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56th Artillery Command Changes Enlisted Leadership
The 56th Artillery Command in Europe marked a leadership transition as Command Sgt. Maj. Rickey Jackson handed over senior enlisted duties to Command Sgt. Maj. Caleb Webster amid the unit’s expanding multi-domain mission.
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rickey Jackson, right, Brig. Gen. Steven P. Carpenter.(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Rajheem Dixon, 56th Multi-Domain Command–Europe)
The Army unit responsible for coordinating electronic warfare, cyber operations and artillery fires in Europe welcomed a new senior enlisted leader Thursday during a ceremony at Clay Kaserne.
Command Sgt. Maj. Rickey Jackson formally transferred enlisted adviser responsibilities of the 56th Artillery Command, also known as Multi-Domain Command Europe, to Command Sgt. Maj. Caleb Webster, marking a leadership transition as the command continues to evolve alongside the Army’s push to adapt to modern combat realities seen on the battlefields of Ukraine and elsewhere.
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“It is about forging a new way of warfare, where we can reach out to touch any enemy anywhere, anytime, across every single domain simultaneously,” Jackson said during the ceremony.
Webster brings extensive experience in the European theater, having most recently served as the senior enlisted leader of the 41st Field Artillery Brigade in Grafenwoehr. His background in artillery formations and joint training environments aligns with the command’s expanding mission set, which blends traditional fires with cyber and electronic warfare capabilities.
During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Steven Carpenter, commander of the 56th Artillery Command, highlighted Jackson’s 22 months in the role, noting the rapid transformation of the organization. Under Jackson’s leadership, the command shifted from what leaders described as a “champagne headquarters” to one “with teeth,” as it took on a more operational posture focused on deterrence and integration across domains.
The 56th Artillery Command supports the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line, a NATO and U.S. Army Europe and Africa initiative designed to leverage emerging technologies to achieve anti-access and area-denial effects while countering adversaries’ advantages in mass and momentum. Through major exercises such as Arcane Thunder, Avenger Triad and Dynamic Front, the command moved beyond conventional artillery fire drills to incorporate multi-domain operations and closer integration with NATO allies and partner nations.
“We’ve moved light years ahead from where we were when I walked in,” Jackson said. He stressed the importance of the deterrence line in protecting Europe from Russian aggression, emphasizing that integrated systems and shared operating pictures allow allied forces to operate effectively on the front lines. That operational focus extends down to individual readiness and equipment, where standardized, reliable gear such as an outside-the-waistband duty holster like the Sig P320FS OWB Holster by Blade-Tech, commonly used for training and qualification with platforms like the M17 supports consistency across units operating together in joint and allied environments.
Jackson will now move on to serve as the senior enlisted leader of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, becoming the first field artillery soldier to hold that position. The command is expected to be a focal point for the Army and the Defense Department in the coming months amid President Donald Trump’s emphasis on missile defense initiatives, including efforts referred to as the Golden Dome.
Editor’s Note:
This article covers a leadership transition within the 56th Artillery Command as the unit continues to adapt its multi-domain mission in support of NATO deterrence efforts in Europe.
