LTG Halverson talks leader development, family care with 4ID MCE

BAUMHOLDER, Germany -- Lt. Gen. David D. Halverson, the U.S. Army assistant chief of staff for Installation Management, visited the 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element headquarters Feb. 29, 2016, to gain an understanding of the MCE's role in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

The 4th Infantry Division MCE is the regionally allocated division headquarters providing mission command of all U.S. ground forces conducting multi-national training and security cooperation activities with NATO units in support of U.S. Army Europe's Operation Atlantic Resolve.

The visit focused on an update of 4th Infantry Division MCE operations, shared experiences and leader development.

"This is a great opportunity for junior leaders out here to experience a level of stress they may have never encountered, which will prepare them for higher levels of leadership," Halverson told MCE staff leaders.

Halverson also emphasized the significance of Soldiers mastering the balance of working abroad while away from family at home at Fort Carson, Colorado.

"Anytime you're away from home, it's stressful. So you have to stay dialed in with your spouse and family to keep a level head at work. This mission is important, but not at the cost of losing touch with your loved ones," said Halverson, whose role focuses on Soldier and family readiness.

A high operational tempo has been the norm for the MCE since 4th Infantry Division assumed the role in February 2015 of a forward command element serving as an intermediate headquarters translating strategic guidance into ground-level tasks for Atlantic Resolve forces.

In the past year the MCE planned and executed 86 multi-lateral exercises, with another 40 being planned this year with allies in nine NATO countries.

Halverson called the multinational training opportunities a great proving ground for U.S. forces and a "broadening experience for junior leaders" who are being exposed to higher echelon planning and key decision making while working daily with host nation counterparts.

"But you have to be a balanced partner, giving constant feedback to the country teams we work with to let them know the cost of helping to maintain freedom to ensure they meet you halfway," said Halverson, who noted a key cost to having regionally allocated forces in Europe comes at the Soldier level via the daily stressors of serving multiple, shorter rotations.

"A persistent presence here assures our European allies and deters aggression, but assurance and deterrence is built on the constraints of the American Soldier who is away from family more frequently," he said.

Lt. Col. Matthew J. Sheiffer, MCE chief of staff, said: "Lt. Gen. Halverson's observations and insights were extremely helpful in contextualizing the MCE's role in Europe. His experiences as a tactical commander in Germany highlighted the importance of leader development, communicating, and taking care of Soldiers and families.

"These are all lessons that continue to benefit the MCE as we work with the rest of the U.S. Army Europe team to coordinate and integrate a 'team of teams' approach that includes multinational, multiagency and joint organizations throughout the Atlantic Resolve area of responsibility," Sheiffer said.

Maj Brendan O'Donnell, 4th Infantry Division MCE air liaison, 4th expeditionary air support Operations Group Detachment 1, also attended the briefing.

"From a joint perspective, it was good to see the big picture and that it's not just about the mission but also the people and taking care of home. As he [Halverson] stated, the mission is ongoing and ever-changing, and we have to keep our loved ones informed," said O'Donnell.

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