15 Facts About EUCOM

1.

The Commander of the United States EUCOM simultaneously serves as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe within NATO, a military alliance.

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2.

EUCOM's deputy was General Thomas T Handy, commander of United States Army, Europe.

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3.

Headquarters EUCOM initially shared the I G Farben Building in Frankfurt, Germany, with Headquarters United States Army, Europe.

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4.

EUCOM used the Military Assistance Program to help its NATO partners build their military capabilities, including after 1955 the German Bundeswehr.

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5.

In 1955, EUCOM established a Support Operations Command Europe, soon renamed Support Operations Task Force Europe for special operations missions.

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6.

In 1961, EUCOM began operating an airborne command post, Operation Silk Purse.

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7.

EUCOM conducted a major contingency operation, Operation Blue Bat, in response to Lebanon's request to restore stability within the government.

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8.

At Patch Barracks, EUCOM renovated the buildings, built a new operations center, and modernized communications infrastructure.

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9.

EUCOM continued to prepare for the defense of Europe and began a series of annual REFORGER exercises in 1967.

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10.

For example, after the Congo became independent in 1960, EUCOM joined in several multinational operations in that country, including peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and noncombatant evacuation in 1960, November 1964, the 1967 second Stanleyville mutiny and again in 1978.

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11.

Since 1990, EUCOM has hosted or co-hosted the annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference, the only one of its kind in the world, working to foster cooperation among religious leaders and understanding of religion as both a force for war and a force for peace.

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12.

EUCOM provided major forces for subsequent operations in Afghanistan and stepped up its efforts to protect United States interests in Europe and Africa.

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13.

From 2006 to 2008, EUCOM helped stand-up a new geographic unified combatant command, United States Africa Command, which moved to nearby Kelley Barracks and took over responsibility for Department of Defense activities in Africa on 1 October 2008.

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14.

On January 15,2021, EUCOM transferred coordination of military activities for Israel to CENTCOM.

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15.

Subordinate unified command of EUCOM is SOCEUR, headquartered at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.

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