European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces vol. 49, no. 159. Thursday september 20,1990 a Good orning 25t daily and sunday d 8693 a oktoberfest party time in Munich a stripes Magazine a desert devotions a saudi Soldier kneels in prayer on Egypt Syria and Kuwait Are patrolling tuesday while fellow Arab soldiers Hafar Al Batin near saudi arabians watch from their tank. Forces from Border with Iraq. 31 army units leaving Europe in two Waves by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer thirteen . Army battalions and 10 companies or batteries Are scheduled to leave Europe by March 1, according to a list released wednesday. Another eight battalions will withdraw by May 1. Soldiers in the 31 affected units were informed of their Fate tuesday in anticipation of the announcement a . Army Europe spokesman said wednesday. Three More increments of withdrawals Are planned for fiscal 1991, and units to go in later rounds Are expected to be notified around january. Of the 31 units scheduled to withdraw or inactivate 11 belong to Vii clips 12 to v corps six to 32nd army air defense come one to the Berlin brigade and one to the 7th engr brigade. See Chart Page 4. A some of the soldiers in these units will stay in Usa eur some will go Back to the United states and some May get an Early release from the . Army said Gen. Crosbie e. Saint Usa eur commander. A so As i talk about the unit going Back to the United states i mean the preponderance of the  in a recorded broadcast on an television Saint praised the professionalism and patience of troops in Europe. A i want you to know that i know that waiting for the word was difficult and worrisome a Saint said a and you know its not Over yet. A we now have our work Cut out for us As we build Down in an orderly fashion maintaining the Quality of the Force and at the same time for those forces still on duty Here to keep up our training to see units on Back Page support units gearing up for draw Down of troops by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer Heidelberg West Germany a soldiers and their families transferring to the United states As a result of troop reductions probably will find the process much like the moves they re used to according to information released tuesday. Soldiers from units chosen to inactivate will travel on individual orders and not move in Masse to stateside army posts. Units will move together to the Aerial port of embarkation then split up see support on Back Page base closing list reflects plans for future military experts say by David Tarrant Brussels Bureau Brussels Belgium a military planners say three especially critical factors went into the Pentagon a selection of overseas . Facilities to close fiscal realities future military risks and modernization needs. A total of 127 Sites will be turned Over to Host governments and 23 will be scaled Down Pentagon officials announced tuesday. From an operational viewpoint the choices reflect what . Forces will look like following the conventional arms control treaty expected to be signed later this year according to a Belgium based american military source. From a fiscal aspect it makes sense to retain Sites where the defense department has recently invested heavily in the military Community and Quality of life programs. A and those most Modem ones like Nimberg Are certainly not going to close a said the source who requested anonymity. The third consideration a modernization a Means the Pentagon wanted to keep those installations that have been on the leading Edge of recent modernization programs. Military officials held repeated meetings with Host nation representatives and in Many cases there was a meeting of minds that served the interests of both the Host Community and the military. Since july 18, . Ambassador to West Germany Vemon Walters and other . Officials have met nine times with West German officials to discuss base closures. Additional informal discussions about . Realignment plans took place throughout the year. Walters said the United states seeks to balance reductions among geographic regions thereby distributing the defense Burden. Nato officials were not surprised by the extent of the list. The cutbacks Are seen by nato As an Extension of the arms control talks in Vienna Austria known As the conventional forces Europe negotiations. Reductions because of the cafe talks a have been and remain the subject of intensive consultations in the Alliance a a nato spokesman said. A we Hope for the successful conclusion of a cafe treaty by the end of this year and that countries Aresee closing on Back Page Sarteur celebrating Unity with oct. 3 off Heidelberg West Germany a soldiers will be Given a Day off oct. 3 to celebrate the German unification that officials say . Army Europe helped to bring about. A a it a highly appropriate for Usa eur soldiers and civilians to be Given the Opportunity to participate with our German friends and comrades in arms in celebrating the rebirth of a United democratic and free Germany a said Benton g. Moeller assistant Deputy chief of staff for Host nation activities. Usa eur has played a major role in bringing about the end of the cold War and the unification of Germany Moeller said. Commanders have been authorized to operate with minimal staffing and give compensatory time to soldiers who must work oct. 3. Civilians Are encouraged to take annual leave or use compensatory time. Gen. Crosbie e. Saint Usa eur and 7 the army commander extended his thanks to the commands soldiers for a a Job Well done a a Usa eur statement said wednesday