GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Col. Adam J. Boyd assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria here at a ceremony June 27.
Lt. Col. Gregory Scrivens had been serving as the interim garrison commander since Col. Lance Varney relinquished command of the garrison last month.
The ceremony and passing of the command's colors was presided over by Michael Formica, director of U.S. Army Installation Management Command Europe.
Boyd is a native of Massachusetts, and was enlisted as a Persian Farsi linguist prior to receiving his commission as a military intelligence officer from the U.S. Military Academy. He is a graduate of the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, the Engineer Advanced Course, Airborne School, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.
"I've been stationed in Germany before," Boyd said in opening remarks. "I have to say that the German-American relationships established here in Bavaria make this one of the most unique and rewarding locations to serve in the Army."
As garrison commander, Col. Boyd oversees USAG Bavaria Army installations in Grafenwoehr, Vilseck, Hohenfels and Garmisch, as well as the camps known as the Fifth Community.
Formica spoke of Cold War training in the area to the same realistic training that continues today at the garrison.
"In just the past six months, nearly 10,000 service members from almost 30 countries have used ranges here during competitions or exercises overseen by 7th Army Training Command," Formica said of U.S. Army Europe's training command headquartered in Grafenwoehr.
"As part of Strong Europe, USAG Bavaria is helping to advance individual and unit warfighter skills, while also serving as a power projection platform," Formica said.
Boyd arrives at a time when USAG Bavaria is serving as Europe's lone Mobilization Force Generating Installation. Additionally, the garrison has been functioning as a "power projection platform" as U.S. Army Europe has been receiving continuous troop rotations of U.S.-based armored brigade combat teams to Bavaria and the greater European theater.
Before arriving from the U.S. Army War College, Boyd was assigned to National Training Center Operations Group. He deployed twice to Iraq, and most recently served as the Director of Plans, Architecture, and Resources for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan in Kabul.
"I think that this is a great time to be a part of this garrison," Boyd said. "Together -- from Grafenwoehr and Vilseck to Hohenfels, Garmisch and our Fifth Community within the camps -- we are one garrison team. Promoting readiness is and shall remain our number one priority."
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