Ansbach Weekly

Search continues for missing Soldier and family - CID continues the search for the disappearance or death of Tina Grogan, Stephon Grogan and Dale Grogan Jr. Since Nov. 30, 1992, Spc. Dale Grogan's dependent wife, Tina Grogan, and their two sons Stephon Grogan (age 4,) and Dale Grogan Jr. (age 6,) have been missing. After their disappearance was reported, an extensive search was conducted in Würzburg, Germany. More...

Qualify for Army 10-Miler - Qualify virtually by running May 2 or June 27. Register...

Tenant Satisfaction Survey March 2-May 15 — The survey will be sent via email to all residents at USAG Ansbach Army Family Housing (AFH) and Unaccompanied Housing (Barracks) from ArmyHousingSurvey@celassociates.com. Please complete. The feedback helps the Army make improvements to housing quality. No email? No problem. More...

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.

• April 1-May 1: Child & Youth Services (CYS) Month of the Military Child events. More...
• May 1: USAG Ansbach Graduation Recognition, Von Steuben, 10 a.m.
• May 2: Skydiving in Hassfurt. More...
• May 2: Army 10 Miler - Virtual Qualifier Race. Register...
• May 4-8: USAG Ansbach Spring Clean-Up
• May 12: Creating your Own Financial Plan. ACS. 10 a.m. More...
• May 21-25: Outdoor Rec trip to Italian and French Riviera. More...
• May 22: Nuremberg by Rail. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. More...
• May 25: Memorial Day Service hosted by VFW 10708, 11 a.m. , Storck Barracks Memorial Park
• May 26: Ansbach Hospital Maternity Tour with ACS. More...
• June 18: USAG Ansbach annual Garrison employees Org Day , Franken Kaserne, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. More...
• June 23-26: Ansbach Clinic offers School/CYS Physical Rodeo to help get your child's school and sports physicals. More...
• June 27: Army 10 Miler - Virtual Qualifier Race. Register...
• July 4: Independence Day Celebration, Katterbach. More...
• Aug. 3-7: Ansbach Clinic offers School/CYS Physical Rodeo to help get your child's school and sports physicals. More...

MWR CALENDAR | ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE CALENDAR (ACS) | DoDEA CALENDAR

• April 17-May 10: Frühlingsfest (Spring festival) in Munich 2026. More...
• May 1 - 3: Ansbach Mess' - Food & Feines with Various Food Trucks, Oldtimers Show and More!
• May 3: Spring Fest Neustadt an der Aisch.
• May 8 - 17: Ansbach Spring Fest at Gustav-Weißkopf-Str., Ansbach

For more Spring Fest locations click here!

• May 24: English Stand-up Comedy with Malinda Perera at Crazy Nates Wöhrder Wiese, Untere Zwingerstrasse 9, Nürnberg. More...
• May 22-25: Historic Festival Play "Master Draught" in Rothenburg. More...
• Jun. 3-7: Altstadtfest "Old Town Fest" Ansbach, downtown Ansbach
• Jun. 3-7: Franconian Beer Fest at the Nürnberg Burggraben. More...
• June 26-27: JamKraut. Mars Mushrooms leads festival of Grateful Dead-friendly tunes. More...
• Jun. 26 - Jul. 1: Summer Fair and Beer Festival in Rothenburg. More...
• Jul. 9 - 12: Auf der Ziegenwiese " On the goat meadow" Music and Cultural Event in Ansbach. More...
• Jul. 10 & 18: Music Concerts: American Music Abroad. More...
• Jul. 17-18: Heilsbronn City Fest. More...
• Jul. 25-26: Wine Fest Rothenburg. More...
• Aug. 12-16: Wine Village Rothenburg. More...
• Aug. 13-16: Wine Fest Ansbach. More...
• Sept. 4-6: Imperial City Festival Rothenburg. 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. 31 - Nov. 8: Autumn Fair with trade show in Rothenburg. More...

