 |
| In an April 22 statement addressed to NSGA Bremerhaven military personnel and civilian employees, Captain John Jennings, commanding officer, announced that this activity will be "formally disestablished as a major command of the Navy shore establishment on June 30, 1972..." Preparations for the disestablishment are underway and are expected to be completed later this year. The announcement came following several months of persistent rumors that NSGA Bremerhaven, largest of the Navy's security group activities, was to be deactivated. Capt. Jennings stated that, "On April 3, 1972, the Secretary of Defense authorized the disestablishment and the partial relocation of our activity. The decision was taken as part of budget reductions worldwide. On April 21, 1972, this information was delivered to the government of the Federal Republic of Germany and subsequently released to us." Although the command will be formally disestablished on June 30, operations will probably be conducted beyound that date, and personnel will be leaving during the period from May to late 1972, many Navy men will be going to the NSGA detachment at Augsburg, Germany, and to NSGA Edzell, Scotland. As a result of the Bremerhaven disestablishment, the detachment at Augsburg will achieve command status, becoming NSGA Augsburg. The Company "F" Marine Support Battalion will be relocated at the Naval Station at Rota, Spain. Approximately 900 dependents of Navy and Marine Corps personnel will be affected by the disestablishment and relocation. Families remaining in Bremerhaven while their husbands seek housing at the relocation sites will be allowed to remain in their present quarters. Capt. Jennings also stated that, "During the challenging days ahead, we will have three primary goals; (1) To keep the mission accomplishment at its present high level. (2) To keep all hands fully informed and assist each man and his family to overcome the difficulties of relocation. (3) To make every effort to obtain continued employment opportunities with the U.S. Forces for our civilian employees, some of whom have served the U.S. Navy with dedication for many years." With regard to civilian employees, it was also stated that they will be notified of their individual employment status as soon as possible. Although NSGA Bremerhaven will be disestablished in Bremerhaven, it was emphasized that the move could be more accurately described as a relocation, rather than a cessation of operations. Of the 700 Navy and Marine corps billets currently allocated to NSGA Bremerhaven, approximately half will be transferred to Augsburg, Edzell, or Rota. The commanding officer concluded his statement by saying, "I would like to stress that the unpleasant action being taken is in no way a feflection on our enviable performance record. It is simply a matter of resource reductions and resultant consolidations." As a result of this activity's relocation, approximately 130 personnel have become eligible for early release from active duty, or an "early out". It is expected that while a large percentage of those personnel involved will elect an "early out", some are career oriented and will remain in the service. Navy personnel are eligible to receive early releases of up to either six or 12 months, depending on their ratings. Those receiving an "early out" of up to 12 months are members of the Communications Technician rating having an expiration of active obligated service (EAOS) date falling on or after July 1, 1972 and before July 1, 1973. Personnel of all other ratings are eligible for an "early out" if they have less than six months of active service remaining after the date on which their service is no longer required at this command. |
