CNN iReport

By Bill Roche

U.S. Army Europe

HEIDELBERG, Germany -- The battles of the 21st century will be complex, persistent struggles against hybrid threats by coalitions operating outside their national boundaries in concert with local forces and governments and a wide array of nonmilitary agencies, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. told multinational senior military leaders assembled in Heidelberg for the 16th annual Conference of European Armies Oct. 29-31.

The U.S. Army Europe-sponsored CEA is designed to enhance security cooperation through dialogue among senior U.S., North American and European military leaders, many the top-ranking members of their nations' armies or defense forces.

This year's forum brought together nearly 60 leaders from more than three dozen nations from Canada to Azerbaijan. The conference participants discussed a variety of topics related to partnership and coalition operations, including full-spectrum operations, cultural awareness, civil-military operations, leader development and interoperability.

In his remarks during the conference's final session, Casey said the evolving character of conflict requires great changes in the way the U.S. and its allies operate at home and on distant battlefields.

The way ahead for the U.S. and its European allies, Casey said, is twofold.

First is for those forces to continue to work together "in little steps" to integrate other agencies in their nations into military efforts and educate them about their forces' objectives. "I think those little steps will pay great dividends over the long haul, and I think we're in this for the long haul and we need to start now," the general said.

Second, he said, is to make Afghanistan work. He cited a recent speech given by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, in which the secretary said the entire NATO alliance - the European Union, nongovernmental organizations and other military and civilian groups - must better integrate and coordinate with each other and the Afghan government.

In the closing remarks of the conference, USAREUR Commander Gen. Carter Ham addressed the military leaders. Ham said that while he hadn't been sure going in what to expect from the conference, at the end of the three-day event he was convinced it is a useful forum, particularly in its examination of leader development.

"We've learned about Four Cs and Seven Steps and Three As and several other kinds of things, but I think the real value of this conference will play itself out in two ways," he said.  The conference brought senior leaders together to establish enduring relationships, the general said, and provided him with some issues to think about as he considers USAREUR's future.

To read the full story, visit www.hqusareur.army.mil.