The United States Army invaded Europe in 1944 and has never left. America’s forward projection of its military was instrumental in the stabilization of Europe and the establishment of the world order that has existed since the end of World War II. 

A critical piece of American power is US Army Europe-Africa; a command responsible for over 37,000 soldiers, 104 countries, 10 units and 9 garrisons. Over 70,000 US military personnel operate across Europe and Africa in either permanent positions or deployed in support of national security objectives. 

To explain why US Army Europe-Africa is so important, Fran Racioppi sat down with Command Sergeant Major Jeremiah Inman, the command’s senior enlisted advisor. 

Sergeant Major Inman breaks down the command’s mission to deter aggression and provide stability in some of the world’s most complicated and dynamic regions. He explains the magnitude of the command’s responsibilities; and also shares his biggest leadership lessons learned from his time in Ranger Regiment and how they prepared him to lead no matter the challenge. 

Join our conversation from the bunkers of Pointe Du Hoc in Normandy, France. Follow us on social media, read the full episode on our website, then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform for all our D-Day Coverage including our first documentary Unknown Heroes: Behind Enemy Lines at D-Day, the story of Operation Jedburgh.

HIGHLIGHTS

0:00 Introduction

1:42 Welcome to Pointe Du Hoc

3:20 The mission of US Army Europe-Africa

4:10 Guidance to the force

4:40 Joint exercises

5:00 The differences between Europe and Africa

6:22 Supporting Ukraine

7:23 Developing young NCOs

8:49 USAREUR-AF Lines of Effort

12:02 The Next Fight

12:52 The role of the Combat Training Centers

14:23 Special Operations & conventional force integration

14:47 Sergeant Major’s lessons learned

16:30 Daily Habits for success

QUOTES

• “Our vision is to get up, show up and be ready to assist our partners. Continue to train and maintain that combat readiness in the event we do have to get into something.”
• “If we can continue to train and work with our allies and partners now, when we do have to fight, we’ll already have those sets and reps and be a much more lethal force.”
• “The young NCOs now are so much smarter than I’ll ever be.”
• “We’re only empowered if our officers empower us.”
• “We just got to be ready for anything. You don’t know what that next fight is.”
• “Colonel Ralph Puckett’s like ‘I didn’t go to ranger school to be better than the next guy, I went to ranger school to be better than myself.’”
• “When you show up, show up. Be present. Get after it. 100% and then some.”
• “Physical training, marksmanship, battle drills, medical training. Then we added developing leaders of character. I think that’s kind of how I’ve been my entire career, is after those five aspects.”

The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are official programs of the Green Beret Foundation.