# Over 54,000 American troops in Germany. What do they do all day? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840 "2013-01-20T22:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/1 "2013-01-20T22:44:49Z")
And what exactly is their mission in 2013? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/2 "2013-01-20T22:46:33Z")
Whoring and drinking. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/3 "2013-01-20T22:47:23Z")
Make sure the Russkies don’t take West Berlin, of course. OK, not really. These days their job is to be an army base in Europe. That means supporting US and NATO military missions around the world with logistics, supplies, medical facilities, JAG officers, communications infrastructure, and places to park tanks and stuff. Germany is a lot closer to many spots where our military is deployed. ETA: Also whoring and drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/4 "2013-01-20T22:57:48Z")
What do they do all day? Much the same sorts of things that troops stationed in the US do, despite a lack of Indian Wars to keep them occupied. Sitting around motor pools, filling out piles of paperwork, manning hospitals or cooking tasteless slop, depending on their job. For the US, there’s a big advantage of having combat units placed much closer to possible developing situations in a different area of the world: deploying troops to North Africa from Italy or Germany takes a matter of a couple of hours, rather than a day of travel for troops state-side, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/5 "2013-01-20T23:01:15Z")
I thought they were winding down US involvement there. I know the Heidelberg base closed recently. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/6 "2013-01-20T23:13:25Z")
Consuming tax money to make it easier to fight the war we’ll have for the next generation. The US has yet to raise a generation in peace. Think about that. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/7 "2013-01-20T23:52:14Z")
According to Wikipedia, here are lists of the American bases in Germany separated by service: > **[List of United States Army installations in Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_installations_in_Germany)** > > The United States Army has over 40 military installations in Germany, two of which are scheduled to close. Over 220 others have already been closed, mostly following the end of the Cold War in the 1990s. The rationale behind the large number of closures is that the strategic functions of the bases, designed to serve as forward posts in any war against the USSR, are no longer relevant since the end of the Cold War. > The United States Armed Forces were initially organized as USEFT (United States ... > **[United States Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Forces,_Europe)** > > Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa (abbreviated as MARFOREUR/AF), headquartered in Panzer Kaserne-Barracks in Böblingen, Germany, is the U.S. Marine Corps component of the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. > In February 1980 the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations revised the operational task sharing between the two branches in a memorandum. Hitherto the USMC had a supporting role within United States Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR). When that agreement ca... > **[United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forces_in_Europe)** > > The United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) is a United States Air Force (USAF) major command (MAJCOM) and a component command of both United States European Command (USEUCOM) and United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM). As part of its mission, USAFE-AFAFRICA commands U.S. Air Force units pledged to NATO, maintaining combat-ready wings based from the United Kingdom to Turkey. USAFE-AFAFRICA plans, conducts, controls, coordinates and supports air and space opera... So there is one Marine base in Germany, two Air Force bases, and no Navy bases. There are a lot of Army bases, but quite a few of them are scheduled to close within the next two years. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/8 "2013-01-21T01:17:27Z")
You know who else had troops in Germany? Hey, someone had to say it, and I think the question has been answered. ---
**Author:** ![solosam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/9 "2013-01-21T01:22:44Z")
Ummm… same thing troops do while CONUS. They go to work, train, and support strategic missions. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/10 "2013-01-21T01:24:33Z")
Pretty much the same as the 47,000 in Japan? ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/11 "2013-01-21T01:25:53Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > The US has yet to raise a generation in peace. Think about that. Seems prudent to leave some troops in Europe, then. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/12 "2013-01-21T01:30:00Z")
Peace is over-rated. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/13 "2013-01-21T01:31:28Z")
They’re a safe home base and a forward operations base into the Middle East. You wouldn’t want to make every flight in and out of Afghanistan a direct flight to Maguire (in NJ), now, would you? And our share of NATO forces. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/14 "2013-01-21T02:06:50Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > Seems prudent to leave some troops in Europe, then. :rolleyes: Agreed “some troops”, but fifty-four THOUSAND? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/15 "2013-01-21T02:14:53Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Whoring and drinking. MODERATOR WARNING. **LOACH**. You’re not some newbie. This was a serious question asked in General Questions. A joke answer isn’t what we need the first thing. Go and sin no more. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/16 "2013-01-21T02:15:08Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > Pretty much the same as the 47,000 in Japan? I suppose I could see the US troops in Japan being useful in backing up the 20,000 US troops in South Korean should North Korea do something stupid. Also the growing Chinese military is another reason the US troops in Japan may become useful at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/17 "2013-01-21T02:18:09Z")
I often think how weird it would be for another nation to have troops permanently stationed in the US. For one thing, it would certainly color my opinion of them politically. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/18 "2013-01-21T02:21:55Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > According to Wikipedia, here are lists of the American bases in Germany separated by service: > > [List of United States Army installations in Germany - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_installations_in_Germany) > > [United States Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Forces,_Europe) > > [United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Forces_in_Europe) > > So there is one Marine base in Germany, two Air Force bases, and no Navy bases. There are a lot of Army bases, but quite a few of them are scheduled to close within the next two years. [del]US Navy Europe - Souda Bay, Sigonella, Gaeta, and Naples. All active and open.[/del] ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/19 "2013-01-21T02:30:19Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I often think how weird it would be for another nation to have troops permanently stationed in the US. For one thing, it would certainly color my opinion of them politically. Those wily Canadians have a permanent detachment at NORAD, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840/20 "2013-01-21T02:31:19Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > MODERATOR WARNING. > > **LOACH**. > > You’re not some newbie. This was a serious question asked in General Questions. A joke answer isn’t what we need the first thing. > > Go and sin no more. > > **samclem** , moderator As someone who was stationed in Germany for two years I stand by my answer. We did other stuff too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-54-000-american-troops-in-germany-what-do-they-do-all-day/647840.md?page=2)