Ansbach Weekly

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…

Calendar and menu updates from around the garrison.

• Aug. 25: Ansbach Hospital Maternity Tour with ACS. More...
• Aug. 25: Pawsitive Prevention, 4-6 p.m., Outdoor Rec, More...
• Aug. 26: Volunteer Orientation & VMIS Training, 12:30-1 p.m., ACS, More...
• Aug. 27: Biergarten at the Von Steuben, 5-9 p.m., Von Steuben. More...
• Aug. 29: Paddle the Main River with Outdoor Recreation. More...
• Aug. 30: BOSS Barracks Breakout, 5-6 p.m. More...
• Sept. 1: Retirement Planning & TSP at ACS, 10-11:30 a.m. More...
• Sept. 3: Biergarten at the Von Steuben, 5-9 p.m., Von Steuben. More...
• Sept. 3: Female Soldier Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m., Von Steuben. More...
• Sept. 3-7: Paris & Normandy trip with Outdoor Recreation. More...
• Sept. 8: Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP) registration deadline is Sept 8. More...
• Sept. 10: Biergarten at the Von Steuben, 5-9 p.m., Von Steuben. More..
• Sept. 14: Community Leaders Information Forum (CLIF), Von Steuben Community Center, 3-4 p.m., More...
• Sept. 17: Biergarten at the Von Steuben, 5-9 p.m., Von Steuben. More...
• Sept. 19: Armed Forces Entertainment Flag Football Tour, 1-4 p.m., Katterbach Softball Field. More...
• Sept. 23: Oktoberfest in Munich, 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. More...
• Sept. 23: Retiree Appreciation Day (RAD)
• Sept. 24: Biergarten at the Von Steuben, 5-9 p.m., Von Steuben. More...
• Sept. 24-27: German fishing course. More...
• Oct. 1: Female Soldier Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m., Von Steuben. More...
• Oct. 2: Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) 5K Glow Run, 6 a.m., USO
• Oct. 8-12: Vienna & Budapest trip with Outdoor Recreation. More...
• Oct. 24: Express trip to Lyon, France, with Outdoor Recreation.
• Oct. 27: Career Summit for transitioning Soldiers at Rose Barracks, Vilseck. More...
• Nov. 5: Employment & Job Fair, Von Steuben Community Center, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. More...
• Nov. 20-22: USAG Ansbach Holiday Bazaar.
• Nov. 26-29: Thanksgiving Ski/Snowbard Trip with Outdoor Recreation.

MWR CALENDAR | ACS CALENDAR | DoWEA SCHOOLS CALENDAR | USO EVENTS

• Aug. 21 - Sept. 1: Kirchweih in Bad Windsheim. More...
• Aug. 28-30: Eulenflug Festival, in a forest clearing near Windelsbach close to Rothenburg. The electronic subculture event features music across three floors, workshops, and lectures. More...
• Aug. 29-30: Lichtenau medieval fortress fest. Festivities inside the Lichtenau medieval fortress.
• Aug. 28-Sep. 13: Nürnberg 200th Fall Fest. More...
• Sept. 4-6: Imperial City Festival Rothenburg. More...
• Sept. 18 - 20: Herrieden Kirchweih.
• Sept. 18 - Oct. 4: Old Town Fest in Nürnberg. More...
• Sept. 19 - Oct. 4: Octoberfest in Munich. More...
• Sept. 26: Green Night Ansbach. Ansbach's landmarks shine in green light, and numerous buildings open their doors to culture enthusiasts. The special ambiance is further enhanced by "green" activities and performances by "green" characters, transforming the balmy late summer evening into a spectacular event. Live music of various genres on different stages throughout the old town + a late-night shopping event also takes place concurrently. More...
• Oct. 2.-5: Kirchweih in Obernzenn.
• Oct. 3-14: Michaelis Kichweih in Fürth. It is held in the streets of Fürth's city centre, also the name "Straßenkirchweih" (street fair). Unusual: there are no tents! In addition to different amusement rides, bar and snack stands, traders and market criers also offer their wares. The Kärwa is recognised on the Bavarian Cultural Heritage List and in the Federal Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage. More...
• Oct. 22-25: Illesheim Kirchweih
• Oct. 31 - Nov. 8: Autumn Fair with trade show in Rothenburg. More...

