US military and joint service command officials saluted their German counterparts in a ceremony Sept. 28, thanking them for their three-year contribution in performing entry control and vehicle search duties at US Air Forces in Europe bases. The last German guard left Ramstein Air Base Sept. 27. German base security force levels peaked in April 2003, with 4,130 Germans guarding 66 US military installations in Germany. The Germans’ effort freed up thousands of US security forces and other key USAF personnel to deploy in support of the Global War on Terror.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.