Photos from November, 2006

WIEDEN, Germany — A German army weapons instructor assists a U.S. Army, Europe Soldier during a Schutzenschnur shooting competition held here Nov. 16, 2006. More than 50 U.S. and a dozen German Soldiers participated, with each group firing the other’s weapons. The U.S. Soldiers used the MG-3 machinegun and P-8 pistol, while their German counterparts trained on the M-4 carbine. The competition is a result of almost 15 years of cooperation between U.S. Army, Europe and German professional military education schools. (Department of Defense photo by Gary Kieffer) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
TUNIS, Tunisia — Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brian Wirt stands in silence remembering WWII veterans at wreath-laying ceremony in the North African American Cemetery here Nov. 17, 2006. The Veterans Day ceremony was postponed by a few days in order to be performed during the port visit of USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), the first port call of a major U.S. Navy ship in Tunisia since 2001. The North Africa American Cemetery is one of 24 American cemeteries on foreign soil and covers 27 acres of land between the Mediterranean and the Bay of Tunis. Established in 1948, the cemetery holds the graves of 2,841 U.S. service members who died while serving during the WWII North Africa campaign. (Department of Defense photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class(SW/AW) Rosa Larson) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
TUNIS, Tunisia — The U.S. Marine Corps color guard assigned to the American Embassy here marches past a corridor of Tunisian honor guards while retiring the colors during a wreath-laying ceremony at the North African American Cemetery Nov. 17, 2006. The Veterans Day ceremony was postponed by a few days in order to be performed during the port visit of USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), the first port call of a major U.S. Navy ship in Tunisia since 2001. The North Africa American Cemetery is one of 24 American cemeteries on foreign soil and covers 27 acres of land between the Mediterranean and the Bay of Tunis. Established in 1948, the cemetery holds the graves of 2,841 U.S. service members who died while serving during the WWII North Africa campaign. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class(SW/AW)) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MALMSHEIM, Germany — Special Operations Command Europe members prepare for an airborne operation at the Malmsheim drop zone Nov. 22, 2006. A subordinate unified command of U.S. European Command, SOCEUR exercises operational control of theater Army, Navy, and Air Force Special Operation Forces. SOCEUR is responsible for special operation forces readiness, targeting, exercises, plans, joint and combined training, NATO/partnership activities, and execution of counterterrorism, peacetime and contingency operations. (Department of Defense photo by Army Maj. Holly Silkman) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KATI, Mali, Africa — U.S. and Malian soldiers participate in an over-land large unit movement during a bilateral and joint combined exchange training exercise here Nov. 15, 2006. The Americans are assigned to U.S. European Command’s 1st Battalion 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Stuttgart, Germany. (Department of Defense photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KATI, Mali, Africa—U.S. Special Forces and Malian soldiers from the 33rd Parachute Regiment participate in a combined jump here Nov. 15, 2006. The jump was part of a bilateral and joint combined exchange training exercise where the troops also conducted an over-land large unit movement, a simulated raid and live-fire training. The Americans are assigned to U.S. European Command’s 1st Battalion 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Stuttgart, Germany. (Department of Defense photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KATI, Mali, Africa — A U.S. Soldier guides a Malian troop on how to correctly fire a MK-19 automatic grenade launcher during bilateral weapons training here Nov. 17, 2006. The event was part of a three-week military exchange where both countries participated in combined training. The American Soldiers are assigned to U.S. European Command’s 1st Battalion 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Stuttgart, Germany. (Department of Defense photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian Navy Capt. C. S. Ugwuada, Commanding Officer of the Defense Headquarters Medical Center here explains to U.S. European Command Deputy Commander Army Gen. William E. 'Kip' Ward the improved HIV/AIDS testing and treatment capabilities due to a partnership program with the U.S. Department of Defense. Within the last eleven months, the medical center has tested 891 Nigerian servicemen, family members and civilians from local villages. 572 people were identified as HIV+ and 419 were treated. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Lt. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ABUJA, Nigeria — Army Gen. William E. "Kip' Ward, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command inspects troops during a visit to the Mogadishu Barracks here Nov. 16, 2006. Ward visited the base as part of a goodwill trip to Nigeria. After he reviewed the troops in formation, Ward visited the Defense Medical Center for a tour of the HIV/AIDS clinic, a partnership program between the U.S. Department of Defense and Nigerian Ministry of Defense to increase capabilities to test and treat Nigerian military personnel and families. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Lt. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
COTONOU, Benin — U.S. European Command Deputy Commander Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward discusses maritime security iniatives with Benin Minister of Energy, Gabriel Dansou-Lokossou and Chief of Staff for the Senagalese Navy Captain Ousmane I. Sall during a Ministerial Gulf of Guinea Maritime Safety and Security Conference here Nov. 15, 2006. Participants from 11 countries in Western Africa attended the conference to develop plans and initiate processes to improve regional stability. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Lt. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