Berlin deepens military ties with Washington

Starting in October, Germany will embed a senior U.S. colonel as deputy head of its Army Command’s Operations Division, marking an unprecedented level of integration and cooperation between the two militaries despite recent political tensions between Washington and Berlin. This move, part of a selective officer exchange program, aims to deepen German-American collaboration, enhance NATO interoperability, and help manage the transition as Europe assumes greater responsibility for its own defense amid U.S. force recalibrations. While such close integration is rare, it reflects a broader trend of European militaries, like the German-Dutch partnership, strengthening internal cooperation within NATO as the U.S. signals a shift toward more limited support for European security. (Politico, April 29, 2026)

Army shifts Europe training to executing NATO war plans

STUTTGART, Germany — The U.S. Army in Europe this week launched a new training program aimed at putting NATO’s defense plans into action, replacing a five-year-old focus on large-scale troop movements. U.S. Army Europe and Africa kicked off Sword 26 on Monday with drills across eight countries. The exercise aims to validate NATO’s regional defense plans for the High North and along the alliance’s eastern flank, USAREUR-AF said in a statement. It also focuses on applying the alliance’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, a warfare concept that blends drones, artificial intelligence-enabled targeting and layered defenses to blunt an attack by an adversary in the early stages of combat. (Stars and Stripes, April 29, 2026)

Passenger jet circles over Neustadt/Aisch for hours: Who is flying so low?

A Bombardier Challenger 605 jet circling at low altitude over western central Franconia recently sparked local curiosity, but the U.S. Army in Ansbach clarified that the aircraft, operated by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, was conducting routine survey flights to inspect Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at the Illesheim airfield. These low-altitude maneuvers, which ensure safe landings, are scheduled several times a year and are a common occurrence over U.S. military properties in the region, with the aircraft typically taking off from Nuremberg for these inspections. (Fraenkische Landeszeitung, April 29, 2026)

German Armed Forces and US Army Practice Emergency Response at Remsfeld Rest Area

On a cool Friday morning in Remsfeld, the Schilfwiese rest area became a logistical hub for Exercise HETHEX 2026, a large-scale German-American military exercise involving up to 900 soldiers and 400 vehicles. The focus was on movement, supply, and cooperation rather than combat, with a temporary Convoy Support Center set up in just 24 hours to refuel, feed, and support the convoy as it traveled along the A7 motorway. The exercise aimed to test and improve coordination between military, police, fire departments, and civilian services, while minimizing disruption to local life. Highlighting Germany’s role as NATO’s logistical hub, the operation underscored the importance of readiness, realistic training, and the close integration of military planning with everyday civilian routines to deter and prevent conflict. (Hessischer/Niedersaechsischer Anzeiger, April 29, 2026)

81st Anniversary of the Liberation of Flossenbürg Concentration Camp

At the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the Flossenbürg concentration camp, survivor Dr. Leon Weintraub, who turned 100 this year, returned to honor the memory of those who suffered and perished, joined by three other survivors and around 600 attendees. The commemoration, marked by music, speeches, and the presence of dignitaries, emphasized the enduring responsibility to remember the atrocities committed, defend human rights, and actively oppose extremism. Speakers highlighted the importance of remembrance as a safeguard against repeating history, with survivors and their families urging that “never again” must be a lived commitment, not just words. The ceremony concluded with a solemn wreath-laying, reinforcing the ongoing obligation to remember and uphold humanity. (onetz.de, April 28, 2026)

40 Years After the Catastrophe: The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

After the Chernobyl reactor meltdown on April 26, 1986, the West quickly detected elevated radioactivity, while the Soviet Union downplayed the disaster and delayed evacuating Pripyat’s 50,000 residents, resulting in widespread suffering and long-term radioactive contamination, especially in Belarus. Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich documented the profound confusion and trauma experienced by those affected, highlighting the invisible and incomprehensible nature of radioactivity. The legacy of Chernobyl persists, with the site even targeted during Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and a Russian drone damaging the protective shell in 2025—an eventuality unanticipated by the multi-billion-euro European containment project, underscoring ongoing nuclear risks and the inadequacy of existing safety concepts. (br24.de, April 24, 2026)

SIPRI Report 2025: Military Spending Rises for Eleventh Year in a Row

The year 2025 was marked by wars, geopolitical upheavals, and uncertainty. In response, many countries around the world continued to increase their military spending, according to recent figures. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has compiled global military expenditures. States spent approximately 2.9 trillion US dollars (almost 2.5 trillion euros) on defense last year, says SIPRI researcher Lorenzo Scarazzato. This is a new record high – and the eleventh consecutive year of increases. However, the spending is concentrated in just a few countries, Scarazzato notes. "The US, China, and Russia accounted for roughly 50 percent of global military spending." (Tagesschau, April 27, 2026)

