EINSEIDLERHOF AIR STATION, Germany -- Interoperability doesn’t just happen in the skies, but on the ground as well.
This past year a unique partnership between the Warrior Preparation Center, the German Federal Forestry and the KMC Outdoorsmen led to the restoration of a $3.5 million nighttime combat training center.
Detachment 3, also known as POLYGONE, is a unit within the Warrior Preparation Center, Einseidlerhof Air Station, Germany, dedicated to providing the best readiness training possible for aircrew assigned to U.S. and NATO forces.
In late 2019, the overpopulation of wild boar in the area of the Husterhöhe Kaserne range in Pirmasens, Germany, became a clear threat to the safety of personnel, training capabilities and the surrounding environment. Additionally, the destruction caused by the boars lead to the closure of a nighttime training system and visible damage to the area.
The training system closure of the Multinational Aircrew Electronic Warfare Tactics Facility affected the training capabilities of units assigned to all four U.S. service branches stationed in Germany and the armed forces of five other NATO nations.
“U.S., NATO, and Partner for Peace nation aircrew all have specific nighttime flying currencies that they must maintain to be combat mission ready,” said Lt. Col. Jesse Palchick, POLYGONE director of operations. “Roughly speaking, because every nation and flying weapon system have different flying currency nomenclatures, nighttime missions with POLYGONE enable maintenance of currency in defensive maneuvers, suppression of enemy air defenses, and air operations in a non-permissive environment after end evening nautical twilight.”
With the overpopulation becoming more evident, Palchick contacted Nathan Waters, the president of the Kaiserslautern Military Community Outdoorsmen, Ramstein Air Base’s volunteer advisory council for hunting, fishing, and sport shooting, to ask if the hunting program would be able to assist in some way.
Waters agreed to survey the land with Palchick to assess damage and a plan.
The depletion of resources was evident to Waters. He described that beyond the damage to the facility, the boars’ presence posed a significant threat to the plants and animals in the area. Vegetation was over-eaten and it left other animal populations to starve.
“When we first scouted the area, we found damage caused by wildlife as well as bodies of wild animals that had starved to death because the natural food sources could not support the overpopulation of wildlife,” Waters said.
The aggressive growth of the boar population also increased the threat of African swine fever, an aggressive disease that kills almost 100% of the swine that contract it. An outbreak of ASF in Germany could have had serious effects on the German environment and the pork industry.
Recognizing the importance of the training center and the long-lasting threat of the boar population on the surrounding habitat, Waters and Brandon Cowell, 86th Operations Support Squadron, C-130J Super Hercules site manager and the KMC Outdoorsmen hunting coordinator, began contacting all the involved organizations to start working toward a plan.
The effort to contain the boar population required extensive coordination with several organizations. The KMC Outdoorsmen worked with the U.S. Air Force, German air force, German Federal Forestry Office and POLYGONE leadership to help design the best possible solution.
Two of the biggest considerations were the current combat training schedule and the German Federal Forestry regulations. Since the land is owned by Germany, all hunting had be in accordance with local and national wildlife regulations. The hunting also could not disrupt any other training at the facility.
Upon the approval of the final permits and contracts for hunting on the German-owned land, the team put their plan into full effect. Members of the KMC Outdoorsmen were able to start reducing the boar population surrounding the Pirmasens facility, ensuring the safety of personnel, wildlife and equipment.
Within a few months, the facility was able to resume operations. U.S. and NATO service members were once again able to train in nighttime operations and increase the potential for future interoperability missions.
The improving health of the surrounding environment also became clear as the program continued.
“We saw more mushrooms and fruits in the woods which allowed other animals in the area to prosper,” Cowell said. “When we first got to the place, there was nothing left on the ground for any of the other animals to graze on. By reducing the boar population, we've been able to return a lot of the environment to a more healthy biosphere.”
The strong relationship between U.S. service members and their host nation partners allows all parties to work together to accomplish any mission. Because of this program, the German Federal Forestry Office is gaining environmental data that will affect future decisions and programs.
“Military installations take up a lot of land,” Waters said. “I think this is a great example of how we can work together with our host nation to find that balance between U.S. and NATO mission readiness while maintaining a thriving natural ecosystem full of native plants and wildlife.”
The hunting program will remain diligent to maintain the results they have achieved and in the eyes of Palchick, this will not be problem.
“The Ramstein Hunting program provided immediate and professional help to the POLYGONE and its mission,” Palchick said. “So much so, that both organizations are planning for a continued and long lasting relationship.”