No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Jarrard: Interoperability key for communication

Bianca Strzalkowski
by Bianca Strzalkowski
December 3, 2021
Jarrad

Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard, deputy commanding general for Army National Guard in U.S. Army Europe and Africa, is focused on “forward progress.”

The deputy commanding general for Army National Guard in U.S. Army Europe and Africa said he is focused on “forward progress” with allies and partners as relationships “start gaining momentum again.”  

Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard stepped into his current role after initially gaining international experience as adjutant general of Georgia National Guard. Under his leadership, the unit expanded its partnerships to include Argentina — in addition to a 24-year relationship with the country of Georgia. He says that work with the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program helped him to understand “the role we played underneath EUCOM’s strategic umbrella.” 

“I understand that relationship between the states and their country partners and so it just helps me be able to facilitate those relationships — now, COVID put a stop on all of that for about a year-and-a-half but … adjutant generals started making their first trips this summer to reignite those relationships,” he said. “It’s really nice for them to be back on the continents to start gaining momentum again with that program because it really is a game changer.”

The two commands, U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Africa, consolidated in 2020. As part of the rotational deployment of forces, personnel from various units work with international counterparts through ongoing training events, like Atlantic Resolve and DEFENDER Europe. Jarrard says interoperability is key. 

“Interoperability is one of the keys that we focus on in all that we do because we have to be able to communicate,” he said. “Now, I think interoperability has a lot of different levels to it. At the high end we’ve got our systems and radios and communication suites that have to be able to talk to each other — and we work that throughout all of our exercises. … At the lower level, soldier to soldier and the language piece, that’s why we do exercises; that’s why we work with all of our international partners as often as we can.”  

RELATED: Units press on with annual training requirements

Since assuming his duties in 2019, Jarrard said he has been “proud” of how U.S. forces engage with international peers — something he attributes to “good culture, good leadership.”

Jarrard’s long career has included its own transitions, starting with a commissioning in the U.S. Army in 1988. He served on active duty for 20 years, according to his official biography, with operational deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005. His advice for soldiers and airmen looking for upward trajectory in the military is simple: know your job and be a lifelong learner. 

“They need to know their job. It’s not about waking up and existing and just getting by; they need to be experts at what they do. And as they become experts at what they do, one, they’re more proficient at it, two, they can be better leaders because they understand what their unit is supposed to do and the role they fit into with that mission,” Jarrard said. “As they gain that experience, and mature and grow in uniform, they can understand the bigger picture as well.” 

Read comments
Tags: ArmyArmy National GuardAtlantic ResolveDefender Europe 21DEFENDER-Europe 20Maj. Gen. Joe JarrardNational GuardU.S. Army AfricaU.S. Army Europe
Bianca Strzalkowski

Bianca Strzalkowski

Bianca Strzalkowski has more than 10 years of experience in storytelling. Her portfolio includes interviews with former Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis, Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, “Shark Tank” CEO Daymond John, and countless elected and military leaders. Bianca holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and journalism. She resides near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, with her husband and two children. She is a member of the Military Reporters & Editors Association.

Related Posts

Guardsmen adapt TCCC training to active-shooter scenarios

by National Guard
3 weeks ago
0
TCCC

Connecticut guardsmen, alongside members of the 103rd Medical and Security Forces Squadrons, refresh their TCCC skills.

Read more

5 ways I balance being a reservist and a mom

by Emily Solberg
4 weeks ago
0
balance

As both a mother and an Army reservist, I'm always striving to find balance between each role. And sometimes that...

Read more

Army Reserve Chief focuses on readiness during senior-leader summit

by AmeriForce Exclusive
4 weeks ago
0
Army Reserve

Chief of Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jody J. Daniels recently hosted the Army Reserve's Yearly Training Brief at Joint Base...

Read more

Back to the field: National Guard units gear up for annual training

by Will Martin
1 month ago
0
annual training

For members of the National Guard, the summer heat represents an altogether different set of plans: annual training.

Read more

Should civilian and private employers provide paid military leave?

by Nikki Davidson
1 month ago
0
Military leave

Several guardsmen and reservists who missed work due to military leave have launched a new mission – convince a jury...

Read more

Army Reserve officer teaches others to step in the arena

by Bianca Strzalkowski
1 month ago
0
Lisa Jaster

Lt. Col. Lisa Jaster made history after being one of the first women to graduate Ranger School is encouraging others...

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Results
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW