Pentagon announces Europe force cuts, relocations

Derek Turner ^ | 2/16/16 | Chris Caroll

[Nachum]

WASHINGTON – A senior defense official announced a planned series of changes to U.S. force posture in Europe on Thursday that would reduce the number of U.S. troops on the continent by more than 11,000 by 2017. Families of affected troops are being notified Thursday, the officials said.

INACTIVATED

170th Infantry Brigade: The unit’s 3,850 soldiers, currently redeploying to Baumholder, Germany, from Afghanistan, will begin moving with their families this summer, the Pentagon said.

172nd Separate Infantry Brigade: 3,850 soldiers, currently in Afghanistan, will redeploy this summer to Germany. Soldiers and their families will begin to move in summer 2013.

V Corps Headquarters: The 750 soldiers, who are deploying this summer to Afghanistan, will reunite with their families after the deployment and receive other assignments in Wiesbaden and elsewhere in fiscal year 2013.

Army enablers: 2,500 enabler forces will be cut between fiscal years 2013 and 2017.

81st Fighter Squadron (A-10): 525 airmen based at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, will be reassigned in fiscal year 2013.

603rd Air Control Squadron: The unit, with 336 airmen based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, will be inactivated in fiscal year 2013.

[freedumb2003]

Frankly, we don’t need nearly as many troops in Europe as we have now.

But we need those troops elsewhere.

And God bless them all.

[GraceG]

Not to mention when europe finally falls apart there will be less of our troops in the crossfire, at least initially.

Looking for silver, errrr, copper, errr, lead linings in the clouds....

[RetiredArmy]

I had 4 tours totalling 10 years in Germany. Back then, we had well over 200,000 US troops, AF, Army, Marines and Navy over there. 1970s and 1980s were still dangerous times over there because of the Soviets. We always said there were two US Army's. The State side one and the Germany one. I actually preferred the Germany one. It was more soldiering than the parade style here in the states. You actually was out more doing Army things. Not just in garrison here in the states.

[Apogee]

That is true, but it will be harder to redeploy to Turkey and the Mideast if necessary.

Of course, this could be the C in C’s way of making sure that his successor does not have ready intervention in said areas, once he is removed from the position.