Ansbach Weekly

• May 23-26: Increased MP alcohol detection - To reduce the number of alcohol related driving offenses and the number of injuries suffered in traffic accidents, USAG Ansbach Military Police will be increasing enforcement and alcohol detection measures at USAG Ansbach installations. Increased enforcement will take place through Memorial Day Weekend May 23-26. USAG Ansbach Military Police will also be partnering with Ansbach German Police partners for joint patrol operations at local fests.
• AER Campaign thru June 14 - The 2025 Army Emergency Relief campaign runs now through June 14. AER provides the most direct path to supporting Soldiers and Army families. 100% of donations come from Soldiers and American citizens. Last year, USAG Ansbach provided $179,150.00 in AER grants and loans to Soldiers and their families. This year community members have donated $5,040. Donate today! Visit https://give.armyemergencyrelief.org/ANSBACH.
• USAG Ansbach Org Day - USAG Ansbach hosted its annual Organizational Day bringing together Garrison Soldiers, civilians and families for a day of camaraderie and fun. Held on Franken Kaserne, the event featured a variety of activities, including competitive sports tournaments, a potluck, and grilled food. Photos...
• Car Wash Renovations, New Car Wash at Urlas - The Car Wash renovation at Automotive Skills on Urlas Kaserne is complete. The new car wash and wand washes are now available for your use. The washes will be open during facility operational hours of Wednesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. More...
• Testing for lead in water at USAG Ansbach - USAG Ansbach conducted annual Lead in Drinking Water Sampling across the installations to identify potential lead levels. This proactive testing is a routine part of our environmental monitoring program. Lead testing for Fiscal Year 2025 was conducted November 2024 and April 2025. 1,062 samples were tested at USAG Ansbach Army Family Housing and 245 samples were taken at High Risk Facilities. Major Findings & Corrective Actions...
• May 23: 2025 Unit Level Softball League registration deadline - To participate, teams need to complete a letter of intent by May 23. Forms can be picked up and returned at the Katterbach Fitness Center. More…
• USAG Ansbach-wide scheduled power outages - Garrison public works crews must shut power off across USAG Ansbach installations between April to July 2025 to conduct annual maintenance on transformer stations. The following buildings at Katterbach affected Friday, May 23: Bldg. 5912, 5913, 5914, 5915, 5916, 5917, 5918, 5919, 5930, 5931, 5932, 5933, 5933, 5934, 5935, 5936, 5937, 5938, 5839, 9028, 5984, 9010, 5911, 5910, 5925. More...
• Reminder: Know the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease - Hand, foot and mouth disease is a contagious viral infection which is common in children under five years old. Cases can occur anytime throughout the year, but in countries like Germany with varying climates, cases occur more often in the spring and fall. More...
• May-June: Electrical safety tests at Ansbach AFH - The USAG Ansbach Directorate of Public Works (DPW) conducts electrical safety tests, or e-checks, at Army Family Housing. Dates & Locations...
• Weekly IMCOM Sampler - Here’s what’s happening at U.S. Army Garrisons around the world. More…
• Eye on AMC - What’s happening within the U.S. Army Materiel Command—IMCOM’s senior command. More…

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• May 22: Pub Night at the Von Steuben, 5-9 p.m. More…
• May 23: 2025 Unit Level Softball League registration deadline. More...
• May 24: Klettersteig/ Via Ferrata climbing. More…
• May 27: Coaches Meeting 2025 Unit Level Softball League. More...
• May 29: Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, Von Steuben, 3-4 p.m.
• May 29: 2025 Unit Level Softball League Season Start. More...
• June 4-5: Host Nation Orientation. More...
• June 5: U.S. Army Special Ops recruiting Brief, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m., Katterbach ACS Bldg. 5817A Rm 208
• June 7-8: Outdoor Recreation trip to Paris. More....
• June 12: Biergarten at the Von Steuben. More...
• June 18: Community Leaders Information Forum, 1:30 p.m., Von Steuben Community Center
• July 3: Independence Day Celebration at Katterbach, 6-11 p.m. More...

• May 23-June 1: Ansbach's Spring Fest | Gustav-Weißkopf-Straße, 91522 Ansbach. Big fair with food, beverages, games, entertainment programs and rides. More...
• June 6-9: Rothenburg’s historic Master Draught Festival, which will take place throughout the old town. The main venues are the festival meadow and the imperial hall. Rothenburg streets will transform back to the medieval times, with campfires and Soldiers parading the streets. More…
• June 12-15: Africa Festival in Nürnberg at Theodor-Heuss-Brücke, 90419 Nürnberg. More...
• June 18-20: Tauberzell Wine Fest with Live Music | Hirtenscheune, 91587 Adelshofen. More…
• June 18-22: Ansbach Altstadtfest. More...
• June 19: Ippesheimer Wine Run “Weinparadieslauf” | running routes of different lengths through the unique landscape of the “WeinparadiesFranken”, along the “Ippesheimer Herrschaftsberg” via the ‘Holzöd’ to the “Bullenheimer Berg”. Anyone can take part: from Bambini (0.5 km), schoolchildren (2 km), hobby runners and walking enthusiasts (approx. 5 km) to ambitious runners (approx. 10 km). Register here...
• June 28-July 6: 75th Ansbach Rococo Festival | Ansbach downtown area. This festival showcases the famous "Wild Margrave" Carl Wilhelm Friedrich lifestyle, with art exhibitions, masked festivals, readings, concerts, and baroque casino evening. More..
• July 18-27: Kinderzeche Dinkelsbühl | The Kinderzeche in Dinkelsbühl is a famous children's and local festival that dates back to a school festival first mentioned in documents in the 17th century. The festival, which has been staged since 1897, reenacts a local legend according to which Dinkelsbühl children are said to have saved the town from the Swedes during the Thirty Years' War. More…

