Soldiers and leaders currently deployed to Kosovo with the 1-41 Inf. Regt., came together for a squad-level situational training exercise (STX) in Dumnice, Kosovo, July 25, 2016.

Staff Sgt. Daniel Dalton, squad leader with the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, shouts directions to his team during a squad level situational training exercise held in Dumnice, Kosovo, July 25, 2016. The purpose of the exercise was to train individual squad movements in preparation for a larger scale operation deemed Iron Eagle, later this year. (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval, Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs)

Spc. Timothy Squires, an infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, scans his sector of fire for any movement during a squad-level situational training exercise held in Dumnice, Kosovo, July 25, 2016. The purpose of the exercise was to train individual squad movements in preparation for a larger scale operation deemed Iron Eagle, later this year. (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval, Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs)

Staff Sgt. Daniel Dalton, squad leader with the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, assigns security positions to his team during a squad-level situational training exercise held in Dumnice, Kosovo, July 25, 2016. The purpose of the exercise was to train individual squad movements in preparation for a larger scale operation deemed Iron Eagle, later this year. (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval, Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs)

A Polish soldier, serving with the Multinational Battle Group-East, hides and waits to engage U.S. Soldiers, from the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, during a squad-level situational training exercise held in Dumnice, Kosovo, July 25, 2016. The purpose of the exercise was to train individual squad movements in preparation for a larger scale operation deemed Iron Eagle, later this year. (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval, Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs)

Staff Sgt. Daniel Dalton, squad leader with the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, patrols a ridge line during a squad-level situational training exercise held in Dumnice, Kosovo, July 25, 2016. The purpose of the exercise was to train individual squad movements in preparation for a larger scale operation deemed Iron Eagle, later this year. (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval, Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs)

Pfc. Joshua Jones, an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, patrols a ridge line during a squad-level situational training exercise held in Dumnice, Kosovo, July 25, 2016. The purpose of the exercise was to train individual squad movements in preparation for a larger scale operation deemed Iron Eagle, later this year. (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval, Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs)

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, get on line and engage an enemy target during a squad-level situational training exercise held in Dumnice, Kosovo, July 25, 2016. The purpose of the exercise was to train individual squad movements in preparation for a larger scale operation deemed Iron Eagle, later this year. (U.S. Army photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval, Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – Soldiers from the 10th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division joined Soldiers from 11 NATO countries and one Partner for Peace country for an International Bridge Assessment Course at Ingolstadt, Germany July 11.

Staff Sgt. Craig Pruden, a combat engineer with 10th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, listens as German Soldiers talk about different equipment they use to assess bridges during a an International Bridge Assessment Course at Ingolstadt, Germany July 12. The course, a bilateral project from the Belgian and German engineer schools, supported by the Military Engineering Centre of Excellence, aims to inform Soldiers on the different existing bridge assessment methods.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Graham Hill, an engineer with the 10th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, works with a German Soldier to assess a bridge near Ingolstadt, Germany July 14 as part of an International Bridge Assessment Course. The Soldiers used different bridge assessment methods and later compared the Military Load Classifications to see the difference in how each country assesses a bridge.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Graham Hill, an engineer with the 10th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, helps a German Soldier get out of a creek as they assess a bridge near Ingolstadt, Germany July 14. Soldiers from the battalion joined engineers from 11 NATO countries and a Partner for Peace country for an International Bridge Assessment Course aimed at informing Soldiers on the different existing bridge assessment methods.

Staff Sgt. Kwayne Huggins, a combat engineer with 10th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, scans a bridge to locate and assess the steel reinforcement as part of a bridge assessment near Ingolstadt, Germany July 14. Soldiers from the battalion joined engineers from ten NATO countries for an International Bridge Assessment Course to inform Soldiers on the different existing bridge assessment methods.

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Katelynn Clark (center), an assistant operations officer for the 10th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, listens as a Belgian officer talks about different equipment they use to assess bridges during a an International Bridge Assessment Course at Ingolstadt, Germany July 12. The course, a bilateral project from the Belgian and German engineer schools, supported by the Military Engineering Centre of Excellence, aims to inform Soldiers on the different existing bridge assessment methods.

