to remain the best-led, best-manned, and in our case, the best-equipped fighting force."
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