Photo By Kristin Savage | Col. Patrick Hofmann, Commander of the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Benelux, in...... read more read more
SHAPE, Belgium - Col. Patrick Hofmann, Commander of the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Benelux, in partnership with Lt. Col. William Appleby, Deputy U.S. National Military Representative (USNMR), Col. Andrew Croy, SHAPE Base Support Group (BSG) Commander and Col. Chuck Douglas, SHAPE and Brussels Healthcare Facility Commander, hosted a community town hall on Feb. 21, 2025, at the SHAPE Club.
Hofmann started by explaining the Town Hall would focus on services provided, community engagement, ways to improve the community and upcoming plans and projects.
Hofmann explained that construction is finished around Gate 1 and is anticipated to remain open for the foreseeable future. There will be additional construction on Chièvres Air Base with upcoming infrastructure changes happening now to pave the way for the Army Family Housing project. It will be a couple of years before the housing project begins but for now there will be utility upgrades happening around the future sites of the homes.
Hofmann also highlighted the need for feedback from the community. The Garrison regularly communicates with the local mayors in Chièvres and Brugelette to forecast future needs of the community for planning purposes.
USAG Benelux participated in a Force Protection Exercise recently which impacted gate access. Hofmann thanked the community for their cooperation and understanding. These exercises are to ensure we keep our bases secure and our families safe.
Hofmann noted the changes happening with the U.S. and Belgian governments and is implementing changes as they come down through the chain of command. To stay up to date on new developments, visit our website – home.army.mil/benelux or visit our Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram pages by searching USAG Benelux.
The BSG commander Col. Andrew Croy provided information on upcoming changes to the SHAPE community. Around mid-March, bicyclist will have 24/7 access through the Ottawa gates and later, a similar system will be in place to allow cyclist 24/7 access through Luxembourg gate. There are plans to create a bicycle path on SHAPE in the near future.
Croy also talked about the construction of the new Event Center on SHAPE. The new Event Center will be accessible throughout the day and available for meetings, national events or used as a gathering space. The goal is to have it open and ready for events by early June.
Another significant change happening on SHAPE is the plan to move B3’s Sports Bar to the SHAPE Club by the summer of 2025. This change will allow more services to be provided to the community such as food and drink options.
The other major upgrade discussed was the upgrades to the Pizza Bowl. Within the last year new pins and new machines were added; new lanes and new approaches will be added this year with funding assistance from MWR.
A new headquarters building for SHAPE is on its way and the contours of the installation will change dramatically over the next six to eight years. The first step will be to demolish a vacant building and build a new track in its place. Once the new track is in place, the old track will be demolished and construction on the new headquarters building will begin.
Croy ended his portion of the updates by thanking the community for their feedback and emphasizing the importance of listening to feedback from the community.
Col. Chuck Douglas, SHAPE Healthcare Facility commander opened by providing updates on staffing. Staffing shortages have been a persistent challenge for both the SHAPE and Brussels clinics, as well as around the world. Although this is not a unique situation, it becomes more magnified because of the size of the facilities. There may be a reduction in appointment availability as four physicians prepare to leave but the there is work being done to expedite inbound physicians. The US-led clinic are working with other NATO clinics to help offset the shortages.
Being aware of the upcoming shortages, Douglas recommended getting school and sport physicals completed before the reduction of staff and services begins this summer. Additionally, if there is a service member inbound with specific medical needs, getting them addressed before arrival will reduce the wait time.
To schedule a school or sports physical contact +32 (0) 65 44 5886 or DSN 423-5886, for NATO Active Duty and Tricare Prime/Plus beneficiaries only.
There are also host nation medical facilities that SHAPE collaborates with to consider. The clinic is also working with the Tricare Overseas Office to approve primary care facilities off base.
Despite shortages in the last 12 months, there have been more than 18,000 appointments in the US-led clinic and over 340 pediatric appointments despite having only one pediatrician. Maintaining access and care is the top priority during these shortages.
After almost two years, two weeks ago, US Army MEDCOM Deputy Surgeon General approved a permanently assigned military behavioral health care provider. The provider will be able to take care of child and adult behavioral health needs.
Since transferring to MHS Genesis has been fully implemented, Tricare Online patient portal is going to be shutting down at the end of March. Medical records should be pulled before March 31, it will be inaccessible after that date.
Follow the SHAPE Healthcare Facility and Brussels Health Clinic to keep up to date on changes.
Hofmann announced upcoming events for the next month:
Mar. 28: Passport Rodeo on Chievres Air Base (tourist passports only)
Mar. 31: Deadline for the Overseas Housing Allowance Survey
Mar. 5: Crossage in Chievres, contact USAG Benelux Public Affairs to register
Apr. 11-13: Spring Bazaar and Eggstravaganza (NATO Partners authorized to shop on April 12)
At this point, the commanders opened the floor to any questions from the participants present or online.
Q1. Are COVID boosters available at the Healthcare Facility
A1. There was a limited amount of COVID boosters available in Europe this year, so the priority was on healthcare facility staff and active-duty service members.
Q2. What can civilians access at the Healthcare Facility?
