Ham: 2 brigades should stay in Germany

[unhappycamper]

Ham: 2 brigades should stay in Germany
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, February 18, 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. — The head of U.S. Army Europe wants two brigades scheduled to return to the United States to stay in Germany instead.

The move would affect the 172nd Infantry Brigade, based in Schweinfurt and Grafenwöhr and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder. But Gen. Carter Ham has recommended to the head of U.S. European Command that the two brigades remain in Germany indefinitely.

"The two primary issues for me are to have sufficient ground forces to enable us to meet not only our current operational requirements, principally to the region, but also to maintain the ability to say engaged and exercise with our European allies," he said.

In December, the Army announced that plans to relocate the two brigades to Fort Bliss, Texas, would be delayed, with one unit slated to move to Texas in fiscal 2012 followed by the other in fiscal 2013.

In order to accomplish its missions, U.S. Army Europe needs to maintain its current troop strength of 42,000, Ham said. Deployments downrange have already hampered U.S. Army Europe’s ability to conduct exercises with European and NATO allies.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60781