GAO, Mali — Capt. Jeremy Bearss, DVM, a veterinarian with the Northern Europe Veterinary Detachment, administers anti-parasitic medicine to livestock during the latest in a series of Joint Combined Exchange Training events here Nov. 15, 2006. Bearss and other military medical and dental professionals deployed with Special Operations Forces as part of the latest in a series of Joint Combined Exchange Training events. The training, aimed at fostering communication and cultural exchanges between the two militaries, is part of the United States effort to maintain positive relationships while bringing stability to the region. The Veterinarian Capability program focuses on tending to the livestock of local villages and is considered to be a key element of the program. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Capt. Darrick Lee) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
GAO, Mali — A U.S. Special Forces soldier discusses infantry tactics with members of the Malian Armed Forces Nov. 15, 2006, during the latest in a series of Joint Combined Exchange Training events here. The training, aimed at fostering communication and cultural exchanges between the two militaries, is part of the United States effort to maintain positive relationships while bringing stability to the region. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Capt. Darrick Lee) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
GAO, Mali — Air Force Maj. (Dr.)Darin Brown, a physician with the 435th Medical Group, checks the condition of a Malian child during a Medical Civil Assistance Program conducted Nov. 15, 2006, near Gao, Mali. Brown and other military medical and dental professionals deployed with Special Operations Forces as part of the latest in a series of Joint Combined Exchange Training events. The training, aimed at fostering communication and cultural exchanges between the two militaries, is part of the United States effort to maintain positive relationships while bringing stability to the region. Dental and medical readiness are considered a key element of the training. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Capt. Darrick Lee) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
GAO, Mali — A U.S. Special Forces Soldier discusses infantry tactics with members of the Malian Armed Forces during the latest in a series of Joint Combined Exchange Training events here Nov. 15, 2006. The training, aimed at fostering communication and cultural exchanges between the two militaries, is part of the United States effort to maintain positive relationships while bringing stability to the region. (Department of Defense photograph by Air Force Capt. Darrick Lee) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
COTONOU, Benin — Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward, U.S. European Command deputy commander, and Navy Adm. Harry Ulrich, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, greet His Excellency Minister Issitou Kogui N'douro, Minister of Defence for Benin here Nov. 15, 2006, during a three-day Gulf of Guinea maritime safety and security conference. Top level civilian and military leaders from 11 countries on the West coast of Africa participated in the event to discuss how to implement security and stability in the region. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Lt. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
COTONOU, Benin — U.S. European Command Deputy Commander Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward and Political Advisor, Ambassador Mary Yates discuss maritime security with senior civilian leaders during a Gulf of Guinea Maritime Safety and Security Conference here Nov. 15, 2006. Participants from 11 countries in Western Africa attended the conference to discuss plans and initiate processes to improve regional stability by implementing maritime security operations. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Lt. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
COTONOU, Benin — Navy Adm. Harry Ulrich, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, right, meets with West and Central African chiefs of naval operations during the Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea Ministerial Conference Nov. 14, 2006. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. European Command, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, and the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the conference brings together more than 90 participants to address improving economic, environmental, military, and governance issues in the region. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class(SW)Eric Brown) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MONROVIA, Liberia — Navy Rear Adm. Richard K. Gallagher, U.S. European Command director of operations, congratulates the 106 new privates of the Armed Forces of Liberia after a graduation ceremony at the Barclay Training Center here Nov. 4, 2006. Gallagher, the senior U.S. military officer at the graduation, pledged EUCOM’s support in the training and mentoring of the new Armed Forces of Liberia. Once a sufficient number of soldiers have graduated from training to form battalions and the 23rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters, EUCOM will deploy eight military mentors who will advise and mentor Liberian battalion and brigade commanders on leading large groups of soldiers in military exercises. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Cmdr. Darrell D. Lack) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MONROVIA, Liberia — Navy Rear Adm. Richard K. Gallagher, U.S. European Command director of operations, left, congratulates Liberian Minister of Defense Brownie Samukai, right, following the new Armed Forces of Liberia’s first graduating class, Nov. 4, 2006, as Deputy Minister of Defense Daniel Warrick and Air Force Col. James Dew, senior defense advisor to the MOD, look on. Gallagher, the senior U.S. military officer at the graduation, pledged EUCOM’s support in the training and mentoring of the new Armed Forces of Liberia. Once a sufficient number of soldiers have graduated from training to form battalions and the 23rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters, EUCOM will deploy eight military mentors who will advise and mentor Liberian battalion and brigade commanders on leading large groups of soldiers in military exercises. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Cmdr. Darrell D. Lack) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MONROVIA, Liberia — U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Donald Booth, right, and Navy Rear Adm. Richard K. Gallagher, U.S. European Command director of operations, congratulate honor graduates of the new Armed Forces of Liberia Privates James B. Grant and Amadu M. Wreh, respectively, following the Nov. 4, 2006, graduation ceremony at the Barclay Training Center here. Gallagher, the senior U.S. military officer at the graduation, pledged EUCOM’s support in the training and mentoring of the new Armed Forces of Liberia. Once a sufficient number of soldiers have graduated from training to form battalions and the 23rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters, EUCOM will deploy eight military mentors who will advise and mentor Liberian battalion and brigade commanders on leading large groups of soldiers in military exercises. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Cmdr. Darrell D. Lack) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
