Army brigade confined to base and barred from drinking alcohol after scooter incidents

Brady Knox

July 14, 11:09 PM July 14, 11:27 PM

A U.S. Army brigade in Germany has been temporarily confined to the barracks and banned from consuming alcohol after several of its soldiers were found to have illegally driven electric scooters while under the influence.

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, which authorities regulate as motor vehicles when alcohol is involved, according to Stars and Stripes. A spokesman for the brigade said the ordinance is intended to maintain discipline.

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“It is vital to our mission in the European theater of operations that we uphold good order and discipline within our formations. These restrictions will ensure we maintain our mission readiness and remain good guests with our host nation," Maj. Patrick Connelly, the spokesman, said in a statement Wednesday.

Another Army spokesman, John Tomassi, representing U.S. forces in Europe, said the restrictions banning alcohol consumption and overnight travel, instituted on July 7, will be held in place until the entire brigade is retrained on obeying German DUI laws, according to CNN.

The brigade, comprising around 3,000 soldiers, was among those sent to Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, intended to deter further Russian aggression, according to Stars and Stripes.

The brigade has garnered the attention of German officials previously, albeit for positive reasons. Bavarian leader Markus Soeder organized the delivery of 4,000 sausages and welcome breakfasts in March to thank the brigade for their contributions to European security. On Wednesday, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, also thanking the soldiers, became the first German president to visit the U.S. armed forces in Germany since 1996.

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"What you do here, each and every one of you, is of existential importance to the security of my country, my people, our continent, and our alliance," he said in a speech addressing the soldiers.