U.S. ARMY GARRISON WIESBADEN
HERALD UNION herald-union.com
May 13, 2021
New kitchens improve Soldiers’ quality of life Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden The U. S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Directorate of Public Works has finished renovating three kitchens in Building 1204, the home of the 529th Military Police Company and held a ribbon cutting there April 28. The team of DPW workers took out the wooden cabinets and old appliances and installed stainless steel cabinetry, new appliances,new floorPhoto by Connie Dickey, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden ing and new paint. It took Oliver Vogt with the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Directorate of Public Works and 1st Sgt. Brian Vinci about one week to finish inspect the grill that DPW recently built to help improve quality of life for Soldiers. each kitchen. The Wiesbaden Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Truchon was on hand during the ribbon cutting, and recognized the efforts and hard work of the DPW leaders and workers. “Quality of Life is the Photo by Connie Dickey, Army Chief of Staff ’s U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden number one priority, 1st Sgt. Brian Vinci, Raymond which is why the work Schaaf and Jasmin Taylor cut the that DPW is doing on our ribbon for the newly renovated kitchen in building 1204. See ‘Kitchens’ on Page 2
Photo by Connie Dickey, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
The USAG Wiesbaden DPW crew who renovated the barrack kitchen are from left to right, Pascal Krug, Thorben Luft, Jan Moertzsch, Raymond Schaaf and Oliver Vogt.
Photo courtesy of DOD, cac.mil
This is an example of the next generation DOD-ID. Individuals will be receiving this in the future.
Installation Access System Receives Upgrade Nadine Bower U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Directorate of Emergency Services, IACS, is currently in the process of upgrading the installation access system (IACS), which is expected to come online by mid-May. Military, Family members, Civilians, Retirees, and Contractors with CACs will all be registered in the system when they enter through the main ACP on Clay Kaserne after the upgrade. However, Local National employees and all individuals holding installation access passes have to have their sponsors submit a new application to the IACS office in order to upgrade their access in the new system. Leia Hall, Directorate of Emergency Services, IACS, Physical Security Assistant explains that the upgrade will affect the pedestrian gates as well. “Any individuals who use the pedestrian gates will need to ensure that
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HIGH SCHOOL CYBER WARRIORS TAKE 1ST, 2ND
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their ID has been registered in the new system via the process stated above whether that is through the main ACP or updating their access through the IACS office before attempting to use the pedestrian gates,” Hall said. Hall also explains that the local national employee process is a bit different. “They are given access based on what they require for work, which is stated on the application signed by their sponsor,” Hall said.Therefore, all LN employees and all individuals holding installation access need to immediately contact their sponsor in order to fill out a new application for their installation access. “We will inform them when the process is complete,” Hall said. For questions about the new upgrade, please contact your sponsor. If you do not have a sponsor, you can contact the USAG Wiesbaden Directorate of Emergency Services,IACS Office at 0611-143-5487080 or DSN 548-7080.
NEWS & FEATURES Vol. XXIII, No. 8 U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Command Commander Col. Mario A. Washington Command Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Truchon
Newspaper staff Public Affairs Director Laurri Garcia, DSN 548-2001 Editor Connie Dickey, DSN 548-2004 Public Affairs Specialists Alper Koemuer, DSN 548-2003 Lisa Bishop, DSN 548-2005 Nadine Bower, DSN 548-2000
HERALD UNION published by
The Herald Union, printed exclusively for members of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, is an authorized, unofficial Army newspaper published under the provisions of AR 360-1. Contents are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. government or the Department of Defense. The editorial content is the responsibility of the USAG Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office. No payment is made for contributions. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for sale, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. This is a monthly newspaper published by AdvantiPro GmbH and printed by Oggersheimer Druckzentrum. Circulation is 6,000 copies. For display advertising rates: call AdvantiPro at (0631) 3033 5537, email ads@herald-union.com; Editorial offices are in Bldg. 1205 on Clay Kaserne. Address: USAG Wiesbaden, Herald Union, Unit 29623 Box 60, APO AE 09005-9623; Telephone: (0611) 143-548-2002; Email: usarmy.wiesbaden.imcom-europe.list. public-affairs-office@mail.mil; Home page: home.army.mil/wiesbaden.
