For the first time, the U.S. Army has activated its Army Prepositioned Stock-2 (APS-2) reserves. At the conclusion of the Cold War, the U.S. military presence in Europe was reduced, but strategic stockpiles have been maintained ever since in the event that a crisis breaks out.
The APS-2 reserves have been in existence since the 1990s, and include enough war material to outfit two armor brigades and two mechanized infantry brigades.
The 405th Army Field Support Brigade has now fully activated the APS-2 reserve sites in order to outfit the incoming 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division which will be deployed to Germany, according to an Army press release.
The 405th is at work at the APS-2 Coleman work site in Mannheim, Germany while troops from the 3rd Infantry Division arrive at the Grafenwoehr Training Area also in Germany. The vehicles and equipment being drawn from the reserves are being loaded onto commercial rail lines and trucks for transportation.
Some of the equipment the Army is drawing and shipping includes the, "M1 Abrams main battle tank and M2 Bradley fighting vehicle, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, Paladins, generators, Palletized Load Systems and Load Handling Systems, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks," according to Army.mil.
"We’ve put a lot of work into planning this out to the smallest of details, and all this planning is helping to make this operation successful," said 405th AFSB commander Col. Brad Bane. "I’m very proud of our entire team. They’re working tirelessly to execute this complex, no-notice mission."
Since February, more than 600 pieces of military equipment have been drawn from APS-2.
Reach Jack Murphy: jack@connectingvets.com or @JackMurphyRGR.
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