The Netherlands Minister of Defense Ank Bijleveld announced March 24 during a press conference at the Army Prepositioned Stock-2 (APS-2) Eygelshoven site that the Dutch government has agreed to provide 38 million euros toward facility upgrades and new construction at the U.S. Army’s APS-2 site in the Netherlands. Chargé d’Affaires and acting U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Marja Verloop, also in attendance, echoed Bijleveld’s enthusiasm, stating the visit to the APS-2 site and the announcement made by the Dutch Minister of Defense “is proof of the close, enduring partnership between the Netherlands and the United States of America, especially as it pertains to defense cooperation and defense security.”
The modernization upgrades that are underway here at APS-2 Eygelshoven will improve and facilitate NATO’s rapid deterrence mission. They will reduce deployment timelines and provide additional combat power for contingency operations across Europe. The APS-2 Eygelshoven site stands as a testament to both the U.S. commitment to European security and also to signal the Netherlands is taking its NATO responsibilities seriously. Also in attendance at the event was Royal Netherlands Army Commander Lt. Gen. Martin Wijnen, U.S. Army Europe and Africa Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard, Heaquarters Allied Joint Force Command-Brunssum Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Kramer and several other leaders and distinguished guests.
Following the announcement and press conference, attendees received an APS-2 Eygelshoven capabilities briefing by the 405th AFSB commander and the commander of Army Field Support Battalion-Benelux, Lt. Col. Aaron Jones. Once the briefings were complete and the visiting guests received detailed responses to all their questions, they were given the opportunity to walk the site and see the capabilities and readiness posture of APS-2 Eygelshoven, firsthand. It was there they witnessed the amount of work required to store, maintain and care for hundreds of military vehicles and multiple equipment sets. APS-2 Eygelshoven contains about 450,000 square feet of warehouse space in eight main facilities and about 50,000 square feet of hardstand storage.
The workforce at Eygelshoven consists of mainly a combination of Dutch local nationals, who work for the Ministry of Defense, active duty U.S. Army Soldiers and civilian employees, and several U.S. government contractors. The 405th AFSB’s AFSBn-Benelux is responsible for the APS-2 site at Eygelshoven and another APS-2 site at Zutendaal, Belgium. There are several APS-2 sites under the command and control of the 405th AFSB across Europe. Each APS-2 site has the capability to house and maintain about an Armored Brigade Combat Team’s worth of equipment as well as engineer, artillery, and medical capabilities. APS-2 equipment may also be drawn for use in training and exercises like the upcoming DEFENDER-Europe 21. The APS-2 program enhances U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s readiness and capability to support the warfighter while simultaneously promoting stability and security in the region.