Mercenaries Fought in America

In 1777, Margrave Carl Alexander of Ansbach-Bayreuth, seeking to bolster his finances, leased troops to Great Britain to fight against the American revolutionaries during the War of Independence. An initial force of 1,285 Ansbach and Bayreuth soldiers arrived in America in June 1777 and served until 1783; with reinforcements, 2,353 men were ultimately sent, of whom only 1,183 returned home, while 491 died and 679 deserted. Historian Robert Focken’s new book, Fangt den Washington!, draws on soldiers’ diaries, letters, and archival sources to illuminate their experiences, from combat and thoughts of remaining in America to hardships such as malaria, dysentery, mosquitoes, and food shortages, offering a personal perspective on a significant chapter of Ansbach’s German-American history. (Fraenkische Landeszeitung, August 22, 2026)

Former US soldiers and their families meet regularly in Erlangen to connect

VFW Post 3885 in Erlangen is celebrating its 45th anniversary as it continues to provide a community for former U.S. service members who served in conflicts including Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Meeting monthly, the veterans support one another in coping with the lasting effects of military service, assist with benefits and compensation claims, and provide a separate gathering for spouses, partners, and adult children. Many members have lived in Franconia for decades and remain active in the local community, including supporting charitable causes such as “Toy Run – Dreams for Sick Children,” which will benefit from an October 24 charity concert in Erlangen. (Nuernberger Nachrichten, August 22, 2026)

Train Disruptions from Ansbach to Nuremberg Aug. 23-Sept 10

The S4 train line between Nuremberg and Crailsheim will face disruptions, train cancellations, and schedule changes from August 23 - September 10 due to track construction work, with the majority of cancellations occurring between September 7-10. While rail replacement buses will be provided during evening and night hours, additional evening cancellations between Nuremberg and Ansbach will persist further from August 24 to September 27. Passengers are advised to utilize remaining S4 services, though a detailed timetable for the latter period is not yet available online. (FLZ, August 20, 2026)

Four days off for "Grand Theft Auto VI": US Army lures soldiers with special leave

The US Army is attempting to persuade soldiers to extend their service contracts using an unusual incentive. A battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is offering soldiers four days of special leave that aligns with the November 19 release of the video game "Grand Theft Auto VI" (GTA 6). According to the reports, the offer applies to soldiers in the 9th Engineer Battalion of the 2nd Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, who sign a new service contract between August 1 and November 14. Out of approximately 130 eligible soldiers, 20 have already opted for this incentive, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Angel Tomko told both media outlets. The offer requires a contract extension of two to six years. More...

Family from the USA seeks renewed search in Würzburg: Where is Tina Grogan's body?

Thirty-four years ago, the 29-year-old wife of a US soldier and her two young sons disappeared in Würzburg. Now, a legal case against the husband is underway in the USA. Thirty-four years after the mysterious disappearance of Tina Grogan and her two young sons from a US military housing area in Würzburg, Germany, the family is seeking a new search for their bodies following a confession by her husband, former US soldier Dale Grogan. Dale Grogan, who was arrested in the US in 2025 for unrelated offenses, confessed to the 1992 murders but provided no details on the location of the remains. Equipped with modern ground-penetrating radar technology, the US-based family is now traveling to Germany to conduct a secondary search, hoping to locate the remains after decades of fruitless investigations and a lack of cooperation from local German authorities who view the active trial as a US legal matter. (Main Post, August 20, 2026)

