"Travel now to bring appreciation from their Alaska family & Natl Guard leadership to heroes in US European Command's area of responsibility"We had wondered whether Gov. Palin was going to return to the Middle East to visit her state's Guard troops deployed there after she tweeted:
"Got Fed ok for Adjutant Gen Campbell, Command Sgt Major Choate and me to travel to our Ak Army Natl Guard troops on Wed. Glad to go to them"But now it seems that she's headed for Europe. The U.S. European Command -- USEUCOM -- has a wide area of responsibility:
Prior to the formation of Africa Command in October 2008 the area of responsibility (AOR) of the United States European Command covered more than 13 million square miles and included 91 countries and territories. This territory extends from the North Cape of Norway, through the waters of the Baltic and Mediterranean seas, most of Europe, parts of the Middle East, to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Several other countries and territories were considered to be part of the USEUCOM area of interest (AOI).An interactive map of the USEUCOM AOR is here.
Effective 01 October 1998, the AOR of USEUCOM expanded to include six Western Slavic and Caucasus states of the former Soviet Union; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Another six European countries and territories are considered to be within EUCOM’s Area of Interest [AOI]. This is an area of concern to the Commander because of the possibility of current or planned operations. This could also include areas occupied by forces that could jeopardize the accomplishment of the mission. These were Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
On 17 April 2002, Defense officials announced changes in the Unified Command Plan. US European Command (EUCOM) will increase its area of responsibility. EUCOM will include the remainder of the Atlantic area off the East Coast to the shores of the Europe, he said, and it will pick up primary responsibility for Russia. Previously, Russian relations were handled in the Pentagon. U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) will help European Command with the far eastern part of Russia and will add Antarctica to its area of responsibility.
One of the countries where Alaska Army National guard troops are deployed is Kosovo, where 140 soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment began a year long deployment in December of 2008 with its eight Blackhawk helicopters.
No reason she can't go on to the M.E. from Kosovo, however, and we think it's likely she will stop in Germany to visit the wounded at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center again, as she did in 2007.
Update: ADN finally reports on the trip, hours after TX4P broke the story. Meanwhile, the governor's office published this news release on its website.
- JP
Remember Biden visited with AK NG troops in either Kosovo or Bosnia, and made really good comments about Gov. Palin. I'm sure she'll stop and visited the wounded as well. I read somewhere that there are AKNG troops in Afghanistan as well. With increasing combat in the area, she may not be cleared to go there. It will be interesting to watch over the coming days. She's really been on a roll the last few months, nothing stops her or even slows her down.
ReplyDeleteInteresting map. USEUCOM AOR is from the border of Iraq & Afghanistan to an island a mile East of Alaska.
ReplyDeleteIt may be in the Alaska region exercises. It probably is.
And it covers Turkmenistan.
Yes, Sarah's trip seems to be to see AK Army NG troops. Somewhere.
May the wind be fair and the sun shining.
Yeah, Greg, I remember the comments Biden made about the Guv while he was visiting the troops in Kosovo. Called her a "real lady" and although I think he's a goofy SOB, I respected him a little bit more for that.
ReplyDeleteShe'll be great over there. All she has to do is smile and it'll make those troops, guys and gals, feel a little bit better about being away from home.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ReplyDeleteNo. 09-156
Governor Palin to Visit Alaska Troops Overseas
June 24, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin and Alaska Army National Guard officials are visiting Alaskan soldiers who are serving overseas. Palin will make hospital visits, attend promotion ceremonies and observe training exercises through the weekend.
Federal clearance was received for Governor Palin, Alaska Adjutant General Craig Campbell and Alaska Command Sergeant Major Gordon Choate to travel for the Alaska National Guard visit.
"These troops are our fellow Alaskans,” Governor Palin said. “They are making major sacrifices for all of us. General Campbell and I will show our support and appreciation for our troops on behalf of all the people of Alaska."
"It is critical for the families that we give them as much information as possible to lessen the worry and build strength at home," said Lt. Gen. (AK) Craig E. Campbell, Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard. "When the family is strong, the soldier is strong and the mission is completed with a high degree of success."
The U.S. Department of Defense has requested that no additional details of Governor Palin’s travel plans be released at this time for security reasons.
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http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1931