KITCHENS Continued from page 1 Soldier barracks is so important,” he said. “This project, like so many others executed by our DPW team, reinforces to the Soldiers living in the barracks, and unit
leaders, that the Garrison places their quality of life as one of its priorities. “The kitchen renovation projects that are being completed in all of our barracks are a great improvement to the places they call home while assigned to Wiesbaden.” The 3-story barracks has a kitchen on each floor and houses
roughly 120 Soldiers. “We have Soldiers working 24-hours, so the kitchens are being used all the time,” said 1st Sgt. Brian Vinci, 529th MP Co. “The kitchens now are such an improvement from what they were,the Soldiers really enjoy using them.” The Barracks Improvement Program is one of DPWs and the Garrison’s top priority programs.
It not only improves the quality of life for the community,but also showcases the skill and craftsmanship of the DPW workforce. Besides renovating the kitchens,Directorate of Public Works workers built an outside grill and placed it in between Buildings 1204 and 1205, in the common area where Soldiers from both barracks can enjoy using it.
Wiesbaden lodge named Army’s best Karl Weisel USAG Wiesbaden Family and MWR The W iesbaden Army Lodge and its staff took home two of four possible awards in the Army’s esteemed annual Army Lodging Recognition Program. The Wiesbaden MWR facility was honored as the Best Large Lodging Operation in the Army. The Lodge’s Augustus Blair was named the Army’s Best Supervisor of the Year. The annual awards program is designed to motivate and reward garrisons for improving or sustaining quality facilities, furnishings and services. “Since opening in March 2010, the Wiesbaden Lodge
has been the premier Lodge in the Army, meeting financial goals and consistently exceeding customer service expectations,” according to Wiesbaden Lodge Manager James Weber. That has extended through the current COVID-19 response, Weber said. “Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, the Wiesbaden Lodge has been the leader in mitigation procedures, ensuring that all guests and employees of the hotel operate in a safe environment.” In addition to being the first military hotel and first property in Germany to receive the Certified Guest Service Property designation (in 2015) from the American
Hotel and Lodging Education Institute, staff members completed AHLEI’s Guest Service Gold training program and earned the Certified Guest Service Professional designation.This certification has been consistently renewed up to the present time. “Anyone who has walked into the Wiesbaden Lodge knows the staff members of the Wiesbaden Lodge are a step above and go the extra mile for each other and guest of the community,” said Weber. “This has been increasingly evident during the current COVID pandemic.” Blair, the W iesbaden Lodge’s maintenance leader, was selected for the Supervisor of the Year award in recognition
of his customer and employee focus, for being a team player, his leadership, financial results and process improvement initiatives. In addition to the award, Blair will be presented with the Civilian Service Commendation Medal and a special act award of $2,000. The Wiesbaden Lodge, which competed against large facility lodges throughout the Army, will receive a trophy and a Capital Purchase Minor Construction cash award of $25,000 to be used for lodging operation improvements. Each staff member (during the time of the awards judging) will be presented with a Lodge Of The Year 2020 pin and a special act award of $150.
Newsletter Sign up for the Herald Union newsletter and be the first to read stories that affect U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden. Get the headlines straight to your inbox by going to www.herald-union. com and entering your email address.
Photo by Karl Weisel, USAG Wiesbaden Family and MWR
The Wiesbaden Army Lodge has been named the best large lodging operation in the Army.
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Volunteers help serve the Wiesbaden Community Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Every year we celebrate National Volunteer Week in April and here at Wiesbaden, the garrison recognizes that many of the services the community receives would not be possible without volunteers. “The spirit of volunteering is setting the time aside to put good intentions into helpful action. It keeps humanity connected and reminds us that no one can go through life without some form of outside assistance,” said Senior Religious Affairs
NCO, Sgt. 1st Class Gary Durham,with the Religious Support Office on Clay Kaserne. Durham explained that the RSO has between 30-50 volunteers on a weekly basis doing anything from helping to set up sound for religious services or singing to planning and coordinating Vacation Bible School or leading a small group in discussion on a spiritual topic. “The RSO would not be as effective as we are without our volunteers,” Durham said. Geraldine Wilson, the relocation manager at the Army Community Services said her
Courtesy Photo, USAG Wiesbaden
A Red Cross volunteers helps with vaccines for the community.
