Face of Defense: Army Logistics Officer Improves Troops’ Quality of Life

By Army Staff Sgt. Scott J. Evans 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

POZNAN, Poland, March 9, 2018 — A Mission Command Element liaison officer assigned to the 21st Theater Sustainment Command was recognized for his contributions to the Atlantic Resolve mission at the MCE headquarters here, Feb. 19.

Army Capt. Jason M. Spalding was awarded the Army Commendation Medal by Army Brig. Gen. William L. Thigpen, deputy commanding general, 4th Infantry Division, for his work to improve conditions for the service members currently serving here.

“Whether its gym equipment or furniture and supplies for our Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Captain Spalding has contributed an incredible amount for the quality of life of this organization,” Thigpen said.

Spalding, who hails from Stuarts Draft, Virginia, is a logistics officer assigned to the 21st Theater Sustainment Command based in Kaiserslautern, Germany. He has been assigned in Europe at different points in his career, and has experience handling what can be tedious paperwork and other administrative requirements that ensure border crossings for cargo and transportation are up to standard.

Spalding has served with 21st Theater Sustainment Command since September 2017 and was assigned as a liaison officer with the MCE in Poznan, Poland, November 2017 in order to facilitate a closer working relationship between the two units.

Supply Coordination

He handles supply coordination between 21st TSC and 4th ID MCE and subordinate brigades ensuring that items such as water, fuel, and ammunition reach training areas throughout the Atlantic Resolve area of operations. He ensures mission accomplishment and improves the quality of life of service members.

During his time at the MCE, Spalding drove approximately 2,500 miles and delivered $1.1 million worth of equipment to subordinate unit locations in an effort to build more capacity, said Army Maj. Christian Gatbonton, the 4th Infantry Division’s MCE transportation officer.

Because of Spalding’s efforts, service members stationed at locations such as the Mission Command Element have been able to maintain physical readiness, said Army Staff Sgt. Brian Pierce, originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, serving here with the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 2nd Signal Brigade.

“Being able to have these types of facilities with various types of fitness equipment is definitely helpful with keeping us in shape,” Pierce said.

Due to working in various countries, regulations for U.S. Army Europe can be very different from what supply offices encounter back in the United States. As a liaison officer, Spalding provides the subject matter expertise in areas that fall outside the scope of the typical division supply experience.

Spalding said he appreciates the camaraderie he finds each time he gets the opportunity to serve in Europe.

“I find that soldiers tend to be closer [when serving] abroad than back home,” he said. “It seems that it’s because we have to rely on each other more to get by.”

(Editor’s Note: The 4th Infantry Division transferred authority of the Atlantic Resolve Mission Command Element to the 1st Infantry Division in a ceremony at Poznan, Poland, Feb. 28, 2018. Three years ago, in response to increased regional tensions, the 4th Inf. Div. formed the first Atlantic Resolve MCE, serving as the intermediate headquarters between U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Regionally Aligned Forces deployed throughout the eight eastern European Atlantic Resolve countries of Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.)

Ballistic Missile Defense Remains Focal Point of Juniper Cobra 2018

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew 48th Fighter Wing

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 9, 2018 — Juniper Cobra is a U.S. European Command bilateral exercise.

The exercise is part of a routine training cycle, designed to improve coordination between the U.S. forces and the Israel Defense Force, through a variety of computer-assisted simulations that range from rocket threats to crisis resupply, foreign disaster response and foreign humanitarian assistance.

However, the focal point of Juniper Cobra remains clear -- to provide integrated ballistic missile defense to counter regional threats to Israel and maintaining U.S. support of Israel's qualitative military edge.

Defense Partnership

"We are proud to welcome our friends and partners," said Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, Israeli aerial defense commander. "Together we will prepare ourselves to meet the challenges of the future."

The U.S. Army has deployed the MIM-104 Patriot air defense missiles – a surface-to-air missile system and the Army’s primary high-to-medium air defense system -- to work in tandem with the IDF's Iron Dome air defense missiles in support of this premier training event.

The Patriot system is designed to provide multitier theater defense against adversary missile threats using peer-to-peer engagement coordination, early warning track data, and battle management situational awareness.

Air Defense System

Similarly, the Iron Dome is the IDF’s mobile all-weather air defense system designed to intercept and destroy regional short-range rockets directed at populated areas.

Each Iron Dome battery boasts a 90 percent intercept success rate. When paired with the Patroit system, they provide Israel with a near impenetrable layer of defense against attack.

“We're training to answer the call," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, Joint Task Force Israel commander. "The call to defend Israel."

Operating cohesively, U.S. and IDF forces will train over the next two weeks during Juniper Cobra to increase regional security, stability and military readiness.