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Class VIII medical supply and equipment containers are loaded onto Army line-haul transporters at the Dülmen Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite to be convoyed from Dülmen to Baumholder, Germany, for DEFENDER 24. For the first time in Army medicine history, an APS-2 field hospital was activated and issued, and for the first time in APS-2 history, an Equipment Configuration and Hand-off Area was established at Dülmen to support this mission.

APS-2 field hospital activated, issued for DEFENDER

Dwann Jackson, an Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim quality assurance specialist, observes onsite suspension and track upgrades to an Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 M2 Bradley fighting vehicle at the Coleman APS-2 worksite. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)

Quality Assurance support at Coleman APS-2 Worksite

An Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 staging grid is set at Libava, ready to issue an entire cavalry APS-2 equipment set to the 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment from the West Virginia Army National Guard for DEFENDER 24. The 405th Army Field Support Brigade’s Army Field Support Battalion-Africa has established an Equipment Configuration and Hand-off Area in Libava, and over the course of the next couple of days the battalion from Livorno, Italy, will be conducting technical inspections of all the tactical vehicles, basic issue items and support equipment with Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 150th Cav. Regt., the gaining tactical unit.

DEFENDER is the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness, and is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercise that consists of Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response. DEFENDER 24 is linked to NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise, and DoD’s Large Scale Global Exercise, taking place from 28 March to 31 May. DEFENDER 24 is the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe and includes more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and partner nations, including Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

APS-2 ECHA grid in Czechia for DEFENDER

Congressional and U.S. Embassy staff delegation members move through one of the storage warehouses at the Powidz Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite in Powidz, Poland, Sept. 5. The delegation visited the Powidz APS-2 worksite to assess and provide first-hand information and knowledge on APS-2 operations in Poland back to Congress. (Capt. James Bath)

DV Visit to Powidz APS-2 worksite

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From Ranger School student in ‘74 to LRC director in ’21 – an amazing career
April 1, 2021 — In U.S. Army Ranger School in 1974 as an Army cadet, one of the first things he was taught was Rangers never get lost while on patrol and they never leave a fallen Soldier. Throughout his more than 45 years of service, Dave Kalita never got lost and never left a fallen Soldier. In fact, he dedicated his entire life and career to ensuring others never got lost or left behind, taking care of tens of thousands of Soldiers and their Families while he patrolled his way through more than four and a half decades of service to the Army... MORE

Dave Kalita attended Ranger School in 1974 as an Army cadet between his junior and senior years of college. Now, almost 47 years later, he will retire as the director of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade’s Logistics Readiness Center-Benelux. Pictured here is Cadet Kalita’s Ranger School class. He is standing in the 4th row, 7th person from the left. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)

Dutch government pledges 38 million euros to upgrade APS-2 site in Netherlands
March 25, 2021 — The Netherlands Minister of Defense Ank Bijleveld announced March 24 during a press conference at the Army Prepositioned Stock-2 Eygelshoven site that the Dutch government has agreed to provide 38 million euros toward facility upgrades and new construction at the U.S. Army’s APS-2 site in the Netherlands... MORE

The Netherlands Minister of Defense Ank Bijleveld announced March 24 during a press conference at the Army Prepositioned Stock-2 Eygelshoven site that the Dutch government has agreed to provide 38 million euros toward facility upgrades and new construction at the U.S. Army’s APS-2 site in the Netherlands.

APS-2 Coleman worksite director: I spent my whole life serving in the U.S. Army
March 9, 2021 — If he’s not riding his Harley Davidson across Europe with his wife, you’ll find him at Coleman Barracks supervising one of the largest Army Prepositioned Stock sites in the world. Thomas Esposito is the director of Coleman worksite, Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim, 405th Army Field Support Brigade. As the director, Esposito supervises about 15 government civilian employees assigned to AFSBn-Mannheim and oversees the operations and mission of an additional 800 contractors. ... MORE

Thomas Esposito, the director of the Army Prepositioned Stock-2 site at Coleman Barracks, Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim, has served with the Army for 39 years. He said when he retires, his whole adult life will have been spent serving in the Army.

Mannheim APS-2 site receives next-generation self-propelled artillery systems
March 8, 2021 — The 405th Army Field Support Brigade's Army Field Support Battalion-Mannheim received about three dozen next-generation M109A7 Paladin Artillery Systems and M992A3 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles by railhead at Coleman Barracks, March 4. The new armored vehicles, now a part of the 405th AFSB's Army Prepositioned Stock-2 Program at Coleman worksite, will enhance U.S. Army Europe and Africa's readiness and capability to support the war fighter while simultaneously promoting stability and security in the region. ... MORE

Over 500 armored vehicles are stored and maintained at the Army Prepositioned Stock-2 worksite on Coleman Barracks – everything from M1 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzers to staff tracked vehicles, armored personnel carriers and more.

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