HOHENFELS, Germany -- Command of the Joint Multinational Training Center changed hands September 9 as Col. John M. Spiszer passed the reins of leadership to Col. Jeffrey R. Martindale.
Maj. Gen. James C. Boozer, Sr., U.S. Army Europe Deputy Commanding General, praised Spiszer's tenure and credited the safe return of innumerable deployed soldiers because of the realistic training environment Spiszer created at Hohenfels.
"Every single European brigade combat team going to Afghanistan trained here," said Boozer. "Every single reserve and guard unit deployed in Kosovo has trained here… More than 80% of the coalition fighting with us in Afghanistan today has trained here."
"They just don't get no better than that," he added.
Spiszer said working at Hohenfels has been the best assignment in his 27 years in the military. He credited not just the military community, but the relationship Hohenfels enjoys with its host nation partners.
"There have been 18 other assignments and locations…All great places, great missions, great jobs, great communities. Sometimes you get two or three of those things at once. But here, they all come together," Spiszer said.
"Any colonel would give his right arm for this professional opportunity and such a great mission and such a great team," said Spiszer. "A great team made up of great people."
Though excited for his new assignment in Wiesbaden, Spiszer declared there was no better place or job in the Army, than commanding JMRC at Hohenfels.
"And you're coming at a great time," Spiszer said to incoming commander Martindale. "A perfect time to inject your more recent and relevant experiences into the training mission, your energy into the Hohenfels Military Community, and your vision for what lies ahead."
Martindale and the "Raider" Brigade recently returned from a year-long deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the first heavy brigade combat team in Afghanistan. Assuming operational control in Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan, Martindale's unit conducted deliberate clearance operations in Kandahar City, the Arghandab River Valley, Shaw Wali Kot, and Khakrez districts.
"(Martindale's) qualifications to lead this nation's premier training center are truly remarkable," said Boozer.
Martindale said the Spiszer family left big shoes to fill, and pledged to carry on their traditions of community spirit. He also said he could tell how serious the Soldiers and civilians took their duty in preparing units for combat.
"As we stand here today, the war continues in Afghanistan, and Soldiers remain in harm's way in Iraq," said Martindale. "Other contingency operations loom on the horizon and it is here - in the finest training center in Europe - where we will prepare Soldiers for the challenges that lie ahead."
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