gratitude to the volunteers is unlimited.“They supplement what we can do for the community and they gain experience too. It is a give and take relationship, and they only leave ACS when they find a job,” she said. Volunteers are making a difference with the Red Cross, helping giving vaccines during the pandemic, the clinic pharmacy and at the Commissary. The W iesbaden High School is finding that many of their programs benefit from community volunteers. According to David Brown, coach and Athletic Director at Wiesbaden High School, the Athletic Department simply could not function effectively without the help of community volunteers.“Their time,expertise and sacrifice to our programs is what makes them so special for our students. Our appreciation for what volunteers do here greatly exceeds any verbal praise I can offer.” Kathy Welter,a retired teacher in Algebra, Precalculus, and AP Calculus, who volunteers at the high school said, “I volunteer with the Wiesbaden High School Afterschool Scholars Program. One reason that I volunteer is to see the success of the others. I volunteer to give help and in return, often time, I receive more back than what I have given. “I think that it is important to see another view from the activity or a normal job. You view things differently. It is very, very necessary and I can give back to my community. Ninety-nine percent of the time the tutorial support is very well received.”
Courtesy Photo, USAG Wiesbaden
Soldiers with the 102nd Signal Battalion volunteered to salute students at Wiesbaden High School during Month of the Military Child, April 23.. Dr. Heather Ramaglia, principal of the high school said, “We have the most outstanding support through our volunteer network at the high school. We have been fortunate this year to have Mr. Hubert and the 2nd Signal Theater Brigade volunteers coming out to guest teach our cybersecurity classes and lend expertise from the field.” She explained the Brigade also coached and supported the students in competing in the National CyberPatriot competition this year. It was the first year for the high school to compete and the students took 1st and 2nd in the Gold Tier competition and she said that was due to the efforts of the volunteers. “Our partner unit, the 102nd Signal Battalion, has also worked tirelessly to support any request we have had this year.
They helped us move furniture and ready our building for the opening during the pandemic. They sent volunteers out when we returned from remote learning this winter to help ensure students were in the proper place on the bus,” she said. The 102nd and the 485th came out on April 23 to honor students in the Hainerberg Complex and on Aukamm in a military salute for the month of the military child. “In addition to these amazing unit volunteers, our Garrison in general has held nothing back when it comes to supporting the schools, helping us to plan and implement events, like graduation, and partner with us to ensure our community thrives. The servant leadership spirit in Wiesbaden is second to none!” Ramaglia said.
Vatertag, Christi Himmelfahrt: Father’s and Ascension Day celebrated in Germany
May 13 is Father’s Day in Germany. Exactly 40 days after Easter, Christians observe Ascension Day. Most Germans celebrate Father’s Day on that same day because the two work so well together. Ascension
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Day has been celebrated as an important German holiday for many years, and it happens during springtime, when small groups of men gather to take hikes and strolls through nature. Most groups can be seen pulling a wooden cart, called a “Bollerwagen,” filled with edible (and drinkable) goodies.
Photo by Animaflora/Shutterstock.com
Courtesy Story U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
May 13, 2021
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Now we’re cooking: High school seniors take first place in Europe East Culinary Competition
Photo by Connie Dickey, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
Dom Bivins, left, and Alex Arcila explain to Brig. Gen. Jed Schaertl and Col. Mario Washington some of the techniques they used to prepare their award winning meal from the Europe East Culinary Competition. Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Two Wiesbaden High School seniors, Dom Bivins and Alex Arcila, took first place in the Europe East Culinary Competition, held virtually this year on March 19. The students prepared their winning entry for Brig. Gen. Jed Schaertl, deputy commanding general for mobilization and reserve affairs, U.S. Army Europe and Africa and for Col. Mario Washington, U.S. Army Garrison commander, May 3.
The competition included schools from across Europe with each school having two two-person teams competing. The culinary arts teachers from the high schools judged the competition. In addition to Wiesbaden High School taking first place honors, their second team placed fourth in the competition. Each school’s teams prepared the same menu of Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Rice Pilaf and Lemon Grilled Asparagus. For the competition, Bivins and Arcila were required
Photo by Connie Dickey, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
Brig. Gen. Jed Schaertl, left and Col. Mario Washington enjoy the Europe East Culinary Competition winning menu of Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Rice Pilaf and Lemon Grilled Asparagus as Dom Bivins and Alex Arcila talk to the commanders about winning the culinary arts competition.
