Twitter
Facebook
WIESBADEN, Germany — Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell Jr. formally assumed command of U.S. Army Europe during a Jan. 9 ceremony at Clay Kaserne.
Adm. James Stavridis, commander of U.S. European Command, gave the keynote address at the ceremony. The admiral said Campbell and his wife, Ann, are perfect for USAREUR, and their return to duty in Germany and the move of USAREUR’s headquarters here symbolizes the U.S. commitment to Europe, marking the beginning of a new era for USAREUR.
Stavridis quoted President Obama, who called the NATO alliance “the cornerstone of American engagement with the world,” and noted that USAREUR Soldiers are deployed side by side with European partner forces across Europe and in Afghanistan. He highlighted the worth of the combined training USAREUR conducts routinely with those forces at its training sites in Germany and elsewhere.
Stavridis concluded by speaking directly to the new USAREUR commander and listing three things he wants USAREUR to focus on during his command: continued assistance to Afghanistan after 2014, continued alliance with European partner forces, and new ways to apply innovative techniques, such as cyber-operations, special operations, missile defense and other emerging technologies in the USAREUR mission.
In his remarks, Campbell also spoke of partnerships and the future.
“Our European partners have stood side by side with us in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, North Africa and the Balkans,” he said. “These partnerships, grounded in trust, remain the cornerstone for U.S. engagement with the world. This is why U.S. Army Europe remains more vital today than ever.”
The challenge, he said, will be to maintain and build upon these gains in an era of dwindling resources. But he added that USAREUR’s transformation is making it better able to meet those challenges.
“We are in the process of deactivating two long-storied brigades, and we are reducing our garrison footprint across Europe. This transition makes us leaner, better organized and more agile. In the end, we will be better prepared to face the challenges of the future,” he said.
Campbell officially became the 37th commander of USAREUR upon his arrival in Germany Dec. 1, following an assignment as commander of III Corps in Fort Hood, Texas.
Campbell has a long history with USAREUR. His previous positions in Europe include the 8th Infantry Division in Bad Kreuznach, Germany; the 4th Battalion, 69th Armor in Mainz, Germany; Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium; and V Corps in Heidelberg.
