Home Americas Instead of withdrawing, US Army deploying 500 more soldiers to Germany

Instead of withdrawing, US Army deploying 500 more soldiers to Germany

US Army firing a Naval Strike Missile from a Palletized Load System truck
Illustration; Photo: US Army

Reversing former US president Donald Trump’s plan to pull 12,000 soldiers from Germany, the US Army will be retaining three sites there and welcome an additional 500 soldiers.

This was announced by the recently-merged US Army Europe and Africa Command, who said the additional soldiers would come from two units, a Multi-Domain Task Force and Theater Fires Command. They will be based at US Army Garrison Wiesbaden.

The army said the decision was made “due to growing operational requirements in the European theater.”

Both units that are coming to Germany are part of a fairly new concept, which the army is using to test concepts to defeat enemy’s anti-access/area denial capabilities with long-range fires and electronic warfare, among other.

The Multi-Domain Task Force-Europe will be comprised of field artillery; composite air and missile defense; intelligence, cyberspace, electronic warfare and space; aviation and a brigade support element.

The Theater Fires Command will improve readiness and multi-national interoperability by integrating joint and multi-national fires in exercises and operations, in support of US Army Europe and Africa.

“The Theater Fires Command and Multi-Domain Task Force in Europe will enable US Army Europe and Africa to synchronize joint fires and effects, control future long range fires across all domains and will create more space, cyber and electronic warfare capabilities in Europe,” said Col. Joe Scrocca, the spokesman for US Army Europe and Africa.

The Theater Fires Command is expected to activate 16 Oct. 2021 and the Multi-Domain Task Force is expected to activate on 16 Sept. 2021.

US Army also noted it would retain three sites previously scheduled to be returned to the German government. These are the Mainz Kastel Station and Mainz Kastel Housing in Mainz-Kastel, and Dagger Complex in Darmstadt.

“New strategies and a continuously changing operations environment requires more capacity to ensure we have the necessary infrastructure for increased capabilities to support our Allies and partners,” said Maj. Gen. Chris Mohan, commanding general for 21st Theater Sustainment Command. “We’ve worked closely with German officials to come to an agreement on retaining these sites and are very appreciative of their continued support.”