US ARMY GARRISONS

USAG GRAFENWÖHR/VILSECK

U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwöhr is slated to be one of just four main operating areas to be left in USAREUR once current transition plans are completed. Accordingly, it is presently in the midst of a billion-dollar construction, which, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports, is halfway complete. The project includes the largest post exchange in Europe, a commissary, two schools, a dining facility and thousands of houses.

When completed, Grafenwöhr will grow from a 1,000-soldier garrison with 2,000 military family members to a brigade-size facility with 4,500 active-duty soldiers and 7,000 family members.

The garrison's current mission is to provide quality base operations and to support the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC), the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) and the Grafenwöhr Training Area.

The home of all this is a small town in a scenic, rural section of Northern Bavaria. Its landmark is the very picturesque, half-timbered water tower. Visitors are fascinated by it and the adjacent Forsthaus, both of which set the architectural style of the post.

Despite its quaintness, the post has won several Community of Excellence awards. Soldiers from Canada, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and even some Eastern countries train at Grafenwöhr.

The town is just outside the gates of the training area and owes much of its prosperity to the soldiers training there. The Grafenwöhr area has a long history. In 1907, Prince Luitpold, regent of Bavaria, selected it as the place best suited for the Bavarian Army, and it was a major German training area until its capture by the Americans at the end of World War II.

During his time in Germany, Elvis Presley spent several rotations in the Grafenwöhr Training Area. He used to sing in the clubs in town, and the gate guards had to constantly turn away young women wanting to visit!

The quiet but friendly town of Vilseck has much to show about local history, with its "Erstes Deutsches Türmmuseum" and castle "Dagestein." The area now is devoted primarily to farming. The military community, still nestled among hills and small, friendly German villages, is dynamic, growing and ever-changing.

For further information check the website at www.grafenwoehr.army.mil.

FACILITIES

Sports and Recreation

Activities offered at the Grafenwöhr Field House and the Hilltop Fitness Center in Vilseck include basketball, racquetball, boxing, soccer, softball, flag football, rugby, aerobics, youth leagues and much more. Unit and community sports programs abound.

Outdoor Recreation

Offers economical ski trips and packages to ski resorts in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in southern Bavaria. The modern bowling center offers multiple-lane facilities, pro shops, snack bars, game rooms and conference rooms. The worldwide United Service Organization (USO) sells tickets to concerts and other special events in and around Germany.

Rod and Gun Club

Provides excellent hunting and fishing opportunities, as well as bargain resale activities. The centers at Grafenwöhr and Vilseck have open bowling, monthly cash tournaments, league bowling, children's birthday parties and more. The Grafenwöhr center offers a Bowling Burger Basket.

Clubs

The Zone Sports Bar in Vilseck and the Gettysburg and Towerview Clubs in Grafenwöhr offer drinks and relaxation, wide-screen television, unit and group nights and other activities. The Zone also offers snacks.

Health Services

The United States Army health clinic is an outpatient facility providing high quality primary and limited specialty health care. Serious cases are referred to local host nation hospitals or the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The dental clinic provides general dentistry and specialty treatment to authorized individuals. Veterinary services include animal disease prevention and control, issuance of health certificates and vaccinations.

Schools

There are elementary and middle schools in Grafenwöhr and an elementary and high school in Vilseck.

Community Services

The Army Community Service (ACS) center offers various programs and services for soldiers, civilians and family members; parent education classes, financial maintenance classes, relocation information and support, mobilization and deployment support, employment services, Army Emergency Relief (AER) and volunteer programs. Child Development Services provides full service, center-based child care, the Family Child Care (FCC) program, the School Age Services (SAS) program and respite child care for service members in pay grade E-4 and below. Youth Services operates a sports and fitness program for organized seasonal sports. Volunteers are an integral part of every community. Volunteer experience offers great potential for self-fulfillment and may also be reflected on resumes for future job employment.

Chapel

Offers services and religious education in numerous denominations. Your Chapel staff can provide information about them. There is a wide range of Bible study groups, classes and retreats offered by the program.

Scouting

There are active scouting programs for both boys and girls. They advertise and recruit members through the schools, libraries, youth activity centers, media and various other institutions.

Historical and Cultural Museum

Located next to the city pond in Grafenwöhr, has a section showing the entire history of the training area from its beginning in 1907 with the Royal Bavarian Army through today's use as a live fire facility for the U.S. Army and other NATO units. There are displays, with explanations in English, of uniforms and representations of the daily lives of soldiers. A courtyard at the museum features outdoor public concerts in summer.

Better Opportunities for Single Servicemembers (BOSS)

This program is designed to bring single Soldiers' quality of life in line with their married counterparts. Billets afford them more living space so they may decorate to their own tastes and include amenities such as floor kitchenettes, private facilities, fitness equipment and government furnishings. It also involves single personnel in recreational travel and community help programs.

Shopping

A commissary the size of six basketball courts and an even larger department store are nearing completion and were scheduled to open in September 2007. There is no need to wait till then, however. There are presently Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) retail stores and commissaries in both Grafenwöhr and Vilseck. (The Vilseck commissary will remain open after the new Grafenwöhr one opens.) There are also franchised restaurants such as Burger King and Popeye's Chicken. Video rentals are now available at the 24-hour AAFES shoppette/gas station in Vilseck and at the Grafenwöhr shoppette.

Library

The Library has fiction and nonfiction book selections, reference materials, travel guides, videos, educational resources, children's books, magazines and computers with internet access.

Transient Lodging

The Tower Inn at Grafenwöhr and the Kristall Inn at Vilseck offer affordable and comfortable alternatives to local hotels and pensions.

The Army Post Office (APO)

A full-service facility, providing parcel service and transport of all classes of mail from priority to express. It also transports mail for free from APO to APO when "MPS" is written in the upper right corner of envelopes and packages.

Banking

The Community Banks offers full service banking. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) offer 24-hour service for deposits and withdrawals from both checking and savings accounts.

Auto Craft Shop

Offers assistance in performing automotive maintenance and repair. Equipment, tools and trained mechanics make everything, from charging a battery to major overhauls, possible at great cost savings.

Arts and Crafts Center

The Heart & Home Craft Shop at Grafenwöhr provides many opportunities for crafters, including quilting, framing, sewing, engraving and painting, and also has many craft items for sale. The Grafenwöhr program features a state-of-the-art photo lab in Grafenwöhr, and there is a recording studio in Vilseck.