COTONOU, Benin - M. Alexandre K. Dossou, Benin's minister of Transportation, Public Works and Town Planning, delivers welcoming remarks in French Nov. 13, 2006, at the Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea Ministerial Conference, as Navy Rear Adm. Phil Greene, U.S. Naval Forces Europe director of strategy and policy listens to the English translation. Sponsored by U.S. European Command, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, and the Department of State, the conference brings together more than 90 participants to address improving economic, environmental, military, and governance issues in the region. Held at the request of senior-level ministers, military and civilian officials from 11 West and Central African countries. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Eric Brown) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART, Germany — Navy Capt. Kay Hire, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command’s Joint Integration and Interoperability of Special Operations program manager, right, discusses JIISO products with Navy Cmdr. Greg Stephens, left, and Air Force Maj. Kevin Wesley, both from the U.S. European Command’s International Interoperability, Concepts and Experimentation Directorate, here Nov. 9, 2006. JIISO handbooks and systems guides contain tactics, techniques, and procedures to improve effectiveness of integrated conventional and special operations forces, and to streamline interoperability between U.S. Combatant Commands and their Global War on Terrorism partners. U.S. European Command will incorporate JIISO products into the Coalition Warfare Interoperability Demonstration scheduled for June 2007 at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Devin L. Fisher) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ATLANTIC OCEAN – U.S. Navy Sailors from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) assist Celebrity Century cruise ship workers in lowering an injured passenger into a rigid hull inflatable boat for transport back to the Wasp while under way here Nov. 4, 2006. The Wasp will be providing the passenger with medical assistance and a flight to the closest land medical facility via helicopter. Following the completion of a surge deployment in support of Joint Task Force Lebanon, the Wasp was en route to its home port in Norfolk, Va., when it received instruction to provide the assistance. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sarah West) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
BELGRADE, Serbia — U.S. European Command Deputy Commander Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward and Serbian Minister of Defense Zoran Stankovic sign an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement here Nov. 8, 2006. The ACSA will allow Serbia and the United States to exchange supplies and services between military forces, enhancing the ability to support exercises, peace keeping operations, and humanitarian support missions. (Photo courtesy of State Department) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KIEV, Ukraine – An Ukraine Army officer is awarded the Army Commendation Medal for exceptionally meritorious service in support of Multinational Force Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom by European Command Deputy Director, Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward during a ceremony here Nov 6, 2006. (DoS photo by Ryan Koch) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MEDITERRANEAN SEA — USS Enterprise Strike Group Commander Navy Rear Adm. Ray Spicer, left, demonstrates the Automatic Identification System to Tunisian Minister of Defense Kamel Morjane and his staff during the minister's Nov. 4, 2006, visit. The Automatic Identification System is a component of the U.S. Navy's Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime Safety and Security Information System programs. USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and embarked Carrier Air Wing One (CVW -1) are on a scheduled six-month deployment in support of maritime security operations, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tunisia is located within U.S. European Command's 92-country area of responsibility. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Marcel Barbeau) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN — Navy Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class (SW) Larry King assigned to USS Monterey (CG 61) signals a British Navy search and rescue helicopter during a replenishment at sea with Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship Oakleaf (A111) Oct. 28, 2006. The ships are participating in joint military exercise Neptune Warrior, which runs Oct. 21 through Nov. 4 and is led by the Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff Northwood, United Kingdom. Joint training opportunities and military-to-military exercises help improve interoperability and increase regional maritime security. (Department of Defense photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Leonardo Carrillo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Principal Officer of the U.S. Diplomatic Office in Montenegro Arlene Ferrill delivers closing remarks Nov. 1, 2006, at the Montenegro Euro-Atlantic Integration Perspectives conference, co-organized by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro. Marshall Center Professor Dr. Matthew Rhodes moderated the three-day conference. (Department of Defense photo by Joseph Ferrare) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld escorts the Estonian Minister of Defense Jurgen Ligi through a cordon of honor guards and into the Pentagon, Oct. 31, 2006. The two defense leaders met to discuss a range of international issues of mutual interest. Estonia is located within U.S. European Command's 92-country area of responsibility. (Department of Defense photo by James M. Bowman) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MOSCOW — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, U.S. Marine Corps, salutes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a wreath-laying ceremony here Oct. 30, 2006. Pace is in Moscow to meet with his counterparts and enhance the military-to-military relationship between the United States and Russia. Russia is located within U.S. European Command's 92-country area of responsibility. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...