---
title: "US Shifts Ukrainian Military Training in Germany to a Permanent Basis: What Is Changing"
description: "The US is shifting Ukrainian military training in Germany from a rotational format to a permanent basis: instead of temporary brigades, active U.S. Army units and the 7th Army Training Command will take over."
date: 2026-10-20T16:32:32.793Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-shifts-ukrainian-training-germany-permanent
tags: [ukraine-war, us-army, military-training, germany, nato, grafenwoehr]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# US Shifts Ukrainian Military Training in Germany to a Permanent Basis: What Is Changing

![A group of Ukrainian soldiers in camouflage with weapons walking through a forest during training](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/20/ssha-perevodyat-podgotovku-ukrainskih-voennyh-v-germanii-na-postoyannuyu-osnovu/ssha-perevodyat-podgotovku-ukrainskih-voennyh-v-germanii-na-postoyannuyu-osnovu-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The 86th Infantry Brigade of the US National Guard from Vermont concluded its rotation leading the mission in Grafenwoehr
- Training in Bavaria will now be led by active U.S. Army units and the 7th Army Training Command
- The changes are part of a broader reorganization for more efficient resource utilization
- The mission has existed since 2015: first in Yavoriv, and since 2022, in Grafenwoehr

The United States Armed Forces are changing the format of their support for the training of Ukrainian military personnel in Germany. The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the U.S. Army National Guard from Vermont concluded its rotation leading the training mission for Ukrainian forces on Thursday. The transfer ceremony took place at Tower Barracks in the German town of Grafenwoehr. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Stars and Stripes.

### Rotation Concluded: What Specifically Is Changing

According to Stars and Stripes, the key change is that the training of Ukrainian military personnel in Bavaria at U.S. military bases and training grounds will no longer be led by a rotational unit, but by active U.S. Army units stationed in Europe and Africa, as well as the 7th Army Training Command. These structures are already in the region, which Washington intends to use to ensure a more stable and predictable training process, free from the constraints of rotation cycles.

### Who Will Take Over the Training

The transition to a permanent basis means that permanent commands, rather than temporary brigades arriving for a limited term, will be responsible for the quality and continuity of training for Ukrainian specialists. The senior U.S. Army representative in Europe, Colonel Michael Weissman, stated that the ceremony casing the colors of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine "marks a change in the approach to supporting our Ukrainian partners' training, shifting it to a more permanent and sustainable footing." He emphasized that these changes do not reduce the volume of U.S. Army support for Ukraine.

### Context: From Yavoriv to Grafenwoehr

The training mission currently undergoing reorganization has a long history. It was launched in 2015 in the Ukrainian city of Yavoriv, a year after Russia annexed Crimea. In 2022, following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the mission was moved to Grafenwoehr, Germany, where it operated in a rotational capacity by U.S. units. Thus, over more than a decade of its existence, the program has undergone two significant geographic moves and is now undergoing a structural transformation.

### Reorganization and Resource Efficiency

According to Stars and Stripes, the transition to a permanent basis may be part of a broader reorganization of U.S. military presence in Europe. The stated goal is to use existing resources more efficiently and avoid redundant functions between various commands and units. For Ukraine, this means the training process will be less dependent on rotation logistics and more integrated into the daily activities of U.S. forces in the region.

### Broader Context: Lessons of War for NATO

The changes in the training format come against a backdrop of growing interest from Western military leaders in Ukraine's practical experience. NATO soldiers have previously acknowledged that the Ukrainian Armed Forces possess certain advantages over the alliance in specific aspects of combat operations, particularly in decision-making speed. This factor is likely being considered in the restructuring of training programs to ensure the training remains relevant to the real conditions of modern conflict.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [США меняют подход к обучению украинских военных в Германии](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-zminyuyut-pidhid-navchannya-ukrayinskih-1792510694.html) - Primary source: Stars and Stripes. Facts confirmed: rotation of the 86th Brigade, ceremony in Grafenwoehr, move to permanent basis, Colonel Weissman's quote, and history of the mission since 2015.

## FAQ

### What is changing in the training of Ukrainian military personnel in Germany?

The training is moving from a rotational format to a permanent basis. It will now be handled by active U.S. Army units already stationed in Europe and Africa and the 7th Army Training Command.

### Where does the training of Ukrainian military personnel take place?

At U.S. military bases and training grounds in Bavaria, Germany. The ceremony occurred at Tower Barracks in Grafenwoehr.

### When did the training mission begin and how has it evolved?

The mission was launched in 2015 in Yavoriv, Ukraine. In 2022, after Russia's full-scale invasion, it was moved to Grafenwoehr, Germany. It is now undergoing a new organizational change.

### Will U.S. support for Ukraine decrease?

Colonel Michael Weissman stated that the changes do not reduce support for Ukraine. The goal is to use resources more effectively and avoid duplication.