Senior leadership from U.S. Army Garrison Benelux hosted a Tri-Border Town Hall on Sept. 26, 2022 in Brunssum, The Netherlands. (U.S. Army Garrison Benelux Facebook Page)

Tri-Border Town Hall Summary, Sept. 26, 2022

By the U.S. Army Garrison Benelux Public Affairs Office

USAG BENELUX – BRUNSSUM, Netherlands – Senior leadership from U.S. Army Garrison Benelux hosted a Tri-Border Town Hall alongside local mission partners on Sept. 26, 2022.

USAG Benelux Commander Col. Lindsay R. Matthews, Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Yurgans and USAG Benelux-Brunssum Deputy Garrison Manager Dwayne Key represented the garrison at the event. 

Other tri-border attendees included Maj. Gen. John Boyd, Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations at JFC Brunssum; Col. Kyle Bayless, the U.S. senior national representative for JFC Brunssum; Col. Michelle Artolachipe, Commander, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) Logistics Wing; and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Paquette, Commander of the 470th Air Base Squadron at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany. 

In addition to answering questions from the audience, the attending leadership representatives highlighted support services across USAG Benelux-Brunssum, JFC Brunssum and Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base. 

They also highlighted an ongoing initiative to make USAG Brunssum look and feel like a more welcoming community and asked for suggestions from the community.  

Questions 

Is there any plan to help offset the recent increase in gas and electricity prices?

Solutions for this are being looked at from all levels. The Army is looking into increasing utility authorizations across Europe, especially for Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands since those countries have had the highest increases. 

USAG Benelux-Brunssum leadership is also working with Army Emergency Relief to offer loan and grant options for Soldiers and their Families who need them to cover utility costs.

The Department of Defense is working to ensure all service member needs are met through policy changes to the housing and decreasing the cost of food at the commissary by approximately 3 to 5%. 

The USAG Benelux-Brunssum housing office will also begin offering housing site visits in order to ensure homes are properly prepared for the winter and offer ways to conserve energy.

The 470th Air Base Squadron leadership is also researching ways to reduce energy costs by increasing energy conservation awareness through the Military and Family Readiness Center and housing office.

The Air Force Aid Society is also available to provide financial assistance to Airmen and their Families.

Are there options in place to help Army civilians who are struggling to access and pay for mental health services in the tri-border area? 

Military Family Life Counselors are available on the installations to support Active Duty service members, Army civilians and their dependents. 

Military OneSource is also available online, and Regional Health Command Europe is researching ways to make telehealth and remote health care options more accessible.

The Geilenkirchen U.S. Clinic is also actively working to find mental health service options on the economy for individuals who can’t use the installation services. We will forward this question to them for further information.

Guest sign-on privileges at JFC Brunssum are currently limited to individuals assigned to the installation. Is it possible to expand those privileges to NATO ID card holders assigned to the other installations in the area and use JFC Brunssum’s services?

Currently, individuals who need guest sign-on privileges at JFC Brunssum can work with USAG Benelux leadership and the U.S. Senior Military Representative at JFC Brunssum for assistance. 

JFC Brunssum is also looking to expand sign-on privileges to all U.S. service members assigned to the tri-border area during the next base access policy review.

Is it possible to expand the access hours for the Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base back gate? Also, can those hours be published somewhere?

Hours for the Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base back gate are currently limited, but the goal is to return to normal operating hours around mid-October.

The 470th Air Base Squadron does post gate access updates through multiple outlets, but leadership will look at ways to amplify the notifications to other tri-border installations.

Food options after normal duty hours are currently limited at the tri-border installations. Is it possible to extend the kitchen hours on USAG Benelux-Brunssum? 

Service operating hours on USAG Benelux-Brunssum are based on community needs, so the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) will research if there is wider interest in adjusting kitchen hours.

Currently, locations like the bar do offer smaller food options after hours such as chips and salsa or cheese. Options for parties are also available. Beginning  Oct. 1, The Mine bar at the Hub will be open later on Friday and Saturdays. The FMWR team will gauge demand and develop programming and the community is invited to schedule events.

What is the best way to bring suggestions forward on improving community services in the tri-border area? 

Many locations, such as the commissary, have suggestion boxes or online comment areas where individuals can submit suggestions. 

Suggestions and comments can also be submitted through the Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) system, where they will be reviewed by installation leadership and forwarded to the appropriate location for action.

Tri-border leadership is reviewing multiple suggestions that have been funneled up through the community, but solutions do take time to develop and implement.

Is the movie theater on JFC Brunssum currently showing movies? If so, are there plans to update the website with the current movie schedule?
Due to staffing shortages, the JFC Brunssum movie theater is currently unable to show movies. Leadership is trying to resolve the issue, but there is currently no set date for when movies will return.

The full Tri-Border Town Hall can be viewed here.