NOVO SELO TRAINIG AREA, Bulgaria – The Soldiers of Anvil Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment have rolled out to the fields of Bulgaria, July 21, 2016 to conduct an 11-day field exercise consisting of platoon and company level situational training exercises (STX).

NOVO SELO TRAINIG AREA, Bulgaria – SPC Jonathan Cyr, Anvil Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment looks up from the hull of his tank July 21, 2016 as he gets ready to head out to the field with his company. The unit will spend 11-days in the field conducting platoon and company level situational training exercises (STX). 1st Bn., 64th Arm. Rgmt. is in Bulgaria in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led effort in Eastern Europe that demonstrates U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and enduring peace and stability in the region.

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria – Sgt. Ruben Casiano, (right) checks to make sure that Spc. Felix Munoz’s MILES gear is working properly July 21, 2016 before the soldiers head out to the field for an 11-day training exercise. MILES gear is a Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System that uses lasers and blank cartridges to simulate battle. 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment is in Bulgaria in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led effort in Eastern Europe that demonstrates U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and enduring peace and stability in the region.

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria – Spc. Jonathan Cyr, Anvil Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment mounts a 50 caliber machine gun onto a M1A2 Abrams tank, July 21, 2016 before heading out to the field for training. 1st Bn., 64th Arm. Rgmt. is in Bulgaria in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led effort in Eastern Europe that demonstrates U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and enduring peace and stability in the region.

NOVO SELO TRAINIG AREA, Bulgaria – Tanks belonging to Anvil Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment head out to the field, July 21, 2016 to begin an 11-day training exercise. 1st Bn., 64th Arm. Rgmt. is in Bulgaria in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led effort in Eastern Europe that demonstrates U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and enduring peace and stability in the region.

Since the end of World War II, the United States has worked closely with European allies and partners to achieve security and stability. These are some of the ongoing key exercises, operations, and programs within our Area of Responsibility (AOR), as well as important oversight activities, and featured events.

U.S. Special Operations Command Europe symbol.

NAVEUR plans, conducts and supports naval operations in the European theater during peacetime and as tasked by the EUCOM commander as the primary maritime component.

Supports EUCOM operations by advising the commander, other component commanders and task force commanders on the capabilities and proper employment of U.S. Marine Corps forces.

US European Command Chaplain Office sponsored and conducted its 12th Annual NATO Chaplain Operation Course at the NATO School in Oberammergau from 15-19 June.

150508-N-FQ994-161 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 8, 2015) USS Ross (DDG 71) transits the Mediterranean Sea May 8, 2015. Ross, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/Released)

U.S. Army Soldiers, from the 982nd Combat Camera Company (Airborne) and 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), participate in Operation Skyfall- España, Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2015. Operation Skyfall- España is an exercise initiated and organized by the 982nd Combat Camera Co., and hosted by the Brigada Paracaidista of the Spanish Army. The exercise is a bilateral subject matter exchange focusing on interoperability of combat camera training and documentation of airborne operations. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jesus F. Guerrero/Released)

One of the most important things I do each year is to testify in front of the US Congress. I'm at home this weekend preparing carefully for this annual opportunity to lay out the challenges, linkages, and initiatives of U.S. European Command.

Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, EUCOM is a joint forces community of approximately 1,000 U.S. service members and government civilians, who work and live at four different locations around the city.

EUCOM's mission is to support and enable the Alliance and its operations while emphasizing integration and leader development.

NAVEUR plans, conducts and supports naval operations in the European theater during peacetime and as tasked by the EUCOM commander.

The Marines were in Georgia for Exercise Agile Spirit 2011, an exercise designed to increase interoperability between Georgian Armed Forces and Marines. The engineers’ job: to build relationships with the Eastern European nation by offering their skills to its people.

Over the course of a week this past October, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) regional development planners brought together U.S. Embassy country team members and special operations force providers for the annual Operations, Activities and Actions (OAA) Conference.

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo -- Fuel specialists crucial to Camp Bondsteel operations.

Multinational Battle Group East (MNBG E) Soldiers tested their capacity to react quickly during exercises near the border with the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia and outside Viti/Vitina on June 22.