Spc. Anthony Valdez a 19K, M1 armor crewmember, with Delta Tank 6-8 CAV, had the privilege to roll the first piece of combat power into Europe for DEFENDER-Europe 20 in Bremerhaven, Germany on 20 February, 2020. Spc. Valdez received a coin from Command Sgt. Maj. Sean Patterson, 838th Transportation Battalion, and from Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Hood, 598th Transportation Brigade. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin Northcutt, 21st Theater Sustainment Command)

The first vessel carrying combat power in support of DEFENDER-Europe 20 arrives at the port 20 February, 2020 in Bremerhaven, Germany. This is the largest deployment of Soldiers from the U.S. to Europe in more than 25 years. Approximately 20,000 Soldiers from all across the U.S. to include Soldiers from National Guard units in 15 states are participating in this deployment. This deployment of combat credible forces brings with it over 20,000 pieces of equipment and will utilize an additional 13,000 pieces of equipment from Army Prepositioned Stock in Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin Northcutt, 21st Theater Sustainment Command)

Security Assistance Command’s Commander Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, center, and his staff gather with senior leadership of the Baltic Defense College in Tartu, Estonia. From left are retired Col. Zdzislaw Sliwa (Polish Army), the college dean; Col. Nicole Heumphreus, USASAC EUCOM director: Command Sgt. Maj. Peeter Einbaum (Estonian Army), the college sergeant major; Drushal, Col. Jean Trudel (Canadian Army), the college’s chief of staff; Command Sgt. Maj. Gene Canada, the command sergeant major for USASAC; and Lt. Col. Richard Towner, SATMO instructor.

Lt. Col. Aaron Cornett, standing, leads classroom discussion in building a joint headquarters command and control structure, to students at the Baltic Defense College in Tartu, Estonia. Cornett and his colleague, Lt. Col Richard Towner, are the only two U.S. Army instructors at the college. (Courtesy photo)

Military Dean Dr. Dirck Ackermann, Evangelical Church with the Office of the Bundeswehr, presents a gift to U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jessica Meyeraan, USEUCOM's deputy director for plans, policy, strategy and capabilities, at the 31st annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference in Berlin this past week. The yearly conference serves as an international and interfaith forum for dialogue among military chaplain leadership (predominantly) from Europe and North America to enhance partnerships, foster collegiality and bolster mutually supportive working relationships

Soldiers from Poland, Croatia, Romania, United Kingdom and the United States stand in unison during a transfer of authority ceremony for the NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 20, 2020. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Gallo, (center) commander assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, holds the NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland flag during a transfer of authority ceremony in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 20, 2020. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Gallo, (left) commander assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, Polish Army Col. Bogdan Rycerski, (center) commander assigned to the 15th Mechanized Brigade, and Lt. Col. Mark O'Neill, (right) commander assigned to 3rd Squadron, 278th Cavalry Regiment, stand in front of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland formation in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 20, 2020. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Gallo, (center left) commander assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, hands off the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland flag to Command Sgt. Maj. Marcus Brister, (center right) senior enlisted advisor assigned to 3/2CR, during a transfer of authority ceremony in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 20, 2020. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)

Polish Army Col. Bogdan Rycerski, (left) commander assigned to the 15th Mechanized Brigade, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Gallo, (right) commander assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, ceremoniously sign over command of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland during a transfer of authority ceremony in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 20, 2020. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)

British Soldiers, assigned to the Balaklava Troop, C Squadron, also known as the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, conduct a pass and review during a transfer of authority ceremony where U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Gallo, commander assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, takes command of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 20, 2020. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Gallo, (right) commander assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, conducts an interview with local media following the transfer of authority ceremony in which he took command of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 20, 2020. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)

Romanian Soldiers, assigned to the Black Bats, 228th Air Defense Batallion, 2nd Mountain Troop Brigade, conduct a pass and review during a transfer of authority ceremony where U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Gallo, commander assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, takes command of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 20, 2020. NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of four battalion-sized battle groups deploying on a persistent rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to demonstrate the alliance’s determination and ability to act as one in response to any aggression against its members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin)

