|
The 100th ASG, established in 1991, currently consists of the 282nd Base Support
Battalion (Hohenfels) and the 409th BSB (Vilseck). Its mission and role is to
provide quality base operations and to support the 7th Army Training Command,
the Grafenwoehr Training Area, the Hohenfels Training Area, the Combat Maneuver
Training Center and tenant units and activities.
The 100th ASG is made up of a diverse group of people consisting of host nation
employees, soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and military family members.
While providing quality support, the 100th has been helping deploy combat and combat
support elements from Germany during the deployments of the last decade. These people
are provided with everything a community in the United States would provide to its
residents, and then some. There's housing, child care facilities, recreational
opportunities, entertainment, medical and dental care and much more. While some
facilities and services are consolidated, each BSB within the 100th ASG is
self-supporting with medical and dental facilities, postal services, commissary
shopping and an Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) store or shoppette.
For golfing enthusiasts there is a nine-hole course in Grafenwoehr. Arts and
crafts programs within the 100th ASG feature a state-of-the-art photo lab in
Grafenwoehr and a recording studio in Vilseck. Complete support is offered from
the day a soldier arrives until the day he or she departs.
The area has a long history. In 1907, Prince Luitpold, regent of Bavaria,
selected the Grafenwoehr area as the place best suited for the Bavarian Army.
Throughout WWI, the training area was used for the training and re-equipping of
combat units. After the end of the war, the Berlin High Command utilized Grafenwoehr
Training Area for the 100,000 man German army. The American era began after the
last German commander of the training area surrendered on 20 April 1945. During
the first few years, only units stationed at Grafenwoehr used the training area.
In 1947, the American Army reactivated it for unit training purposes.
COMMAND HISTORY
The 7th Army Training Command was established on July 1, 1976. It comprises the
Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas, the Combined Arms Training Center located
at Vilseck and the Training Support Activity, Europe at Frankfurt.
The 7th Army Training Command serves as U.S. Army Europe's training staff,
responsible for managing USAREUR major training areas, performing as a focal point
for all force and training modernization issues. Specifically, the Command is
responsible for single point management of training, including development of
concepts, requirements and evaluation of training readiness. Individual training,
including both skill producing and career enhancing courses, is also provided on
firing ranges and maneuver areas are considered the finest and most modern in the
U.S. Army.
The soldiers, civilians and family members who make up the 7th Army Training
Command enjoy morale and recreation facilities ranging from gymnasiums and skiing
to libraries and craft shops. The 7th Army Training Command is at the forefront in
Europe ensuring that the quality of training and the quality of life for our soldiers,
civilians and their families is the best in USAREUR
GRAFENWOEHR ARMY TRAINING AREA
The Army has big plans for this sprawling training range. It intends to consolidate
forces here while streamlining hundreds of bases across Europe. Plans have already
been announced to build $300 million worth of new housing and military support
facilities here, and to move the 1st Armored Division's 1st Brigade to them from the
Giessen area between 2006 and 2008.
This concentration of assets at one site should enhance both training and
deployment readiness by putting six battalion-sized units adjacent to their major
training area. Soldiers will get new barracks, battalion headquarters, motor pools,
a new PX and commissary.
Grafenwoehr is a small Bavarian 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 Grafenwoehr. The town is just outside the gates of the
training area and owes much of its prosperity to the soldiers training there.
During his time in Germany, Elvis Presley spent several rotations in the
Grafenwoehr 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!
Grafenwoehr's Historical and Cultural Museum, located next to the city pond, 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.
409TH BASE SUPPORT BATTALION, VILSECK
The 409th Base Support Battalion is headquartered on Rose Barracks in the quiet but
friendly town of Vilseck. The town's "Erstes Deutsches Tuermmuseum" and castle
"Dogestein," located in the middle of town, have much to show about the history of the
local community. The military facility dates to the early days of Hitler's power.
Because of his aggressive plans, the Wehrmacht was growing rapidly, dictating an
expansion of the Grafenwoehr training area.
So the South Camp was built at Vilseck to accommodate a horse artillery post of
regimental size. Elements of General Erwin Rommel's noted Afrika Corps trained there.
After the war the Vilseck facility was used successively as a Third Army POW stockade
for German prisoners, as a camp for Polish and Jewish displaced persons, and finally
as a refugee camp for Germans fleeing the Russian occupation.
The Vilseck 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
282ND BASE SUPPORT BATTALION, HOHENFELS
The Hohenfels area is part of the hilly, sparsely populated "Upper Patatinate Jura"
uplands of mixed coniferous and deciduous forests. The name Hohenfels, meaning
"High Rock," refers to the elevated location of a former castle built by a noble
in the 10th century.
