GRAFENWOEHR, Germany (Nov. 18, 2009) -- Of the 41,000 U.S. Soldiers stationed in Germany, half are stationed at six locations throughout Bavaria -- Bamberg, Ansbach, Schweinfurt, Grafenwoehr, Vilseck and Garmisch. Both German and U.S. officials agree it's a win-win situation, and a cooperative tradition that should continue.
Community leaders met at the U.S. Forces Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, Nov. 12-13 for the Bavarian Symposium, a forum to discuss transformation, military operational requirements, construction, financial and environmental impacts on the community.
Despite challenges, such as noise and housing shortages for U.S. servicemembers moving to the region, Marcus Mittmeyer of the Bavarian State Chancellery says his office is committed to harmonizing military needs and the demands of the population to develop working solutions to keep U.S. forces in the region.
"The presence of the U.S. Armed Forces is a balanced and essential element of the trans-Atlantic relations from the point of view of the Bavarian state government," Mittmeyer said. "Therefore, and because of the political structure of the trans-Atlantic relations and the economic impact, which results from the stationing of forces here, the Bavarian state government promotes keeping U.S. forces here and when possible expanding.
The wide-open spaces of picturesque training areas in Bavaria provide the backdrop for high intensity live-fire and maneuver training, while the base infrastructures provide jobs and industry that keep the rural communities booming despite poor global economic conditions.
"The armed forces in Bavaria provide about 5,400 jobs in the civil area, said State Minister Siegfried Schneider, head of the Bavarian State Chancellery. "The United States Army is calculated to be in the top 15 largest employers in the free state of Bavaria."
The meeting sought to bring a basic understanding of the unique challenges posed by the cultural, political and economic differences to share information and gain a better perspective -- the way forward.
"I have the hardest job I think, and that is to describe the national security and foreign policy decision-making apparatus of the United States, said Ambassador Katherine Canavan, foreign policy advisor for United States European Command.
Canavan set the stage for the conference by providing a 20-minute presentation outlining the political process used to move an idea, such as military construction, from funding to completion.
"...It takes a long time to get through our system the decisions that are made, especially those that require resources," said Canavan.
Military construction is one of those areas where Congress is very interested in what is being built, where and by whom, she said. That is why it is taking such a long time to get funding for new housing in Grafenwoehr, she explained.
During the meeting, participants referenced issues, which often drive negotiations, such as, noise complaints caused by military aircraft, extended hours permitted by the German government for live-fire training at installations, a lack of housing caused by the re-stationing of troops in the region, and proposed reduction or increase of forces, as part of Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission initiatives.
"Since the beginning of 2009, no more firing waivers were made," said President Michael Brod of Bavaria's Military Administrative District South. "This led to a considerable decline of the complaints because of shooting noise. Some complaints have been merely about aircraft noise of helicopters and jets from the region of central Franconia and Grafenwoehr. Still we continue to work through this."
Brod said the WBV-South had approved firing waiver applications, which allowed extended training to take place after the normal firing hours at various locations, after special consideration. With increased operations and frequent deployments for Iraq and Afghanistan, units could request extended use of the facilities; however, since the beginning of 2009, no unit has requested a waiver, and no waivers were denied.
Brod said he works to balance the needs of the community with the needs of the military. It is a responsibility that is taken very seriously.
Brig. Gen. Steven L. Salazar, commanding general of the Joint Multinational Training Command in Grafenwoehr, Germany, said he was impressed with the level of support and cooperation he had received since assuming command in late August.
"Our commitment to the Soldiers and to the unit is to provide very current, very relevant and very realistic training," said Salazar. "The Soldiers at the JMTC could not do that without the support of the great communities in which we live. You all support those efforts."
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