FINAL ARMY MOVES FROM GERMANY SET FOR 2019
THE Ministry of Defence has today (5 November) confirmed that the final Field Army units will return from Germany in 2019. The final units, including those from 20 Armoured Infantry Brigade, currently based around Paderborn and Sennelager in Germany, will return to their new home on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire in the final phase of the Army Basing Programme.
In line with commitments made in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Army Basing Programme has already successfully relocated around 74% of personnel from Germany since 2010, with over 5,000 Service personnel, plus their families, having returned to the UK this summer. All of the Unit moves planned for 2016 and 2017 will go ahead as planned.
The timing of the move has been confirmed ahead of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review to provide certainty to Army and civilian personnel, and their families, allowing them to plan for the future.
Major General Alastair Dickinson CBE, Director of Army Basing and Infrastructure said:
“By confirming the timetable to bring the final units back from Germany to their new home on Salisbury Plain in 2019, we are providing our Service personnel and their families with greater certainty to allow them to plan for their futures. It also allows us to finalise our plans with Wiltshire Council and industry partners who will deliver the supporting infrastructure in the UK.
“In Germany we will continue to deliver the high quality of services and facilities that our personnel and their families need so they are well supported until they move.
“This is a significant milestone in delivering the Army’s structure as set out in the last SDSR.”
While fewer personnel will remain in Germany after 2019, Germany will remain one of our most valued NATO and European partners, and we will continue to intensify and deepen our security and defence relationship with them.
Both the Army and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will continue to work with Wiltshire Council, local and industry partners, to make sure that the accommodation, infrastructure and services needed by our Service personnel and their families are in place. In Germany, work will continue with the Federal Authorities to hand-back the German estate.
Colin Wood MBE, Defence Infrastructure Organisation Chief Operating Officer said:
“Our priority is to provide a better estate for our Armed Forces and this will allow us to finalise our plans for brand new living and working accommodation for troops and their families.
“The MOD is investing more than £800 million in infrastructure in and around the Salisbury Plain area. This will boost the local economy and provide some 1,000 brand new homes for Service families, thousands of new bed spaces for single soldiers and the construction, conversion or refurbishment of more than 250 other buildings such as offices, garages, workshops and Mess facilities.”
Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, Leader of Wiltshire Council said:
“Since the Army Basing Programme was first announced, we have been working closely with the Army, the DIO and partner organisations to ensure the necessary community infrastructure including improvements to schools, roads and leisure is in place. The confirmation of when Service personnel will arrive provides a clear timetable to put in place these plans which we have been sharing with local communities.
“We look forward to welcoming service personnel and their families and, as well as providing the infrastructure needed, we will also do all we can to help them to be part of the local community as they make their home in Wiltshire.”
ENDS
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Notes to Editors:
· The Units moving from Germany in 2016 are 5 RIFLES to Bulford, 6 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps to Dishforth and elements of 1 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps to Bicester. The Units moving in 2017 are 102 and 105 Military Working Dog Squadrons to North Luffenham.
· The Regular Army Basing Plan set out the future laydown of the British Army in the UK to support the generation of military capability as it restructures to deliver its future Army 2020 operating models. It honoured the commitment made in the SDSR to bring UK forces back from Germany by 2020, with over 50% of forces back in the UK by 2015.
· The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) plays a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces by building, maintaining and servicing what the men and women who serve our country need to live, work, train and deploy on operations.
· DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties, as well as providing related support services, to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
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