The Department of Defense announced today plans for the return of eleven Army bases to Germany in fiscal 2007. Additionally, two other bases are identified for return to Germany in following years.

These installation returns are scheduled as part of plans for the 1^st Infantry Division headquarters return to the United States with its divisional flag in the summer of 2006. Additionally, the 1^st Infantry Divisions subordinate units, as well as selected V Corps and U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) units, will return to the United States, inactivate entirely, convert, or be reassigned in Europe to support Army transformation in fiscal 2006.

As a result of these unit actions, certain installations will no longer be required to support Army missions. The Army plans to return the following installations to the host nation in fiscal 2007, after the fiscal 2006 unit actions are complete:

Harvey Barracks, Kitzingen, Germany

Kitzingen Family Housing, Kitzingen, Germany

Kitzingen Training Area, Kitzingen, Germany

Larson Barracks, Kitzingen, Germany

Schwanberg DCS Site, Kitzingen, Germany

Faulenberg Kaserne, Wuerzburg, Germany

Wuerzburg Training Areas, Wuerzburg, Germany

Giebelstadt Army Airfield, Giebelstadt, Germany

Giebelstadt DYA Camp, Giebelstadt, Germany

Giebelstadt Tactical Defense Facility, Giebelstadt, Germany

Breitsol Communications Station, Wuerzburg, Germany

In addition, the Army will retain the following facilities until they are no longer needed and eventually return them at a date to be determined:

Leighton Barracks, Wuerzburg, Germany

Wuerzburg Hospital, Wuerzburg, Germany

 The fiscal 2006 unit transformation actions and associated base closures will affect approximately 6,100 soldiers and 11,000 family members. In addition, approximately 1,000 department of Army civilian and 1,000 host nation positions will be affected.

The 1^st Infantry Division has played an important role in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. With todays announcement Army leadership is committed to supporting the 1^st Infantry Divisions soldiers, families and civilian employees during this transition.

These changes are part of the Department of Defenses overall plan (the Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy) to transform the military to increase strategic responsiveness and flexibility in the face of current and anticipated future threats, and are the result of extensive consultation with our German allies. A fundamental part of this plan is to position U.S. forces around the globe to be best able to respond to the threats of the new security environment. DoD remains committed to basing a Stryker Combat Brigade Team in Vilseck, Germany, near the Armys premier training facility in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

For more information regarding this announcement, please contact the U.S. Army Europe public affairs office at (49)-6221-57-7364. After hours contact is (49)-162-296-6105 or email:

mailto:paodutyofficer@hq.hqusareur.army.mil.