In 1952, after Greece and Turkey joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST) was created in Izmir, Turkey as a subordinate command of Allied Forces Southern Europe that was originally placed under a United States Army General.
In the mid- to late-1990s, the implementation of a new NATO Command Structure led to a underwent structural reorganization in which Allied Land Fores South-Eastern Europe was redesignated as a sub-regional headquarters called Joint Command Southeast, also referred to as Joint Sub-Regional Command Southeast, with its headquarters remaining based at Izmir, Turkey. Other sub-regional headquarter were Joint Command SouthCenter (Larissa, Greece), Joint Command Southwest (Madrid, Spain), and Joint Command South (Verona, Ialy).
At the NATO Lisbon Summit of 2010, member nations agreed that NATO should move towards a leaner structure due to tightening economic pressures. At Chicago in 2012, all 28 nations unanimously agreed to reduce the number of major headquarters from eleven to six. One of the first moves toward this more efficient organization was the establishment of Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) was established in Izmir, Turkey, December 1, 2012.
With implementation of the new NATO Command Structure (NCS), all the sub-regional commands, including Joint Command Southeast, were stood down and the forces that were under the control of the sub-regional command are now fall under Allied Land Command, still based at Izmir, Turkey.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the U.S. Army Element, NATO Joint Command Southeast bears a strong resemblance to the Coat of Arms of NATO Allied Land Command (see below), with the NATO polestar and two swords. But the U.S. Army Joint Command Southeast insignia’s two swords are scimitars, typically used as an allusion to operations in the Middle East or Southwest Asia, while the NATO insignia features standard military swords. Another difference is that the NATO swords are crossed, a sign of military preparedness, while the U.S. insignia’s scimitars are instead placed behind the NATO star so that their tips are almost touching.
The Joint Command Southeast motto, “Partners In Defense” points to the primary purpose of NATO, i.e., for members to all respond with defensive measures whenever a treaty member is unlawfully attacked.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."