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Ryan Thiers and U.S. Army Spc. Stiven Rosales, both wheeled vehicle mechanics assigned to 21st Theater Sustainment Command, use a maintenance support device at the Daenner Kaserne Motor pool Dec. 18 in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Mechanics use this device as a starting point for troubleshooting, replacing and ordering parts, and utilizing the guides of different electrical systems. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Katelyn Myers)

U.S. Army Pvt. Cole Herdendorf, a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to 21st Theater Sustainment Command examines underneath the hood of an Army cargo truck. Herdendorf is responsible for conducting routine maintenance which includes troubleshooting, replacing and repairing parts, and maintaining vehicles to insure vehicles are mission ready. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Katelyn Myers)

U.S. Army Spc. Stiven Rosales and U.S. Army Master Sgt. Ryan Thiers, both wheeled vehicle mechanics assigned to 21st Theater Sustainment Command, troubleshoot an Army cargo truck at the Daenner Kaserne Motor pool Dec. 18 in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The assigned mechanics are responsible for maintaining vehicle mobility by troubleshooting, fixing and maintaining roughly 60 vehicles at the motor pool. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Katelyn Myers)

U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Cory D. Poppe, 2500th Digital Liaison Detachment, 7th Mission Support Command, pins rank on Sgt. 1st Class Mark Jacobson, 2500th DLD, 7th MSC, in a mountain-top promotion ceremony after his unit used snowshoes to summit Monte Specie during winter survival training with the Italian Army´s 6th Alpine Regiment during exercise Alpine Rock in Toblach, Italy, January 11, 2020. Fifteen Soldiers from the 2500th participated in the winter survival training that emphasized small-unit tactical interoperability.

U.S. Army Reserve Master Sgt. Carlos Garcia, 2500th Digital Liaison Detachment, 7th Mission Support Command, pins rank on Staff Sgt. Wesley Cyrus, 2500th DLD, 7th MSC, in a mountain-top promotion ceremony after his unit used snowshoes to summit Monte Specie during winter survival training with the Italian Army´s 6th Alpine Regiment during exercise Alpine Rock in Toblach, Italy, January 11, 2020. Fifteen Soldiers from the 2500th participated in the winter survival training that emphasized small-unit tactical interoperability.

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Lara R. Dasilva, a supply sergeant with the 2500th Digital Liaison Detachment, 7th Mission Support Command, and Caporal Maggiore Capo Thomas De Toni, an Italian Army instructor with the Ski and Climbing Platoon, 79th Company, 6th Alpine Regiment, use a Pieps avalanche beacon to locate a notional avalanche victim for winter survival training during exercise Alpine Rock in Toblach, Italy, January 11, 2020. Fifteen Soldiers from the 2500th participated in the winter survival training that emphasized small-unit tactical interoperability.

U.S. Army Reserve Col. Gregory E. Gimenez (right), commander of the 2500th Digital Liaison Detachment, 7th Mission Support Command, presents a unit friendship plaque (from left) to Tenente Colonello Stefano Bertinotti, commander of the Italian Army´s 6th Alpine Regiment, Caporal Maggiore Capo Thomas De Toni, Caporal Maggiore Capo Matteo Lovat, and Luogotenente Ewald Beikircher, of the Ski and Climbing Platoon, 79th Company, 6th Alpine Regiment, in appreciation after the conclusion of exercise Alpine Rock in Toblach, Italy, January 12, 2020. Fifteen Soldiers from the 2500th participated in the winter survival training that emphasized small-unit tactical interoperability.

Italian Army Luogotenente Ewald Beikircher, commander of the Ski and Climbing Platoon, 79th Company, 6th Alpine Regiment, points out the former border between Austria and Italy while leading U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 2500th Digital Liaison Detachment, 7th Mission Support Command, on a summit of Monte Specie during search, rescue and recovery training in Toblach, Italy, January 10-12, 2020. Fifteen Soldiers from the 2500th participated in the winter survival training that emphasized small-unit tactical interoperability.

U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 2500th Digital Liaison Detachment, 7th Mission Support Command, pose for a photo at the peak of Monte Specie while conducting search, rescue and recovery training with three alpine instructors from the Italian Army´s 6th Alpine Regiment during exercise Alpine Rock in Toblach, Italy, January 10-12, 2020. Fifteen Soldiers from the 2500th participated in the winter survival training that emphasized small-unit tactical interoperability.