Hohenfels is the home of the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC), which
provides realistic and demanding training for U.S. Army task forces stationed in
Europe as well as units from a multitude of Allied nations. The Hohenfels community
is continually growing and has been selected as the most improved community in
USAREUR. It has a commissary, exchange, child development center, youth center
elementary and high school, with many more projects underway.
SPORTS & RECREATION
• Fitness Centers are located throughout the 100th ASG with well-trained
staffs, convenient hours of operation, locker rooms and a full array of fitness
equipment. Activities offered at the Grafenwoehr 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.
• Sports. Whether a member of the 100th likes to play, coach or
officiate, there is a place for him or her in the sports program. The Grafenwoehr
Field House provides a wide variety of the most modern equipment for sporting and
fitness. Features include full basketball and volleyball courts, nautilus and
exercise equipment and racquetball courts. Grafenwoehr also has a golf course.
• Outdoor Recreation Centers are a must for anyone who enjoys the
great outdoors. They rent every kind of equipment for every kind of outdoor
activity, including camping gear, bikes, ski gear, sleds, coolers and tents. They
even offer outdoor recreational trips and tours. Upon request by units,
organizations and individuals. Outdoor Rec organizes specialized trips, too. They
take the people on skiing, white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing,
rappelling and biking trips. Fishing license classes are also offered. With this
permit anglers are allowed to fish on the Vilseck and Grafenwoehr installations.
The Outdoor Recreation Centers also offer a scheduled service to the Nuernberg
airport.
• Bowling. The centers at all three ASGs have open bowling, monthly
cash tournaments, league bowling, children's birthday parties and more. The
Grafenwoehr center offers a Bowling Burger Basket.
• Local Television. Community members in Grafenwoehr can turn on
their televisions and find out what's happening locally by courtesy of the local
affiliate of the American Forces Network (AFN). This facility is equipped with a
tape machine and transmitter. Each week a tape with 30 community-specific spots is
placed in the machine and at various times during the day it is activated by a
signal from AFN Frankfurt. Organizations and community members supply the
information to be broadcast. Information spots can range from classes scheduled
at the ACS to college registration dates. Once the information is collected it
is typed up and submitted to AFN-Frankfurt, which puts finishing touches on it.
After they voice the information and put it to music the tape is ready to go.
FAMILY & SINGLE SOLDIERSUPPORT
• Army Community Services is an umbrella organization, with offices in
each BSB, that covers Family Assistance Centers, the Family Advocacy program,
relocation assistance, Child Care Centers, Outreach, Community Counseling Centers
and other aid to people with needs or problems. The Vilseck/Graf ACS offers a
week-long course called, Welcome to Bavaria, a cultural adaptation workshop for
newcomers to the 409th BSB.
• Volunteers. The Installation Volunteer Coordinator (IVC), located
in each community, assists agencies in publicizing their needs for volunteers and
helps individuals find jobs that are best suited to their personal interests and
goals. Much like an employment office, the IVC maintains a community job bank.
Volunteers are placed in positions based on their individual interests, goals,
skills, availability and experience.
• Single Solder Quality of Life. This program is designed to bring
single soldiers' quality of life in line with their married counterparts. Billets
afford single soldiers 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. The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers
(BOSS) program in the 100th ASG involves single soldiers in recreational travel
and community help programs.
• Schools. There are elementary schools (kindergarten through 6th
grade) at Vilseck and Grafenwoehr. The middle/high school (grade 7-12) serves the
Grafenwoehr and Vilseck areas. Hohenfels has both an elementary school and a high
school, and construction of a new high school building there was commenced in 2001.
• SAS. School Age Services conducts a variety of programs designed
to promote social interaction, personal growth, and recreational skills in youth
ages 6-12.
• YS. Youth Services provide fun and unique activities for youth,
including summer camp, open recreation, sports and special events Sports programs
include baseball, T-ball, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, karate, dance and
gymnastic classes.
• Scouting. There are active scouting programs for both boys and
girls in the 100th ASG communities. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts advertise and
recruit members through the schools, libraries, youth activity centers, media and
various other institutions.
• Health Clinics. The United States Army health clinics in Grafenwoehr,
Hohenfels and Vilseck are outpatient facilities providing high quality primary and
limited specialty health care. Serious cases are referred to local host nation
hospitals or the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Personnel in the
Grafenwoehr and Vilseck military communities have access to the following medical
services on or near the main post: audiology, gynecology, optometry, psychiatry,
emergency medicine, internal medicine, oral surgery, psychology, family practice,
laboratory, orthopedics, radiology, flight medicine, occupational medicine,
pediatrics and social work.