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to upload photos showing their preparation, their knife skills, their presentation, their sanitation and clean-up. Terry Hunter, the high school Culinary Arts teacher, tasted their meal and gave feedback. “Since we couldn’t do any sports, I thought this would be a fun thing to do,” Bivins said. He will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall and majoring in finance. “I probably won’t be doing anything in the culinary field,” he said. Arcila said he will be attending San Jose State and will major in Political Science. “I may join a culinary club, but I don’t know yet.” Both Washington and Schaertl watched the students as they prepared their food while the students explained to them how they were preparing the food. “This food is outstanding,” Washington said. “They represented the school and this community very well.” Schaertl said,“It is wonderful we have this kind of program here at the high school. It is a great opportunity for the students and it is wonderful to hear what they have accomplished.”
Photo by Connie Dickey, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden High School Seniors Dom Bivins, left, and Alex Arcila prep ingredients to prepare their winning menu from the Europe East Culinary Competition.
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2nd TSB PLEX: Planning real world exercises in a virtual environment Candy Knight 2nd Theater Signal Brigade Public Affairs As the COVID-19 pandemic was forcing drastic changes to the DEFENDER-20 exercise just as it began in March 2020, military exercise planners from around the globe, including the 2nd Theater Signal Brigade’s Plans and Exercises team, were already planning DEFENDER-21. DEFENDER-Europe 21 is a large-scale U.S. Army-led exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between the U.S., NATO allies and partner militaries. This year, more than 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations will conduct nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in more than a dozen countries from the Baltics to the strategically important Balkans and Black Sea Region. The 2nd TSB PLEX team handles the brigade’s deliberate and contingency planning efforts, pro- viding expertise in planning, exercises, doctrine, strategy, and opportunity analysis to the Brigade, other DOD components and international partners. Their responsibilities include preparing, coordinating, reviewing, and distributing written operation orders and plans. “Our PLEX team works closely with the Signal community in theater to identify solutions to en- during problems to strategic and tactical communications, ranging from force structure to standing up new garrisons,”said Maj.Jeremy Haines, 2nd TSB’s Plans and Exercises Officer in Charge. “We’re involved in quite a bit of different forums where we work with American or host-nation organizations in order to ensure we can meet the communication needs of Europe.” Communication is vital, especially when you’re trying to plan one of the largest military exercises ever in the midst of a global pandemic. “There were multiple forums that we as the planners participated in,” said Haines. “Planning DEFENDER-21 is a year-long process, and the
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initial planning conference for DEFENDER-21 kicked off in March 2020 in Budapest, Hungry.” The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020, just as the initial planning conference ended. “(Our team) came back from the conference and were told that everyone who attended the conference were to immediately go into quarantine,”Haines said. According to Mr. Chris Hall, 2nd TSB’s Lead Exercise Planner, the challenge the team faced that point was “how do we get everyone, which at times was over 500 people, together for the next planning phases?” While many would see the pandemic as a daunting task, to the PLEX team, COVID-19 was simply added a different dimension to the process. “This planning process is a year-long process with USAREUR-AF,the 30-plus countries, almost all the USAREURsupported units having representation at the conferences,” Hall said. “Due to COVID, the conferences were held virtually. COVID-19 added different sized hurdles depending on different countries’ restrictions. We just had to monitor what the hurdles for certain countries were, and ensure we adapted for those hurdles.” Additionally, the PLEX team not only had to find a solution to communicate with fellow DOD participants and international partners, they also had to find a way to communicate with the representatives from the various 2d TSB staff. “One of our biggest roles with planning 2nd TSB’s DEFENDER-21 support was facilitating collaboration with the entire 2nd TSB staff as we worked through all of the steps of the military decision-making process,” Haines said. “That’s everything from receiving and analyzing the mission, to developing staff estimates and course of action development, to finally producing the operations order and actual document to initiate action at the battalion level.” Both Haines and Hall stated that the virtual planning conferences were the best
option to protect everyone’s health and safety, but the lack of in-person communications led to delays in the decision-making and coordination process. “During the planning conference virtually presented some unique challenges,” Haines stated. “You lose a lot of the ability to do sidebar discussions where you coordinate directly with exercise participants for support, or work through different problems. At a face-to-face conference,we can discuss issues and develop solutions over a can of soda or some snacks. The virtual realm creates a unique atmosphere, and a decision that normally would have been almost immediately could now take days, weeks or months,” Haines said. The team also faced technological hurdles with virtual teleconferencing and connectivity as not every international partner had the same software or programs as DOD members. “Any time you do a teleconference, there are issues. For example, DOD used Microsoft Teams as the teleworking solution during COVID. However, some of our international partners didn’t have Microsoft Teams, so we had to find other solutions, other capabilities to communicate and continue the planning process,” Haines said. Now that DEFENDER-21 has entered the execution phase, what next for the team? “Well the initial planning phase for DEFENDER-22 has already occurred, so we’re already starting to get a head of steam going for DEFENDER-22 planning, as well as all the other smaller exercises that are happening,” Haines said. The lessons learned by the Brigade during the DEFENDER-20 planning process really showed during DEFENDER-21 planning, Hall said. “(The process) was a lot faster and a lot smoother,” he added. “The Brigade commander and Brigade command team has said that the staff had come so much farther using the process than they did last year. And that was exciting to us. Now, I’m excited to see how the execution goes this year.”
