Operational Readiness Training Center construction hits milestone with groundbreaking

TOWER BARRACKS, Germany - U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria reached a significant milestone in the development of the Operational Readiness Training Center with a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 19, celebrating the transition from foundational infrastructure to vertical construction.

The construction of the ORTC complex began August 2023. A major milestone was recently achieved with the completion of the infrastructure backbone for the first and second battalion sets, including roads, utilities, and drainage systems, setting the stage for vertical construction.

With the foundational infrastructure complete, the groundbreaking ceremony officially started above-ground construction. The first phase of this includes a four-story barracks for more than 300 Soldiers-the first of 14 planned barracks-along with a heating plant, an area distribution node, a two-story officer quarters, and a physical fitness facility. This set of projects is expected to be completed by February 2029.

"As a Garrison Commander, it is a pleasure to see the garrison grow, improve, and enable warfighting readiness at such speed," said Col. Stephen C. Flanagan, USAG Bavaria garrison commander. "The ORTC adds another outstanding facility complex to our premier training area that will better prepare our Soldiers for future conflicts and to defend the democracy and freedom we all hold dear."

This multibillion-dollar program will enhance the readiness of U.S. and partner forces by replacing outdated 1950s facilities at Camps Aachen, Normandy, Algier, and Kasserine.

"This is all part of the overall program which exceeds a billion dollars of investment in operational readiness and training complex facilities that ultimately support 5,000 soldiers, expand our ability to do capacity for large scale training rotations, modernize this important power projection platform, improve quality of life for Soldiers in the process and ultimately strengthen U.S. and allied readiness, interoperability and lethality," said Col. Dan Kent, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Europe District, commander.

The ORTC program at USAG Bavaria is a testament to the strong German-American partnership and is advancing through a collaborative efforts to deliver high-quality facilities that strengthen U.S. and allied readiness.

"A massive complex effort like this can't be undertaken alone. It requires a dedicated team. I want to thank the team that's been instrumental in this project," said Kent during his remarks.

This initiative is executed by partners including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Europe District, the garrison's department of public works, the Bavarian State Construction Office Amberg-Sulzbach, the German Construction Administration, and various host nation companies.

"Today, just before Christmas and even before the year 2025 ends, we are celebrating the groundbreaking ceremony for the barracks of Phase 1," said Elisabeth Buecherl-Beer, deputy chief of the State Construction Office, Amber Sulzbach and chief building construction. "I sincerely wish the construction site success and an accident-free course. I wish us all Merry Christmas and a good and healthy new year with further exciting construction tasks. On that we build!"

For more information on the ORTC project visit:

• https://www.army.mil/article/269109/transformative_project_at_graf_breaks_ground_first_step_in_dozens_of_new_buildings_for_rotational_troops
• https://www.army.mil/article/286002/ortc_construction_will_reinforce_readiness_lethality_for_troops_rotating_through_usag_bavaria