(RepublicanInformer.com)- Following the discovery that many members of a United States Army brigade stationed in Germany had broken the law by using electric scooters while under the influence of alcohol, the division has been temporarily restricted to the barracks and forbidden from ingesting alcohol.
According to Stars and Stripes, the soldiers of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division are the latest of many off-duty U.S. troops who ran afoul of German law while riding electric scooters. German authorities regulate electric scooters as motor vehicles when alcohol is involved, and German law prohibits riding electric scooters while under the influence of alcohol. According to a spokeswoman for the brigade, the ordinance’s primary purpose is to instill and enforce discipline.
Maintaining a high level of order and discipline among our formations is very necessary for the success of our mission in the European theater of operations. According to a statement released on Wednesday by the spokesperson, Maj. Patrick Connelly, these constraints will guarantee that we can keep our mission readiness and continue to be good guests with our host nation.
According to CNN, an additional Army spokesman named John Tomassi, who represents U.S. forces in Europe, stated that the restrictions that were instituted on July 7 to prohibit alcohol consumption and overnight travel would remain in place until the entire brigade is retrained on obeying German DUI laws.
According to Stars and Stripes, the brigade, consisting of around 3,000 soldiers, was among those dispatched to Europe in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The mission of these troops was to discourage additional action by Russia.
In March, Bavarian leader Markus Soeder arranged for the welcome breakfasts and delivery of 4,000 sausages to the brigade to express gratitude for the brigade’s sacrifices. On Wednesday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the first German president to visit the United States armed personnel stationed in Germany since 1996.
During a speech he gave to the soldiers, he remarked, “What you do here, each and every one of you, is of existential significance to the security of my nation, my people, our continent, and our alliance.” He was addressing the soldiers directly.
