12,000 US Service Personnel to leave Germany

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by moneill

First, Trump's claims Germany owes money. BULL!@#$, made up for simple minds that don't do their homework. Each country is suppose to spend 2% of their GDP on defense. No fees, nothing else. Germany is at 1.36%. So that whole argument from Trump is baloney.

Second, USA never set up troops in Germany to protect Germany. It was always about support for USA defense. But Trump and his fans are too simple minded to understand that most USA troops are positioned in places for USA strategic purposes not the protection of foreign countries.

Bring troops home. It's a good idea. But don't make up bull to justify it. Just do it.

The fact that no sustainment/logistic forces or medical units were cut or moved out of Germany speaks volumes about the true reasons for bases such as Ramstein and their importance to US operations internationally.

[CCbaxter]

I love seeing righties embrace the global defense strategy of Jimmy Carter. He thought fewer troops and more forward supply bases with a fleet of large military transport aircraft and ro-ro ships was the way to position our military and make it mobile enough to deploy around the world as opposed to a Fortress Europe mentality. When Reagan was elected we got the B1 and Star Wars instead.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by CCbaxter

I love seeing righties embrace the global defense strategy of Jimmy Carter. He thought fewer troops and more forward supply bases with a fleet of large military transport aircraft and ro-ro ships was the way to position our military and make it mobile enough to deploy around the world as opposed to a Fortress Europe mentality. When Reagan was elected we got the B1 and Star Wars instead.

40 years ago.
James Earl Carter was President 40 years ago. Let's not go in to how many changes in weaponry and civilian technology have occurred in the last 40 years, and just agree that 40 trips around the sun is a very, very long time.
Germany was still partly occupied by The Soviet Union 40 years ago.



It's possible - really possible, now - that Mr Carter was wrong then and Mr Trump is right now.

[Brave New World]

More details of other US units moving -

Originally Posted by Stars and Stripes

The U.S. could also pull out from rural areas like Grafenwoehr, Ansbach and Vilseck in Bavaria. That would likely mean mothballing sites or turning them over to the Germans.

The military intends to reposition three brigade-sized headquarters, an air defense artillery battalion and an engineering battalion to Belgium from Germany, the Pentagon said.

Esper and Wolters did not name the units, but since the cuts are concentrated in Bavaria, the likely targets are the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery at Ansbach, and the 41st Field Artillery Brigade and 18th Military Police Brigade at Grafenwoehr.

An engineering squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base could be the first to move.

“Pending further planning and refinement, we anticipate the 52nd Civil Engineering Squadron could move soonest, at a time to be determined, from Germany to Italy,” said Gen. Tod Wolters, who is based at Mons and serves as EUCOM chief and NATO supreme allied commander.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe on Thursday said the F-16 fighter squadron and other elements of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahelm are “reposturing to Italy,” but that the German base will remain open to support other airlift missions.

Two 173rd Airborne Brigade battalions could leave Grafenwoehr for Vicenza, Italy, “to reunite with their parent brigade headquarters, a move that will enhance unity of command,” Wolters said.

The Vilseck-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s 4,500 soldiers would head back to the U.S., he said. That would be the largest of all the troop moves and would mean the departure of the last brigade-size ground combat force from Germany.

What will it take to move 12,000 troops from Germany? Closures, time and lots of money - Stars and Stripes