Mark Hertling

Lieutenant General Mark Phillip Hertling, USA (born September 29, 1953) completed a 37+ year military career as Commanding General, US Army Europe and Seventh Army, serving in that position from March 25, 2011 until November 4, 2012, and retiring from the Army in December 2012. After retiring, Hertling became an advisor on Global Strategy and Physician Leadership initiatives for the Florida Hospital organization. In September 2013, Hertling was appointed by President Obama to the President's Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition. He also serves as an senior advisor to "Mission Readiness," a non-profit, bipartisan organization of retired military leaders who call for smart investments for America's children, and he serves as a board member for World T.E.A.M. (The Exceptional Athlete Matters) Sport, an organization providing opportunities for physically challenged athletes. Hertling also serves as a panel chair for the Department of Defense's Healthy Base Initiative. He is an energetic and passionate public speaker on leadership, strategy, physical fitness and eliminating obesity, and American youth.

Army Career
Prior to serving as the USAREUR Commander, Hertling was the first Deputy Commanding General for Initial Military Training (IMT) from 2009—2011. In that role, he was responsible for initial training of approximately 160,000 officers and enlisted soldiers entering U.S. Army training every year at 27 installations across the United States. During this period, Hertling led significant change in several areas, including integrating new training methods into Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training and Basic Officer Leadership Courses. IMT revised the Army's Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills and developed further training in rifle marksmanship, combatives, values instruction, first-aid, and cultural training. IMT's "Soldier-Athlete" initiative also brought about innovative changes in Physical Readiness Training, introducing athletic trainers and physical therapists to training units, and integrating performance nutrition into Army dining facilities (Fueling the Soldier). Complementing Soldier Athlete, Hertling recommended a radical change in the Army's Physical Readiness (PT) test, a recommendation which was later rejected by the Army.

Hertling commanded the 1st Armored Division in Germany, and the 28,000-strong US Task Force Iron in Northern Iraq from 2007—2009. Task Force Iron was based in Tikrit, and cooperated with five different Iraqi Army divisions from October 2007 to December 2008. Hertling integrated a series of kinetic operations ("Iron") with a unique series of non-kinetic engagements ("United and Strong") to further improve stability and security.

Throughout his military career, Hertling saw alternating assignment between operational and training postings, and was considered to be a skilled trainer and a soldier-focused leader and commander. He served or commanded at every level, and he has been assigned to all of the Combat Training Centers in the United States and Germany. Hertling has influenced the training model in the U.S. Army at various stages of his career.

Biography
Mark Hertling was born on September 29, 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Christian Brothers College High School in Clayton, Missouri. In 1975, Hertling was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Armor Branch after graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point, Hertling was on the NCAA Division 1 Swimming and Water Polo Team, and he was active as a member of his class committee and Cadet Captain his senior year.

Hertling served in various command and staff assignments, both in the Continental United States and overseas. He began his professional career in Europe as a second lieutenant, leading tank and scout platoons in the 3rd Infantry Division in 1975–1977. In 1988, he returned to Europe as a major, serving first on the staff of the 1st Armored Division as the deputy G-3, then as the S-3 of 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment (Blackhawks) with whom he deployed during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The 1-1 Cavalry was cited for its role in the Battle of the Medina Ridge, where Hertling was wounded in action. Hertling also commanded 1st Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Knox, Ky. He also commanded 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Wash. when that unit was named as the Army’s first Stryker Brigade. He was Commander of Operations Group, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, Calif., and commanded the 7th Army Training Command, transforming it to the Joint-Multinational Training Command, in Grafenwoehr, Germany. He also served as the Vice J-7 and the J-7, on the Joint Staff in Washginton, D.C. from 2001—2003, and as the U.S. Army Europe G-3 from 2005—2007. His overseas assignments include responsibility as the Commanding General, 1st Armored Division/Multi-National Division-North, as a major general from October 2007 to December 2008, both in Wiesbaden, Germany and in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Prior to this, as a brigadier general, he was the assistant division commander from September 2003 to August 2004 of the 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, in Germany.

Hertling received a Masters in Science in Physical Education from Indiana University, a Masters in Military Arts and Sciences from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies from the National War College in Washington, D.C.

