The Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) has, according to a statement issued this Monday, initiated concrete preparatory steps for five properties for the New Military Service. This announcement follows an earlier statement from the beginning of July that eight properties were particularly well suited for the timely growth of the armed forces with the corresponding training capacities due to their location, infrastructure, and capacities.
From the properties selected at that time, the new statement now lists the following:
- the former Kurpfalz Barracks in Speyer (Rhineland-Palatinate),
- the former Unteroffizier-Krüger Barracks including the former Standortübungsplatz (StOÜbPl) in Kusel (Rhineland-Palatinate),
- the former Graf-Stauffenberg Barracks including the former StOÜbPl in Sigmaringen (Baden-Württemberg),
- the former Kanaal-van-Wessem Barracks in Soest (North Rhine-Westphalia),
- the former Ray Barracks including the former U.S. training site Ockstadt as StOÜbPl in Friedberg (Hesse).
Discussions at locations are already underway or planned
In Speyer, Kusel and Sigmaringen there have, according to the BMVg, already been intensive discussions with all involved stakeholders to openly discuss mutual interests regarding the future use of the properties. The results achieved reportedly testify to a compromise community that not only underscores the importance of the expansion of the Bundeswehr but also the good partnership among all parties involved. The next steps would be promptly documented in corresponding declarations of intent, a so-called Letter of Intent (LoI).
For the properties in Soest and Friedberg these discussions are scheduled to take place. For the former Kanaal-van-Wessem Barracks in Soest, the meeting is already planned for September. Also with regard to the former Ray Barracks including the former U.S. training site Ockstadt as Standortübungsplatz in Friedberg, the Bundeswehr’s intention to use the properties is becoming firmer. Here, a corresponding LoI will also be drafted, on the basis of which the reutilization of the property should take place. Since this property is currently still in use, some special considerations would have to be taken into account.
Ensuring timely measures for the New Military Service
In order to timely implement the contractual and construction-related measures for the reutilization of the properties by the Bundeswehr, the necessary steps must now be taken. In particular, the land procurement procedure linked to the signing of the LoI must be initiated promptly in order to implement the planned training capacities. As a result, the properties would revert to military use and come into the ownership of the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The described steps, according to the statement, are intended to create the prerequisites for a future use in a timely manner. A stationing decision is thus not yet connected. The Bundeswehr will continue to maintain a trusting exchange and close cooperation with the affected states, regions and municipalities in order to accompany and implement this path together and in good agreement.