Quick US troop exit would leave Europe vulnerable and cost allies up to $344 billion, study finds

A rapid U.S. military withdrawal from Europe would leave allies on the Continent exposed to attack and cost them hundreds of billions of dollars to offset the loss of American firepower, a new report says. The International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank estimates that it would cost Europe between $226 billion and $344 billion to match U.S. conventional weapons systems and platforms that play a central role in the Continent’s defense. Over a 25-year life cycle, including maintenance costs, that figure could grow to more than $1 trillion, according to the report released Thursday. (Stars and Stripes, May 21, 2025)

Military exercises in the Kitzingen district: Bundeswehr and US forces in action

Military exercises by the German Armed Forces and the US Armed Forces are planned in the district of Kitzingen. From June 2, 2025, to June 4, 2025, a unit of the German Armed Forces will conduct a troop exercise. This will also involve the district of Kitzingen in the Volkach, Dimbach, Eichfeld, Reupelsdorf and Schwarzach am Main areas. Due to the low number of participants, no significant impact is to be expected. Information on safety and compensation claims can be found here. (infranken.de, May 21, 2025)

Some military parents say DEI purge hurts their kids’ schools.

A growing number of military parents are protesting recent efforts by the Trump administration and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to remove books and classroom content related to diversity, race, and gender from Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools. These changes, which also include bans on certain student clubs and lessons about immigration, are seen by critics as unconstitutional censorship and a politicization of military education. Parents have filed a lawsuit alleging violations of First Amendment rights and warning that limited exposure to diverse viewpoints will undermine students’ critical thinking skills. Despite DODEA’s high academic performance and reputation for equity, walkouts and protests by students have increased, even as many fear retaliation. The debate reflects broader national tensions over DEI initiatives and their place in public institutions. (Christian Science Monitor, May 20, 2025)

Friedrich Merz Plans a Gigantic Bundeswehr – With Military Service or Conscription?

Germany’s new CDU/CSU and SPD-led federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pursuing an ambitious defense agenda, aiming to build the strongest army in Europe and drastically increase defense spending to 5% of GDP—over €200 billion annually. However, with only 182,857 active Bundeswehr soldiers as of January 2025, officials like Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and General Carsten Breuer warn that Germany will need around 460,000 personnel, including a robust reserve. While the government currently favors voluntary military service modeled after Sweden’s system, officials caution this may be insufficient, hinting at a possible return to conscription, potentially including women, to meet force requirements amid heightened security threats. (Frankfurter Rundschau, May 20, 2025)

US fire department also came to assist with a second turntable ladder

Three buildings in Endresstraße in Ansbach were on fire late on Sunday evening. Around 150 firefighters battled the flames. The US fire department also came to assist with a second turntable ladder. Seven people were slightly injured, including one firefighter. (Fraenkische Landeszeitung, May 19, 2025)

US to start European troop withdrawal discussions later this year, US NATO ambassador says

The U.S. plans to begin formal discussions with European allies later this year about reducing its military presence in Europe, according to U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. While no decisions have been finalized, Whitaker emphasized that any changes will be coordinated within NATO to prevent security gaps. He cited a longstanding U.S. desire to reduce troop levels, with President Trump pushing for swift, orderly action. The move comes amid concerns about U.S. commitment to NATO, fueled by critical comments from U.S. officials and Trump’s skepticism toward European defense spending and continued support for Ukraine. Despite this, Whitaker reaffirmed that the U.S. remains committed to NATO. He also cautioned the EU against excluding non-EU companies from defense contracts, arguing it would hurt alliance interoperability and innovation. (Reuters, May 16, 2025)

Elevated lead levels found in 13 more sinks at DODEA elementary school in Germany

Thirteen additional sinks at a Defense Department school in Bavaria have tested above acceptable lead levels, bringing the total to 17, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach said Tuesday. The elevated lead levels were found at Ansbach Elementary School on Katterbach Kaserne during follow-up testing on May 3. Results were returned Friday and announced in a Facebook post by the garrison. None of the sinks were used for drinking water, garrison spokesman Nathan Van Schaik said Thursday in a joint statement with Department of Defense Education Activity spokeswoman Jessica Tackaberry. (Stars and Stripes, May 15, 2025)

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