• Dental Facilities. Family members can expect to receive emergency
dental care and basic restorative dentistry at Grafenwoehr and Vilseck. Specialty
dental care will be on a space available basis only. Orthodontic care is extremely
limited. Only cases started before the sponsor received a RFO (request for orders)
will be accepted as a transfer patient. The Hohenfels clinic provides all routine
and most types of specialty dental care to active duty soldiers. In some instances
patients are referred to Vilseck or Wuerzburg for specialty treatment.
• Veterinary Clinic. The one in Vilseck offers animal disease
prevention and control, issuance of health certificates and vaccinations.
FACILITIES
• Clubs. Military clubs are important morale support activities. They
are located throughout the ASG, and each one has its own unique character,
entertainment and menu to fit different tastes. The Great Escape at Hohenfels is
sort of a bar/lounge, while the Gettysburg Club in Grafenwoehr and Yesterday's in
Vilseck, offer fine dining, an assortment of snacks, live entertainment, excellent
brunches, karaoke bars, wide-screen televisions, unit and group nights, bingo and
live entertainment. All clubs and bowling centers now have state-of-the-art video
games, and a SurfNet Caf? has been added to the Hohenfels Community Activities
Center, with internet access and a lounge
• Rod and Gun Clubs. The modern one at Grafenwoehr has a fully stocked
pro shop, and offers hunting and fishing courses the year round.
• Video. Contemporary and classic video movie releases for a quiet
evening at home can be rented or purchased from several outlets in the 100th. "Box
Office" video rental at Hohenfels provides old and new videos, video games and
selected CDs.
• Transient Lodging. The Tower Inn at Grafenwoehr and the Kristall
Inn at Vilseck offer affordable and comfortable alternatives to local hotels and
pensions. There is also a guest house at Hohenfels.
• PXs. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) has stores at
Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels and Vilseck. They provide a full range of facilities, including
a main exchange, military clothing sales, class six store, shoppettes, beauty and
barber shops, pick-up points, laundromats and movie theaters. Each community also has
an AAFES bookstore, and additional AAFES facilities and services available in the
100th ASG include auto parts stores, AAFES gift stores and optical shops. Car rental
is also available. Concessions at Vilseck include a flower shop, beauty/barber shop,
optical store, linen store, trophy shop, photo processing center, food mall and video
arcade. Video rentals are now available at the 24-hour AAFES shoppette/gas station
in Vilseck. There are also video rentals at the Grafenwoehr shoppette.
• Commissaries. The 100th ASG community has three commissary stores;
one each in Hohenfels, Vilseck and Grafenwoehr. Vilseck has the largest commissary
in the 100th ASG area, and the Hohenfels commissary offers features usually found
only at larger commissaries, including a deli, a bakery and a large produce section.
• Restaurants. In addition to many excellent local restaurants, pubs
and cafes in the 100th ASG, many installations feature U.S. franchises where U.S.
currency is accepted. The Food Court at Vilseck, for example, offers Baskin Robbins,
Popeyes, Anthony's Pizza, Robin Hoods, La Casa de Amigos, and a Greek fast food stand.
These franchise food restaurants throughout the ASG provide opportunities for family
member employment. Grafenwoehr now offers Taco Bell, Popeye's and Culters barbeque in
its food court. Grafenwoehr's Burger King also houses Anthony's Pizza, and the Bowling
Alley right next door offers the "Lane 25" grill. The Athen Greek Restaurant at
Grafenwoehr features gyros, suvlaki and salads.
• Auto Craft Centers can help you keep your car running. Centers in
all three communities have bays and tools for do-it-yourselfers, plus experienced
mechanics if you get stuck. You can get an oil change there or get some welding
done. The one at Grafenwoehr also has an automatic car wash. Auto Craft Centers also
operate a towing service and have a driving school and auto care classes.
• Libraries. Excellent ones in each BSB provide invaluable, modern
resources to students of all ages and levels, including research material for several
master's degree programs and Internet access, plus reference material, daily
newspapers, magazines and books on tape. Some libraries have a video library as
well. The Hohenfels Library has 18 free access computers.
• Arts and Crafts Centers. The Heart & Home Craft Shop at Grafenwoehr
provides many opportunities for crafters, including quilting, framing, sewing,
engraving and painting, and also has many craft items for sale. The Hohenfels Center
includes quilting supplies, framing services and other special services.
• APOs. Each community in 100th ASG has a full-service Army post office
for all community members. They provide parcel service and transport all classes of
mail from priority to express. They also transport mail for free from APO to APO when
"MPS" is written in the upper right corner of envelopes and packages.
• Banking. Community banks offer full service banking, including money
exchange service, in every ASG community. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) offer
24-hour service for deposits and withdrawals from both checking and savings
accounts.
|
