U.S. Army Europe and Africa Commands consolidate

The U.S. Army announced today the consolidation of U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Africa into a new command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF). This new command will be the Army service component command for both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. Recently promoted Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli will be the commander of USAREUR-AF.

As part of the new command structure, U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Task Force is re-designated as the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and its two-star commanding general will also serve as USAREUR-AF’s deputy commanding general for Africa.

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

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.

This consolidation will allow the headquarters to focus on tasks at the strategic-level, while the recently re-activated V Corps and re-designated SETAF-AF focus on readiness and interoperability with allies and partners at the operational and tactical levels.

With a rotational forward headquarters in Poznan, Poland, V Corps will be integral to the planning and synchronization of operations in Europe. SETAF-AF will be responsible for all Army operations and assets in Africa and Italy and maintain direct coordination with U.S. Africa Command.

All units assigned to U.S. Army Africa will be reassigned to USAREUR-AF.