AFRICOM to stay put

[unhappycamper]

AFRICOM to stay put
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 18, 2009

WASHINGTON — AFRICOM will likely stay based in Stuttgart for another five years, the head of the new command told Congress on Tuesday.

Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, said keeping the headquarters in Germany until 2014 makes sense as military officials build up operations for the command.

"We will benefit from the stability of staying in one location where we can polish out operational processes, cement our relationships with our partners on and off the continent and consolidate our gains," Ward said.

The command, which should boast about 1,300 personnel by this summer, has been based in Stuttgart since it was stood up in October. Military officials for the past two years had discussed basing operations in Africa, but resistance from governments there prompted the Germany decision.

"As time goes by, I’m sure we’ll revisit the location," Ward said. "But right now it does not affect our capacity to reach out."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61406

[Sherman A1]

1. Since this is a Headquarters Unit

why could it not just as easily be based in CONUS? That would be 1300 personnel back in the US, closer to their homes, doing the very same job and contributing to their local community through their spending and other activities.


It is just silly in my opinion.