A2. The healthcare facility is only resourced for active-duty service members and their assigned families. Deliberate decisions are made in terms of who qualifies for space available categories. Although space availability is a small percentage, it’s a resource that will continue to be offered despite staff constraints.
Q3. Where can we find more information on the Brussels Consolidation?
A3. Those are all internal documents. On Brussels Main where all the services are, they are consolidating the services into one half of the installation, moving all the services into one building. It’s a cost saving decision that will save the government two million dollars each year. This phase of the consolidation is anticipated to be completed by the end of September this year. The USAG Benelux in Brussels Town Hall will take place on Mar. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Brussels Unit School.
Q4. Are there any plans to improve quality of life for personnel living in the Chièvres barracks?
A4. Financials and space are two factors that determine what can be provided in the barracks. Every quarter there is a Town Hall in the barracks, Command Sgt. Maj. Malcolm Coley will take down this question and get an answer for the next event, Mar. 21, 2025.
Q5. When is Grandma’s Attic going to re-open?
A5. Grandma’s Attic is currently in the middle of an audit and working towards getting paperwork updated. The goal is to re-open in the next 30 to 60 days. The Garrison recognizes their significance to the community and is working towards expediting the process.
Q6. Is there any talk about getting a flight doctor available for Air Force?
A6. There is a flight doctor who is qualified at the Brussels Health Clinic. Col. Douglas will take back the question to see what can be done to assist in the future at the SHAPE Healthcare Facility.
Q7. When the track on Chièvres is demolished during renovations of the new Army Family Housing, will there be another available?
A7. The track on Chievres will be demolished as part of the Army Family Housing plan, phase one. Once the homes are complete the Garrison will look at plans for developing the community on Chièvres to include a new track.
Q8. Is there a possibility to do Navy Flight Physicals at the SHAPE Healthcare Facility?
A8. The healthcare facility would like to support this request. Each service focuses on their own flight status personnel and requirements. Col. Douglas will address these requests on a case-by-case basis with the requestor to see what can be accomplished.
Q9. Could USAG Benelux consider opening an AAFES Shopette on Chievres?
A9. AAFES can consider putting a Shopette in place once the Army Family Housing project is complete. At this time, there are no plans in place for one on Chièvres.
USAG Benelux would like to expand food and drink options in the Lodge and the barracks and is open to suggestions from the community on what options they would like to have available.
Q10. Are there plans to allocate and prioritize more housing for Americans to live in on SHAPE?
A10. The BSG has to provide care for 32 Allies and 36 Partners that are represented on SHAPE. By the summer of 2026, there will be 600 dwellings on SHAPE between apartments and homes. They are provided initially on a first come, first serve basis, then based on family requirements. There is a survey available for inbounds and although it does not guarantee a spot, it does help manage inventory and will get inbound personnel on a waiting list.
Q11. Are there plans to create a place where people can just hang out with their friends?
A11. Historically, the Event Center on SHAPE was a place where nations can rent it out for different events. Our vision is to create a community Event Center. Nations can still rent it for larger events, but it will be staffed during the day and provide a space for organic meetings throughout the week. This new plan will be implemented starting this summer and adjust as needed with feedback from the community.
Q12. If the landlord sells the house someone is living in, who is responsible for the cost of the move? Are there any resources available locally to help with the move if the tenant is responsible?
A12. The answer to this depends on if the tenant is civilian or military and covered under a military lease. Personnel experiencing this issue should contact the appropriate housing office to find out more information.
Franz Slayton from the housing office announced a survey for those living in the barracks or Army Family Housing to be launched Mar. 3. The responses from the survey will help the housing office determine if any improvements need to be made and it’s anonymous.
The Vice President of the United States Events and Community Organization (USECO) highlighted the upcoming events, Make-A-Wish and SHAPE Fest. Make-A-Wish will take place on Jun. 6 to Jun. 7, 2025, and SHAPE Fest will take place the first weekend of September. For U.S. personnel who want to get involved you can contact Tony Polzer at Tony@Polzer.me or the US NMR Public Affairs Representative at timothy.r.kirchner2.mil@army.mil. The next volunteer coordination meeting for the U.S. will take place on Mar. 4 at 2 p.m. in the ACS conference room.
The USAG Benelux Education Center at SHAPE is offering in-person classes. Evening classes will take place at the barrack and lunchtime classes will be offered at the SHAPE Education Center through the University of Maryland Global campus. Contact the SHAPE Education Center to learn more.
An online participant thanked the BSG for their improvement with the registration section processing and thanked the retiree support team for their work.
The Commanders thanked everyone for their participation and attendance.
The recording and transcript of this Town Hall are available at
https://armyeitaas-my.sharepoint-mil.us/:v:/g/personal/sarah_e_lopez1_civ_army_mil/ESeYzvmfFkZHmaUgDeHjszYBdpuJZdfIWbhHi-PkyaTdNw?referrer=Teams.TEAMS-ELECTRON&referrerScenario=MeetingChicletGetLink.view
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2025 02:24 |
| Story ID: | 491537 |
| Location: | HAINAUT (WAL), BE |
| Web Views: | 26 |
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