Kreuzberg Monastery and Braurei

After my return from France, I really have a new appreciation for my unit of assignment, the 173rd Special Troops Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.  I am very fortunate to have outstanding senior officer leadership that provides unique opportunities and experiences aside from the typical "icebreakers" and "leader development" crap that you get from most units.

Again, the officers of the 173rd STB got together for some team and morale building (ok...beer drinking) activities.  Early on the morning of 16DEC, we reported to work in civilian hiking attire as directed.  We boarded a bus and traveled to the Rhön Valley where we dismounted in the falling snow to trek to the mountaintop village of Klosterkreuzberg.  This is an historic site that houses an age-old brewery that was completely operated by monks until 1985.  To make a long story short, it's a hell of a hike up to this place and the reward is a nice meat and cheese plate along with some world famous Weihnachts-Bock (Christmas Beer).

Yet another good time in Deutschland.  Airborne!