German Federal Forest Division and JMRC Cleanup Training Area

Photo By Sgt. Rebecca Call | U.S Army Capt. Aaron Rhodes and Sgt. 1st Class Sergio Felix of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), unload concertina wire from a HMMWV during the box cleanup efforts near Hohenfels, Germany on November 8, 2022. Soldiers from JMRC and Germany’s Federal Forests Division work together to preserve the training ground's natural landscape. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Rebecca Call)  

HOHENFELS, BY, GERMANY

11.10.2022

Story by Sgt. Rebecca Call 

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

HOHENFELS, Germany—Soldiers of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), along with the forestmeisters of Germany’s Federal Forest Division came together for a training ground cleanup Nov. 7-10 to help conserve United States Army Garrison (USAG) Bavaria’s natural landscape as well as prepare the grounds for future training events.

The purpose of this cleanup was to clear the training environment of residual items that had been unintentionally left behind. Training equipment such as barbed wire, wooden battle positions, and metal poles are often used during USAG Bavaria’s training and have a tendency to be left behind once exercises are complete. However, forestmeisters from Germany’s Federal Forests Division’ and U.S. Soldiers ensure they are not forgotten amongst the vegetation.

“I'm grateful that we have a good team across JMRC. There are a lot of individuals out here that work hand in hand with the forestmeisters to continue to build that relationship, maintain continuity and communication in order to keep the environment clean, protect the wildlife, and rapidly reset the training area.” said Maj. Adam Moore from JMRC.

The job of the local forestmeister is to look after the environment of USAG Bavaria, which focuses on environmentally sound land management, ecological quality control, and compensatory measures in compliance with environmental laws. Forestmeisters scout the areas for points that need to be managed and cleared of remnant exercise materials. Once the areas are recorded, they are reported back to units at JMRC for proper removal.

“We have never had an industrial agriculture here. Time was stopped in the 1930’s in the interest of protecting the nature in Hohenfels, and it works better and better. We are grateful because JMRC is very engaged in this process.” said Mr. Manfered Kellner, the Deputy Director of the Forestry Office of Hohenfels.

Germany’s Federal Forests Division’s main interest is in land and wildlife conservation, and JMRC want to be good stewards during their stay at USAG Bavaria. However, both parties have a shared interest in supporting Soldiers in their training.

Kellner commented on this synergy by stating, “Military training needs open land, and open land is good for nature protection.”

While the efforts are meant to help USAG Bavaria’s environment, they are also meant to improve the Army’s overall lethality and readiness. Cleaning the training grounds gives incoming units a clean slate for their individual operations, which come with their own unique obstacles. Having a fresh environment ensures Soldiers are properly conditioned for any situation in any terrain.

“When each unit comes in, they have to figure out their own problems and not fall on something that has been there in the past,” said Moore.

Kellner stated the Federal Forests Division was happy with the results of this year’s cleanup and hopes with the good relations between the forestmeisters and JMRC, they will continue to improve in future ecological military endeavors.

• Date Taken: 11.10.2022
• Date Posted: 11.14.2022 09:59
• Story ID: 433101
• Location: HOHENFELS, BY, DE