Hertling taught in the Department of Physical Education at the U.S. Military Academy, and served as a speechwriter for GEN (ret.) Frederick M. Franks when he commanded TRADOC.

Hertling is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a Board of Trustee member at the United States Military Academy, a life member of the Purple Heart association, and he is a member of the Friends of Army Swimming. He was also awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America,

Hertling is married, and according to his published biography he and his wife Susan have two sons and a daughter-in-law who served in combat as active duty soldiers, plus another daughter-in-law who is a teacher.

Publications

 * 1) CPT Mark Hertling and Dr James Peterson, “Being All You Can Be...Physically!”, ARMY Magazine, February 1986, pp 45–49
 * 2) Mark Hertling, “Brooms and Brawn”, TRIATHLON Magazine, May 1986, pp 22–23
 * 3) Mark Hertling, “Dryland Training at West Point”, SWIMMING TECHNIQUE, May–June 1986, pp 23–30
 * 4) James Sfayer and Mark Hertling, “Fit to Fight,” Marine Corps Gazette, August 1987, pp 43–44
 * 5) Mark P. Hertling, “Physical Training for the Modern Battlefield:  Are We Tough Enough?”. SAMS Monograph, CALL Library, Nov 23, 87
 * 6) Mark P. Hertling, “Whence Values Come,” Military Review, December 1987, 16–23
 * 7) Mark P. Hertling, “Insights Garnered and Gained:  The Israeli Defense Forces and Operation Peace for Galilee,” SAMS Monograph, CALL Library, April 22, 88
 * 8) Mark P. Hertling, “Narcoterrorism: The New Unconventional War,” Military Review, March 90
 * 9) Mark P. Hertling, “The Battle Of Oom Chalouba, June 17, 2008,” ARMOR Magazine, Vol 104, Jan–Feb 1995 pg 26–33
 * 10) Hertling, Mark P. "The Battle of Oom Chalouba, June 17, 2008: The Leader’s Role in Preparing Units for the Physical Demands of Combat." In Leadership: The Warrior’s Art, ed. Christopher D. Kolenda, 287–307. 2nd ed. Carlisle: Army War College Foundation Press, 2001. (UB210 .L21 2001)
 * 11) COL Mark P. Hertling and Lt Col James Boiselle, “Coming of Age in the Desert: The NTC at 20,”  Military Review, September–October 2001, 64–65, October 9, 2002.
 * 12) Thom Shanker and Mark Hertling, “The Military Media Relationship: A Dysfunctional Marriage,” Military Review, Sept–Oct 2009, Vol 89, Number 5
 * 13) LTG Mark P. Hertling, “The Year of the NCO:  A Division Commander’s Perspective,” Military Review, September 2009, Vol. 89, Number 5.
 * 14) LTG Mark Hertling, LTC William Graham and MAJ Louis Florence, “We Need More Engineers!”, ARMY Magazine, January 2010
 * 15) LTG Mark Hertling, "What's Going On In Basic Training", ARMY Magazine, March 2010
 * 16) LTG Mark Hertling and PFC Jennifer Prowell,"A Soldiers Thoughts on Training, Leadership," ARMY Magazine, November 2010
 * 17) LTG Mark Hertling, "The US Army in Europe: Fighting Above Our Weight Class," AUSA Green Book 2011
 * 18) LTG Mark Hertling, "Security and conflict in the Caucasus region, not frozen," Foreign Policy, The Best Defense Blog, August 2012

