GERMANY: Some 4,000 troops of the U.S. military's 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team prepare to leave their home of some 60 years, in Baumholder, Germany

Record ID: 593365

  • Title: GERMANY: Some 4,000 troops of the U.S. military's 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team prepare to leave their home of some 60 years, in Baumholder, Germany
  • Date: 4th October 2012
  • Summary: BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY (OCTOBER 3, 2012) (REUTERS) VIEW OF BAUMHOLDER GARRISON OVER FENCE SIGN AT ENTRANCE TO GARRISON MAIN GATE FENCE ROAD WITHIN GARRISON EMPTY AREA WHERE VEHICLES WOULD NORMALLY BE KEPT FENCE GARRISON COMMANDER MICHAEL D SULLIVAN TALKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GARRISON COMMANDER, MICHAEL D SULLIVAN, SAYING: "Well obviously with the 170th deactivating here on the 9th of October, we're moving a very big part of Baumholder. But the good news is we continue to see an influx of soldiers come in from various logistical units across Germany. Our largest customer, or partner unit will come from the 16th Sustainment Brigade so as smaller bases close throughout Germany, they'll consolidate a lot of these logistical units here at Baumholder and we're very exciting to have them coming on board." U.S. FLAG BESIDE SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) GARRISON COMMANDER, MICHAEL D SULLIVAN, SAYING: "Only recently we came back from Afghanistan so it is very hard on the soldiers and the families to pick up and move again, especially on short notice. That being said, we've received excellent support, not only from our higher headquarters but from the surrounding communities, understanding what these soldiers are going through. So one of the things that we focus on here at the garrison is to make sure the soldiers and families receive all of the support they need as they get set up for their next assignment. Obviously it's a difficult transition any time you have to move, but to leave a community as beautiful as Baumholder on such a short notice is difficult." PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH GARRISON VARIOUS OF CAR DRIVING PAST SOLDIERS WALKING PAST SOLDIERS WALKING INTO DINING AREA INTERIOR OF DINING AREA VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS INSIDE DINING AREA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SERGEANT SIMMONS, SAYING: "I've been here for a little over 12 months, it was a good time, a good experience but it's time to move on and go somewhere different. Baumholder was wonderful. The community was nice and just being over in Europe was a great experience." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SERGEANT TROYER FROM BERLIN IN OHIO, SAYING: "It's a great experience to experience Europe, Italy, France and all the surrounding countries in Europe. It's really neat experience. People from all over the world want to come to Europe, but we as soldiers, we get that opportunity to do this and it's a great experience." VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS EATING SOLDIERS WALKING INTO BUILDING GARRISON VARIOUS STREET VIEWS OF BAUMHOLDER TOWN MAYOR OF BAUMHOLDER, PETER LANG, SITTING AT HIS DESK (SOUNDBITE) (German) MAYOR OF BAUMHOLDER, PETER LANG, SAYING: "The American garrison has been here in Baumholder for many decades and so we cannot imagine a life without the Americans here. The brigade is going to be deactivated but thankfully other troops will come so that it is not a complete loss, but rather some are leaving and others are coming." STREET SCENE VIEW OF CHURCH
  • Embargoed: 19th October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3HD9PAGV412WVUXI171DSZP8U
  • Story Text: The German town of Baumholder is preparing to say farewell to some 4,000 U.S. soldiers who have been stationed at the local garrison for over 60 years.
    On October 9, the 170th Infantry Brigade will carry out the casing of the colours ceremony which signifies the final deactivation of the military unit.
    The move comes as part of sweeping defence cuts of $487 billion over the next decade announced by the Pentagon in January, as it seeks to create a smaller, more agile force with a strategic focus on the Asia-Pacific region and Middle East. The demands of the Cold War, where Russians and Americans faced off across the walls, fences and barbed wire of the Iron Curtain, have receded into history.
    Until now Baumholder, which is located in south west Germany on the border with France, has been home to some 13,0000 soldiers and their families.
    But the deactivation of the 170th Infantry Brigade does not mean the end of Baumholder. Some 2,000 soldiers, mainly from logistical units will move there from other garrisons in Europe.
    "Well obviously with the 170th deactivating here on the 9th of October, we're moving a very big part of Baumholder. But the good news is we continue to see an influx of soldiers come in from various logistical units across Germany. Our largest customer, or partner unit will come from the 16th Sustainment Brigade so as smaller bases close throughout Germany, they'll consolidate a lot of these logistical units here at Baumholder and we're very exciting to have them coming on board," Garrison Commander Michael D Sullivan told Reuters TV.
    According to the military, the new units settling in Baumholder will include the 16th Sustainment Brigade; 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion; 240th Quartermaster Support Company; 317th Maintenance Company; 51st Transportation Company; 557th Medical Company; and the 720th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company.
    But leaving their base at Baumholder will be no easy feat, Sullivan says, for the soldiers and their families of the 170th Unit who only recently arrived back from an assignment in Afghanistan.
    "It is very hard on the soldiers and the families to pick up and move again, especially on short notice. That being said, we've received excellent support, not only from our higher headquarters but from the surrounding communities, understanding what these soldiers are going through. So one of the things that we focus on here at the garrison is to make sure the soldiers and families receive all of the support they need as they get set up for their next assignment. Obviously it's a difficult transition any time you have to move, but to leave a community as beautiful as Baumholder on such a short notice is difficult," he said.
    The departing soldiers are either returning to the U.S., continuing on to other assignments in Europe or are being absorbed by new units arriving in Baumholder.
    "I've been here for a little over 12 months, it was a good time, a good experience but it's time to move on and go somewhere different. Baumholder was wonderful. The community was nice and just being over in Europe was a great experience," Sergeant Simmons told Reuters TV.
    "It's a great experience to experience Europe, Italy, France and all the surrounding countries in Europe. It's really neat experience. People from all over the world want to come to Europe, but we as soldiers, we get that opportunity to do this and it's a great experience," said Sergeant Troyer who is from Berlin, in Ohio.
    Many in the local community had been worried that the removal of the unit would destroy the town, so they were relieved to hear that other troops would be moving into Baumholder.
    "The American garrison has been here in Baumholder for many decades and so we cannot imagine a life without the Americans here. The brigade is going to be deactivated but thankfully other troops will come so that it is not a complete loss, but rather some are leaving and others are coming."
    Once the combat brigades in Baumholder and Grafenwoehr have been re-based, the size of the U.S. army in Europe will have been reduced by almost 10,000 from its current 41,000.
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