Vet News: DoD Announces Installation Realignments in Germany

United States Department of Defense

The Department of Defense announced today that the United States will cease operations at U.S. Army, Europe, locations in Buedingen, Gelnhausen, Darmstadt, Hanau and Turley Barracks in Mannheim, Germany.

Due to U.S. European Command force structure realignment and transformation, and the attendant reduction in installation and personnel support requirements that have occurred during the past several years, the Department of Defense has determined the following facilities are excess to its needs.

Turley Barracks, Mannheim, will be returned to the host nation in fiscal 2007 as part of round 51 of overseas base closures.

All U.S. Army, Europe, facilities in Buedingen and Gelnhausen will be returned to the host nation in fiscal 2008 as part of round 50 of overseas base closures.

All U.S. Army, Europe, facilities in Darmstadt and Hanau will be returned to the host nation not later than first quarter 2009 as part of round 51 of overseas base closures.

In addition to previously announced force structure changes, closure of these sites will affect 41 military, 319 U.S. civilians, and 149 local national employees with agencies such as DoD Dependents Education, Defense Commissary Agency, Army and Air Force Exchange Service and other support units in these areas. Previous USAREUR force structure announcements provided personnel numbers for organizations at these locations and the Installation Management Command-Europe’s (IMCOM-E) Darmstadt and Hessen garrisons which will inactivate.Those announced force-structure changes included approximately 1,720 soldiers, 480 U.S. civilians and 530 local national employees in Darmstadt and Hanau whose organizations will inactivate in fiscal 2008, as well as approximately 620 soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Armored Division at Buedingen/Gelnhausen, which will inactivate in fiscal 07.

IMCOM-E will begin the process of returning facilities affected by this decision to the host nation. Current annual operating costs for these sites are approximately $176 million.

The United States coordinated this action with host nation officials before announcement.

SOURCE: VNIS