Iran eyes US military bases in Europe as targets if war ramps up, report says

American military installations in Europe could be in Iran’s crosshairs if the United States escalates the nearly six-month-old war, according to a recent news report. U.S. bases in countries such as Bulgaria have been assessed as possible targets by Iran, two unidentified Iranian insiders told the Financial Times. One said Tehran was preparing a plan to expand the conflict further if Trump makes good on previous threats to attack Iranian infrastructure. Iran has separately looked at attacking subsea fiber-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz should the fighting escalate, the publication reported Wednesday. U.S. European Command said Wednesday that it was aware of the reporting and will take “appropriate actions.” (Stars and Stripes, August 20, 2026)

Ansbach University of Applied Sciences helps develop AI drones to combat forest fires

Ansbach University of Applied Sciences and several partners are testing an AI-powered drone system in Bavaria’s Cham district to detect forest fires earlier and more cost-effectively. The automated drones, housed in weatherproof docking stations, fly hourly over the Bavarian Forest while AI analyzes camera images, distinguishes potential wildfires from controlled fires, and can automatically alert emergency services. The Germany-Czech Republic project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aims to replace costly aircraft surveillance and could eventually be deployed in high-risk areas worldwide, with interest already coming from Canada and Bolivia. The pilot runs through 2028, with Ansbach University responsible for further developing the AI technology; researchers also acknowledge the system could eventually have applications beyond firefighting, including military use. (Fraenkische Landeszeitung, August 19, 2026)

Army Aviation Unit from Niederstetten Assists with Major Fire in Belgium

The Bundeswehr has deployed two NH90 helicopters and 13 service members to help battle a major forest fire in Belgium’s High Fens region, where approximately 3,000 hectares have burned and flames have moved toward the German border. The multinational operation, requested by Belgium, includes support from several European countries and is initially scheduled for seven days. Using collapsible containers capable of carrying up to 2,000 liters of water, the German helicopters are supporting ground crews in difficult-to-access terrain. The mission comes just days after Army aviation crews practiced aerial firefighting, allowing them to quickly put their recent training into real-world use. (Tagesschau, August 18, 2026)

German Armed Forces achieve personnel target for this year

The German armed forces have reached their personnel target of at least 186,000 soldiers. As of July 31, there were approximately 186,700 men and women serving in the armed forces, the Ministry of Defense announced. This is the highest number in 13 years. Compared to July 2025, approximately 3,700 new men and women joined the armed forces. The ministry expects further growth by the end of the year . The number of applications for positions in the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) this July was around 47,300, 26 percent higher than in the same month last year. Personnel strength is thus within the target range for 2026 as of mid-year. This range had been set at 186,000 to 190,000 soldiers during the negotiations surrounding the new military service. However, the minimum number had already been met for two months at the beginning of the year. (Tagesschau, August 18, 2026)

Military families in Poland navigate school options without a DODEA school

With no DoDEA schools available in Poland, military parents stationed in the country must weigh alternative options for their children’s education. At the Army's newest garrison in Poland, Camp Kosciuszko, the absence of Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools requires incoming military families to independently secure English-language education through local international schools or homeschooling. Parents must carefully coordinate admission guarantees, long commutes, and curriculum alignment to prepare their children for an eventual return to U.S. classrooms. While DoDEA's Non-DoD Schools Program (NDSP) offers critical financial assistance and tuition support, families must actively research their options to find the best fit, ultimately leveraging the unique opportunity of living in Poland as an enriching, real-world extension of their children's education. (Stars and Stripes, August 17, 2026)

Forests Burning in Bavaria, Too

Fire departments across the Free State were kept busy by several forest fires over the weekend. Crews battled the flames amidst mid-summer heat. Several people were injured. Over the weekend, more than 1,600 emergency personnel battled several forest fires across rugged terrain in Bavaria amidst temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, resulting in at least 14 injuries to firefighters and residents. The largest fire occurred near Waldaschaff, spanning 30 hectares and forcing the evacuation of approximately 80 people, while additional blazes in Rechtenbach, Höchheim, and near Oberhaid required extensive, physically demanding containment efforts supported by helicopters and local farmers. (Fraenkische Landeszeitung, August 17, 2026)

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