Photos from April, 2012

GARMISCH, Germany (Apr. 28, 2012) - The U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band performs with the massed bands during the finale of Garmisch-Partenkirchen Military Music Festival. The U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band was invited to perform at the music festival that included bands from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Oman. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
GARMISCH, Germany (Apr. 28, 2012) - Ensign Christopher Cornette conducts the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band during a performance at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Military Music Festival. The U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band was invited to perform at the music festival that included bands from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Oman. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MURNAU, Germany (Apr. 27, 2012) - Musician 3rd Class Andrew Francisco (right), Musician 2nd Class Vincent Moody, and Musician 3rd Class Patrick Pedlar, members of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band's brass band 'Topside' perform at a public concert in Murnau. U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band was in Murnau for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Military Music Festival that included bands from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Oman. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Winfried Schuch (far right), with the construction management agency of Rheinland-Pfalz, briefs a group of German state and local government leaders on site considerations during a tour of the proposed site for the new Kaiserslautern Military Community Medical Center on the Weilerbach portion of the Rheine Ordnance Barracks, April 25, 2012. The new medical facility is scheduled to replace the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Ramstein Air Base Clinic upon completion. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
17th Air Force Command Chief CMSgt Michael Grimm, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander Gen. Mark Welsh and 17th AF Commander Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward furl and case the 17th AF flag during an inactivation ceremony here April 20. The unit, which served as the air component for U.S. Africa Command, was also designated as Air Forces Africa. During the ceremony, the Air Forces Africa mission was transferred to USAFE and 3rd Air Force. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART, Germany (April 20, 2012) -- Ambassador Lawrence Butler, EUCOM Deputy to the Commander and Foreign Policy Advisor, discusses regional security issues with Ambassador Judith Garber, US Ambassador to Latvia, during the Baltic Sea Region Senior Leader Seminar today at the EUCOM headquarters. EUCOM hosted the seminar to bring together senior leaders from U.S. embassies and EUCOM to better understand Baltic Sea regional concerns, forge a common approach to increasing regional security and prosperity, develop EUCOM's vision of an agile military organization, and foster an environment with a "whole of government" approach toward enduring stability in Europe. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Tech. Sgt. Brent Watkins, Airman Gage Boardingham and Airman 1st Class Corey Loesch, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters, test a barrier engagement on an F-16 after landing at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base April 17, 2012. Graf Ignatievo is now host to more than two dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons and more than 500 U.S. Air Force personnel in support of Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian pilots, maintainers, joint terminal air controllers, firefighters and security forces Airmen. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Staff Sgt. David Ambrusko, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels service controller, refuels an F-16 after landing at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base April 17, 2012. Graf Ignatievo is now host to more than two dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons and more than 500 U.S. Air Force personnel in support of Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian pilots, maintainers, joint terminal air controllers, firefighters and security forces Airmen. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria -- Maj. Metodi Orlov, (left), a Bulgarian air force MiG-29 pilot, welcomes Maj. Matthew Brockhaus, (right), an F-16 pilot deployed with the 555th Fighter Squadron out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Bulgaria on April 17, 2012. Brockhaus is one of more than 500 U.S. Airmen taking part in Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian air force. This is the third time since 2007 that men and women from the 31st Fighter Wing out of Aviano AB have conducted this type of training with the Bulgarians. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria -- Col. David Walker, 31st Operations Group and Thracian Star 2012 detachment commander, speaks to a journalist from the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency through a translator April 18, 2012 during the opening ceremony for the month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian air force. Bulgarian and American senior officials took the opportunity to acknowledge and express appreciation for the long-standing partnership between the two nations. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Members of the Wiesbaden High School's JROTC fold an American flag during the anniversary ceremony at the Point Alpha Memorial in Germany. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Bernhard Fey, a former East German who tried twice to escape to freedom in the West at Point Alpha, shares his memories with 5th Signal Command's Col. Andre L. Wiley and Christine Kuempel. