WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Many people start their day with a look at current events; for
those attending one breakfast meeting here Oct. 10, the news was all about U.S. Army,
Europe.
USAREUR Command Sgt. Maj. Iuniasolua Savusa spoke to a group of about 300 Soldiers and Army,
government and industry leaders at the Association of the United States Army First Region and European Department breakfast here. The meeting takes place each year as part of the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting and exposition.
Savusa summed up USAREUR activities over the past year, emphasizing the command's continued high level of Soldier deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Some 75 percent of USAREUR Soldiers are currently deployed or recently completed a deployment, he said.
"That 75 percent figure is simple to understand in both number and significance," Savusa said. "But what we sometimes lose sight of is that 75 percent number, with little fluctuation, has been the operational tempo for USAREUR since 2003. That's a huge load to carry, and a perpetual responsibility to provide the best training possible, not only once or twice, but year after year."
Savusa also discussed USAREUR training and operations with coalition partner nations
over the last several months. "Today 88 percent of coalition forces in Afghanistan, and 79
percent of the coalition in Iraq, are from the European theater," he said. "In this past year,
(USAREUR) trained Soldiers of 35 different nations in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels. We
have trained (NCOs) of 16 different nations at our NCO academy."
This past summer, for the first time in the history of U.S. Army Europe, Savusa said,
more than 30 senior enlisted advisors from the land forces of European nations,
Afghanistan, and even South Africa met in Grafenwoehr for the NCO Conference of
European Armies.
"They were there to learn and understand more about the duties and responsibilities of the
noncommissioned officer," he said. "They've seen our Soldiers and our leaders in
combat, how effective they are, and how effectively our commanders use these
noncommissioned officers, and they want some of that."
Savusa said by training and operating with other nations' forces, whether in Grafenwoehr
and Hohenfels, Romania, Bulgaria, Afghanistan or Iraq, USAREUR helps ensure success
in current and future coalition operations.
He then described the missions USAREUR brigade combat teams and other units are
performing in Iraq and Afghanistan, and lauded their accomplishments and retention
rates.
"I leave you with this thought," Savusa concluded. "While we (in USAREUR) are one
Atlantic Ocean away from home, we're busier than ever. And for us, the stakes couldn't
be higher.
We're leading the fight for freedom with outstanding Soldiers, units, leaders,
and the support of our civilians and Family members … We will continue to do this to
ensure our national interests are safe, and to keep our Army strong."
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