Interviews

 * 1) Military Family Reflects on Sacrifices of Iraq Service – Steve Inskeep. National Public Radio. September 13, 2004
 * 2) Army Ranks See Imbalance in Iraq War Sacrifice – Steve Inskeep. National Public Radio. July 12, 2007
 * 3) DoD News Briefing, Operation Iron Hammer. – November 19, 2007.
 * 4) DoD News Briefing, Maj. Gen. Bergner and Maj. Gen. Hertling. – December 19, 2007.
 * 5) U.S. Planes Strike Al-Qaida Hideouts Near Baghdad – Anne Garrells. National Public Radio. January 10, 2008
 * 6) The Compassionate General Michael Holmes, CNN. February 9, 2008.
 * 7) DoD News Briefing, Operational Update: Maj. Gen. Hertling – May 21, 2008.
 * 8) U.S. Bridging Gaps Between Baghdad, Provinces – Renee Montagne, All Things Considered. National Public Radio. March 18, 2008
 * 9) DoD News Briefing, Operational Update: Maj. Gen. Hertling – May 21, 2008.
 * 10) US troops in Northern Iraq – Wolf Blitzer, CNN. May 23, 2008.
 * 11) DoD News Briefing, Northern Iraq Security Operations – July 27, 2008.
 * 12) US troops in Iraq – Wolf Blitzer, CNN. August 3, 2008.
 * 13) DoD News Briefing, December 8, 2008.
 * 14) New Basic Training Hardens Softer Generation – All Things Considered, National Public Radio. March 20, 2010
 * 15) Making Soldiers Fit to Fight – James Dao, New York Times. August 30, 2010.
 * 16) Soldiers Require Best Nutritional Benefits – Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News. December 13, 2010.
 * 17) Army Boot Camp Embraces New-Age Fitness – Frank Morris, All Things Considered. National Public Radio. December 28, 2010.
 * 18) Michelle Obama sees Military as Model for Fitness Effort, – Mimi Hall, USA Today. January 28, 2011.
 * 19) US Army Europe and the Future of Forward Presence, – Atlantic Council. July 11, 2011.
 * 20) US Army Europe Podcast: LTG Mark Hertling, – US Army Europe YouTube. Aug. 23, 2011.
 * 21) Conference of European Armies highlights success of longtime alliances, new partnerships, – Jorge Benitez – Atlantic Council. Sept. 22, 2011.
 * 22) Consensus scarce on future of overseas bases – Catherine Cheney and Charles Hoskinson – Politico. Oct. 23, 2011.
 * 23) Future of US Army Europe, - Vago Muradian — Defensenews.com Oct. 30, 2011.
 * 24) Rebalancing America's forces, The Downgrading of Europe, - The Economist. Jan. 14, 2012.
 * 25) U.S. Army in Europe eyes greater parnter training, - Alexandra Hudson — Reuters.com Feb. 4, 2012.
 * 26) Boots on the ground: vital during peacetime too, - Dennis Steel — Army Magazine September 2012

Speeches

 * 1) VII Corps Desert Storm 20th Reunion – February 26, 2011
 * 2) Impacts of Doctrinal and Technological Changes, Organization for Security Co-operation in Europe Seminar 2011 - May 25, 2011
 * 3) Interagency and International Collaboration at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Land Warfare Conference 2011 - October 9, 2011
 * 4) The Way Ahead, Conference of European Armies 2011 - September 21, 2011
 * 5) The Strategic Value of United States Army Europe — AUSA 2011 Chapter Presidents Dinner - October 9, 2011
 * 6) Marshall Center Program in Advanced Security Studies Seminar - November 29, 2011
 * 7) V Corps Change of Command - January 10, 2012
 * 8) USAREUR/IMCOM Combined Logistics Awards Ceremony – March 8, 2012
 * 9) Wilton Park Conference 2012 – October 2, 2012

Military schools

 * United States Military Academy – BS – No Major
 * Armor Officer Basic Course
 * Armor Officer Advanced Course
 * Air Defense Artillery Officer Advance Course
 * United States Army Command and General Staff College – MMAS – Military Arts and Sciences
 * School of Advanced Military Studies
 * National War College
 * National Defense University – MS – National Security and Strategic Studies

Civilian degrees

 * Indiana University – MS – Physical Education

Promotions

 * US-OF1B.svg 2LT – Jun 4, 75
 * US-OF1A.svg 1LT – Jun 5, 77
 * US-O3 insignia.svg CPT – Nov 18, 79
 * US-O4 insignia.svg MAJ – Jun 1, 86
 * US-O5 insignia.svg LTC – Jul 1, 92
 * US-O6 insignia.svg COL – Aug 1, 97
 * US-O7 insignia.svg BG – Jan 1, 03
 * US-O8 insignia.svg MG – Jan 1, 06
 * US-O9 insignia.svg LTG −Sep 25, 09