BAUMHOLDER, Germany – U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz hosted a media briefing at Smith Barracks, Nov. 14, to update the local press and local leaders on the anticipated growth of the military community de Baumholder and the investments the U.S. military is making in the facility.

The event provided a comprehensive overview, covering population growth, current and planned construction projects, and opportunities for potential homeowners in the area. A question-and-answer session with the press was also organized, as well as a guided tour of the construction sites and station accommodation, providing a first-hand overview of developments.

“As you all know so well, the U.S. Army and the Baumholder community have a deep and rich history,” said Col. Jeffery Higgins, commander of USAG Rheinland-Pfalz. “Since 1951, the U.S. Army has been hosted by the Baumholder community. This extremely important relationship has allowed the U.S. military to strengthen its military readiness and fulfill a strategic role in the defense of Europe. »

Higgins expressed gratitude for this enduring partnership, which has remained strong despite fluctuations in U.S. troop numbers over the years.

“Today, this rich history continues to grow. As you may have noticed, Baumholder has seen quite a bit of construction lately,” he said. “In fact, a billion-dollar investment in this facility is underway – an investment by the U.S. government to prepare for a new period of military growth in this community. »

Higgins discussed the upcoming growth of the Baumholder military community, which is expected to increase by 2,000 people between 2026 and 2029, to a total of 10,000. He highlighted the opportunities this growth presents for the local community, particularly for homeowners and business owners.

“We anticipate that over the next five years we will need an additional 200 to 300 off-post rentals in local villages to house our Soldiers and their families,” he said. “If this opportunity appeals to our host communities, my offer is to work early with potential landlords to prepare their rental units and align them with the Army’s family housing standards.”

The growing demand for housing presents a mutually beneficial opportunity for both Soldiers in need of housing and local landlords seeking tenants, and the Army is committed to supporting landlords by providing the conditions to necessary housing while they renovate and prepare their properties for rental, Higgins said. .

Bernd Mai, Host Nation Relations Advisor for USAG Rheinland-Pfalz, provided an overview of the Baumholder military community focusing on its history.

“Over the decades, Baumholder had its ups and downs, with new units arriving while others were deactivated,” Mai said. “In 2019, the U.S. Army announced it would invest $1 billion in Baumholder – $500 million to improve infrastructure and quality of life for the American population and $500 million to improve military buildings and facilities. training capabilities.”

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz has made significant progress in the planning and execution of various facility renovation and construction projects aimed at improving the quality of life and addressing operational facility deficits in the military community of Baumholder. Key achievements and projects include:

• Multiple Army Family Housing Townhouse Projects and Right-Sizing Projects

• Inauguration of work on a new Army lodge in November 2023

• Construction of a new primary school, with a new middle/high school planned for FY28

• Planned construction of new barracks (FY25-27) and temporary enlisted personnel management (TEMP) facility (FY26-28)

In addition to quality of life initiatives, USAG Rheinland-Pfalz is tackling a series of infrastructure projects to improve the overall experience of the Baumholder military community. Ongoing and planned renovations include construction and renovation of playgrounds, PX roof repairs and upgrades to the Wetzel Child Development Center. The garrison is also investigating improvements to roads, fire and water systems, and the MWR Auto Skills repair facility.

The day continued with a presentation from the USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Housing Office, where representatives highlighted their commitment to working with local landlords, describing their plan to conduct property inspections to ensure each unit meets to the necessary standards. This would allow them to confidently add the property to their listings and match it to a waiting military family.

The day also included a bus tour of Smith Barracks and Wetzel Kaserne.

Present were: Miroslaw Kowalski, Birkenfeld County Commissioner; Otto Rubly, County Commissioner/Landrat, Kusel County/Kreis Kusel; Bernd Alsfasser, mayor of the Baumholder district; Dr. Stefan Spitzer, Mayor of the Kusel-Altenglan District; Matthias König, mayor of the district of Birkenfeld; Thorsten Schmidt (1st delegate), mayor of the district of Freisen; Günther Jung, mayor of Baumholder; Ulrich Ernst, 1st delegate City of Kusel.

U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz serves, supports, and secures the entire community of forces enabling power projection for the European theater.