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Guyot holds a letter of appreciation presented to him on behalf of the Wiesbaden Citizens and Polizei Association by Robert Schaefer, West Hessen police president, April 3, 2012, for his assistance in a hit-and-run incident. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART, Germany (Apr. 11, 2011) François Bellon, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation to NATO, EU and the Kingdom of Belgium, addresses military and civilian officials from the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) during a scheduled visit to the command at the invitation of EUCOM's Interagency Partnering Directorate (J9). Bellon and Aleardo Ferretti, Senior Delegate to NATO and European Armed Forces, visited EUCOM in order to familiarize the command with ICRC's mission, capabilities and current priorities including Syria and Israel. Established in 1863, the ICRC is an independent and neutral organization based in Geneva whose goal is to provide humanitarian relief for people affected by conflict and armed violence, and also promote the laws that protect victims of war. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Senior enlisted leaders from Bulgarian and U.S. military forces pose for a group photograph before the final day of the first joint-nation NCO symposium at the Bulgarian Land Forces headquarters here April 11. More than 40 senior enlisted leaders met to discuss doctrine, strengths and leadership philosophies, which are designed to empower and inspire NCOs in both nations' corps. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Bulgarian Military Police 1st Sgt. Aleksander Aleksandrov talks with U.S. Navy Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer Roy M. Maddocks Jr., U.S. European Command senior enlisted leader, during the Bulgarian and U.S. NCO symposium at the Bulgarian Land Forces headquarters here April 11. Aleksandrov will become the first sergeant major of the Military Police in July. More than 40 senior enlisted leaders met to discuss doctrine, strengths and leadership philosophies, which are designed to empower and inspire NCOs in both nations' corps. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
U.S. Air Forces in Europe Command Chief Master Sgt. David Williamson, (left) and Bulgarian air force Sgt. Maj. Rumen Petrov (center) listen to Bulgarian Chief of air forces Maj. Gen. Constantin Veselinov Popov during the first Bulgarian and U.S. non-commissioned officer symposium at the Bulgarian Land Forces headquarters here, April 10-11. More than 40 senior enlisted leaders met to discuss doctrine, strengths and leadership philosophies, which are designed to empower and inspire non-commissioned officers in both nations' corps. The first day of the joint-nation symposium included four discussions and a small-group breakout session. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Admiral James G. Stavridis, U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, administers the oath of office to Rear Admiral Charles W. Martoglio during his promotion ceremony to Vice Admiral, at the Schwabian Special Events Center on Patch Kaserne in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Admiral James G. Stavridis, the Commander, U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, presents Lieutenant General John D. Gardner, the former deputy commander of US EUCOM, his Certificate of Retirement during LTG Gardner's retirement ceremony, at the Schwabian Special Events Center on Patch Kaserne in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
SPLIT, Croatia (Apr. 5, 2012) - Lt. Cmdr. Charles Eaton, officer in charge of High-Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift, gives coins to children from Maestral orphanage at the conclusion of a guided tour of the ship. Swift, a U.S. Military Sealift Command-chartered High-Speed Vessel is currently deployed to the U.S. Sixth Fleet's area of responsibility in support of theater security cooperation efforts. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
SPLIT, Croatia (Apr. 4, 2012) - Rear Adm. Ante Urlich, the Croatian chief of naval operations, salutes sideboys as he comes aboard High-Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift for a tour. Swift is a U.S. Military Sealift Command-chartered high-speed vessel currently deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet's area of responsibility in support of theater security cooperation efforts. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
SPLIT, Croatia (Apr. 4, 2012) - 1st Lt. Jared Batzel (left), instructor from the U.S. Marine Corps Black Sea Rotational Force, gives a non-lethal weapons brief to (from right-front) Dr. Dragan Lozancic, Croatian assistant minister of defense, Alaskan Senator Mike Begich, Croatian Rear Adm. Ante Urlich, chief of naval operations, and U.S. Ambassador James Foley on board the High-Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift. Swift is a U.S. Military Sealift Command-chartered high-speed vessel currently deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet's Area of Responsibility in support of theater security cooperation efforts. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
SPLIT, Croatia (Apr. 4, 2012) - Lt. Cmdr. Charles Eaton (left), officer in charge of High-Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift, discusses the ship's capabilities with (from left) Croatian Rear Adm. Ante Urlich, chief of naval operations, Alaskan Senator Mark Begich, Dr. Dragan Lozancic, Croatian assistant minister of defense, and U.S. Ambassador James Foley on the flight deck of the ship. Swift is a U.S. Military Sealift Command-chartered high-speed vessel currently deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet's Area of Responsibility in support of theater security cooperation efforts. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...