Two UH-60 Blackhawks assigned to U.S. Army Europe's 12th Combat Aviation Brigade prepare to load Soldiers from USAREURs 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) as they conducted a Mission Rehearsal Exercise, or Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center here, March 28. (Photos by SPC. Glenn M. Anderson, USAREUR Public Affairs)
By Matthew Beinart |
@mbeinart22
4 years ago |
11/20/2020

The Army said Friday it is consolidating its Europe and Africa Commands into one organization.

Gen. Christopher Cavoli will lead the new Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), which will serve as the Army service component command for both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command.

Two UH-60 Black Hawks assigned to U.S. Army Europe’s 12th Combat Aviation Brigade prepare to load Soldiers from USAREURs 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) as they conducted a Mission Rehearsal Exercise, or Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center here, March 28. (Photos by SPC. Glenn M. Anderson, USAREUR Public Affairs)

“This consolidation enhances global and regional readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy. The new structure will increase command and control effectiveness, flexibility and the capability to conduct large-scale, joint and multi-domain operations,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in a statement. 

The move also includes redesignating U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Task Force as the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), which “will be responsible for all Army operations and assets in Africa and Italy and maintain direct coordination with U.S. Africa Command.”

The two-star command general of SETAF-AF will also serve as USAREUR-AF’s deputy commanding general for Africa. 

SETAF-AF will be responsible for all Army operations and assets in Africa and Italy and maintain direct coordination with U.S. Africa Command.

“The consolidation of these two Army service component commands under one four-star commander will play a vital role in supporting missions across two interconnected theaters of operation. It will also enhance efficiency by streamlining the headquarters’ ability to execute functions and improving global and regional contingency response efforts,” the Army wrote in a statement. “This consolidation will allow the headquarters to focus on tasks at the strategic-level, while the recently reactivated V Corps and re-designated SETAF-AF focus on readiness and interoperability with allies and partners at the operational and tactical levels.”