major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt) (03/24/89)
From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)
To my knowledge the British also have a 'reserve' component which
they call the "Territorials". These units, made up of former
active duty soldiers are responsible for 'home defence'.
The German Bundeswehr also has a reseve or Territorial force known
as the WBK (Wehrbereitskommando) which is a headquarters-type unit
in each German 'Land' (State) equivilent to our National Guard.
Subordinate units are VBK (Verbereitskommando) which can be military
police units, signal units, light infantry companies, rail and
transportation security, and civil affairs. Their major function in
wartime is to assist NATO in transporting to the battlefields and what
is called "host nation support". The WBK and VBK are usually called
to 'active duty' during REFORGER exercises.
This is what I can remember about the WBK/VBK and the very fine officers
that supported my units in Germany. There may be more information
details that I've omitted (or could be in error).
major
thomasw@vlsi3.cs.concordia.ca (03/29/89)
From: thomasw@vlsi3.cs.concordia.ca In article <5114@cbnews.ATT.COM> ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt) writes: > > [.. stuff about British reserves deleted..] > > The German Bundeswehr also has a reserve or Territorial force known > as the WBK (Wehrbereitskommando) which is a headquarters-type unit > in each German 'Land' (State) equivilent to our National Guard. Actually, the WBK (Wehrbereichskommando, or defense territorial command) is an administrative center in charge of staffing (who gets drafted/assigned to which unit) and supplies, it is not a military command or unit even though the name might imply such. The "territory" referred to is the area the WBK is responsible for, which usually (but not always) follows state boundaries; this, however, is only an administrative zone - the WBK is, like all German military forces, under the command of the (federal) ministry of defense and the defense minister (secretary of defense). There are no state-run military forces equi- valent to the National Guard; police forces, however, are funded, equipped, and commanded separately by each state (with the exception of the federally-run border police, of which GSG-9 (Grenzschutzgruppe 9, or border guard group #9) is a part). > Subordinate units are VBK (Verbereitskommando) which can be military > police units, signal units, light infantry companies, rail and > transportation security, and civil affairs. Their major function in > wartime is to assist NATO in transporting to the battlefields and what > is called "host nation support". The WBK and VBK are usually called > to 'active duty' during REFORGER exercises. > I think VBK stands for Verteidigungsbereichskommando (defense area command), but I'm not sure anymore about its exact function (it's been a while..); in any case, they would not "be called on active duty", but would be the ones who do the calling up of reserves (on orders from the secretary of defense). The units called up for active duty during REFORGER would most likely be coming from the reserves and the territorial army. The reserves are formed by soldiers recently released from active duty and are usually assigned to flesh out existing formations (eg. platoons 3 and 4 of a four-platoon company would be formed from the reserves upon mobilization, while platoons 1 and 2 consist of active-duty soldiers, mostly draftees); usually, draftees are part of the reserves for one year after their release, NCOs and officers for several years. After the release from the reserves, you become part of a territorial army formation until you are released at age 42; territorial army formations have no affiliation with regular army formations, they could probably be compared to the British Home Guard. Members of both reserves and territorial army have most of their gear at home (no guns, though :-(); theoretically, reserves are on 24- or 48-hour alert (I forget which). > This is what I can remember about the WBK/VBK and the very fine officers > that supported my units in Germany. There may be more information > details that I've omitted (or could be in error). > > > major > I'm writing all this from memory and it's been about 10 years, so some of this is a bit fuzzy; correct me where I'm wrong. I also have a question: there is this Army(?) TV commercial I've seen a couple of times in which this guy returns home, obviously after joining the Army against his parents wishes. I noticed he's wearing a crescent-shaped blue shoulder patch saying "1st (?) Mountain Division" on his uniform. I've never heard of this formation elsewhere and would like to learn more about it, ie. about its history, what its intended role is in the scheme of the U.S. military forces (repel invasions from Canada? :-)), any special mountaineering equipment or training they may have and so on. Maybe someone out there could fill me in? Thomas Wieland (formerly with 2nd/221st Gebirgsjagerbattalion, 1st (German) Mountain Division)
major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt) (04/03/89)
From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt) Thomas, Thank you very much for your info on the WBK/VBK - - > "1st (?) Mountain Division" This is the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Fort Drum, NY. I don't know much more about it. It's probably formed with 2 active brigades and a 'round-out' National Guard or Reserve third brigade. I believe, historicaly, the 10th Mtn Div operated in Italy during WWII. I'll have to do some research. I believe MG Carpenter (West Point's football 'lonesome end') was the first CG when they actived the 10th a couple of years ago. > (formerly with 2nd/221st Gebirgsjagerbattalion, > 1st (German) Mountain Division) Is the tradition still alive that, for a German Mountain Trooper to show his 'true love' for his girlfriend, that he must climb a mountain and pick an edelweiss and bring it back to her. (Even though the edelweiss flower is protected.) major mike (former G2 Liaison to the 35th PanzerGrenadier Brigade)