The Pentagon is trying to silence me

Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith was recently notified her last day in the role would be April 28, 2026. (Stars and Stripes, April 23, 2026)

Pentagon fires ombudsman overseeing military newspaper after calling it ‘woke’

Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith said the Defense Department dismissed her without giving a reason, according to an email reviewed by The Post. Three months after the Pentagon decried the U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes as “woke” and announced it would be overhauled, Defense Department official Sean Parnell fired the publication’s ombudsman, a role charged by Congress with safeguarding the paper’s editorial independence. (Washington Post, April 24, 2026)

Voluntary yet powerful: Where the German Armed Forces should emulate the US Army

While many Germans doubt Defense Minister Boris Pistorius can increase the Bundeswehr’s size from 180,000 to 260,000 soldiers without reinstating conscription, international comparisons suggest otherwise: the U.S. military, for example, attracts 0.4% of its population voluntarily, double Germany’s 0.2%. The higher status and appreciation of the military in American society, along with better funding and career opportunities, make service more attractive. In contrast, Germany’s historical unease with militarism and underfunding have hindered recruitment. However, with renewed investment and a focus on making the Bundeswehr an appealing employer, Germany could significantly boost voluntary enlistment, especially if it offers better training and career prospects. (Augsburger Allgemeine, April 22, 2026)

Police operation at the Grafenwöhr military training area: Two officers injured

On Tuesday morning, a large police operation took place near Gate 3 at the Grafenwöhr military training area: According to a report from the Eschenbach Police Inspectorate, a man attempted to pass through the access control to the grounds. After security denied him entry, a verbal altercation ensued. Upon the arrival of the police officers, the man became increasingly erratic and made incoherent statements. In consultation with the responsible district office, the man was ordered to be admitted to a district hospital, according to the report. Subsequently, the man offered considerable resistance to the police measures: he went onto the railway tracks, threw stones at the officers, and kicked at them. Two police officers sustained minor injuries. Several patrol cars from surrounding stations were called in to manage the situation. (onetz.de, April 21, 2026)

Military Strategy: What the German Armed Forces of the Future Should Look

On a landmark day for German defense policy, Minister Boris Pistorius announced the adoption of the first-ever military strategy for the Bundeswehr, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach amid heightened threats, particularly from Russia, which is now deemed the greatest immediate danger to Germany’s peace and security. The strategy shifts the Bundeswehr’s focus to national and collective defense, aiming to become Europe’s strongest conventional army through short-term readiness, medium-term expansion across all domains, and long-term technological superiority, with a target force of 460,000 personnel. While the new voluntary military service law is in effect, officials acknowledge that partial conscription may be considered if recruitment falls short. The strategy, while criticized for its vagueness, deliberately omits specific capabilities and war scenarios to maintain operational security. (br24.de, April 22, 2026)

Beer from Bavaria is being toasted less frequently worldwide

Bavaria remains a stronghold of beer tradition, with its breweries selling the most beer in Germany in 2025—22.5 million hectoliters—despite a 5.4% decline in sales and an 8.4% drop in exports compared to the previous year. The number of Bavarian breweries also fell to 588, representing 41.6% of all German breweries. To celebrate German Beer Day, the Bad Windsheim Open-Air Museum will showcase historic brewing techniques in two centuries-old brewhouses, offering visitors a glimpse into Franconia’s rich brewing heritage and everyday life across 700 years. (br24.de, April 23, 2026)

Train service disruptions Nuremberg-Ansbach, April 18 to July 9

Attention DB S4 Passengers on the Ansbach-Nuremberg route: Due to major construction work (slope stabilization between Roßtal and Heilsbronn and switch replacements near Nuremberg Central Station), S4 service will be drastically reduced from April 18 to July 9, 2026. Expect hourly service with additional peak-hour trains that will bypass several stops (Heilsbronn, Raitersaich, Roßtal-Wegbrücke, and Roßtal), the morning express from Nuremberg to Ansbach is canceled. The current train status is available at https://int.bahn.de/en or in the DB Navigator app.

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