U.S. Army photo by Candy Knight
Maj. Jeremy Haines, 2nd TSB’s Plans and Exercises Officer in Charge, and Mr. Chris Hall, 2nd TSB’s Lead Exercise Planner, and their team handled the brigade’s DEFENDER-21 planning requirements, ensuring all units were prepared for one of the largest U.S. Army-led exercises. DEFENDER-21 is designed to build readiness and interoperability between the U.S., NATO allies and partner militaries.
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Memorial Day observed the last Monday of May Courtesy Story U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
Photo by Janece Flippo/Shutterstock.com
Memorial Day this year is on Monday, May 31, and is set aside to memorialize the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. The day serves as a time to remember and honor the men and women who died while in military service of our country and honors and respects all Americans who have died for freedom. Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868 as Decoration Day, and
commemorated the sacrifices of Civil War Soldiers and to honor them by decorating their graves.The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May and Federal law took effect in 1971. In 2000, Congress established the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day. During the National Moment of Remembrance Americans are asked to pause for one minute at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to honor and respect those who died for our freedom.
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Community participates in child abuse prevention month Courtesy Story U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
The Wiesbaden community kicked off Rocking Awareness April 1 and encouraged families to paint rocks in support of Child Abuse Prevention and Autism Awareness Month in April. Carmen Arbogast, victim advocate at ACS said ACS joined in because it is a project inclusion event. Arborgast delivered a hand printing activity to the Child Development Services April 8 for children to trace or paint their hands and leave a little message to help end child abuse, and handed out promotional items to parents as they arrived to pick up their children at the CDC on Clay Kaserne. ACS also set up an outreach table April 14 and 15 at the intersection of Texasstrasse and Floridastrasse at school dismal times to give away buckets of goodies. ACS hosted “The 5 Love Languages of Children”Classes through MicroSoft Teams at noon during the month.
Courtesy photo
Painted rocks were hidden around the Wiesbaden communities for the community to find during the month.
Graphic by scoutori/Shutterstock.com
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Illegal downloading and file sharing in Germany Courtesy Story U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Private downloading of music, films and TV series by at-home internet users has become very popular.Those doing so should be aware that downloading copyright-protected material and making it available to the public via peer to peer file sharing software is against the law in Germany. Internet users can be held liable for damages to the copyright holder under German copyright laws. German copyright laws grant the owner of copyrighted work an exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform and publicly display the work or to authorize such. Downloading and uploading copyrighted works without permission contravenes the copyright holder’s right of reproduction and distribution. Upon discovering a violation, German law firms acting on behalf of proprietors of copyright literary/artistic/ musical material will mail out cease and desist letters to hundreds, if not thousands, of Internet users alleging that those users made unauthorized use of such copyrighted work by illegally downloading music, audio books or films from the Internet and making those works available to other
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Internet users. The wording of these ceaseand-desist letters are nearly identical and consist of allegations that on a particular day at a particular time the Internet user associated with a specific IP address downloaded a protected work and made it available to other users mainly through a P2P file sharing program. Copyright holders identify illegal downloading activities by using the services of antipiracy firms to track and search copyrighted works, which often include current chart hits or movies on popular file sharing P2P networks. The firms can then match an upload available online to a specific IP address. Once an IP address is identified, the firm applies for a court order, and once granted, it generally orders the internet service providers who store user data to release contact information for the user to whom the investigated IP address is assigned. Requested contact information includes the name and address of the user. As a general rule, the individual who contracted with the ISP is legally responsible for any illegal download activity, even if it is carried out by family members, visitors or neighbors. In fact, leaving a WLAN unsecured makes a user responsible
for any violations third parties may cause on the network. To protect yourself against any illegal downloading from others using your unsecured WLAN, you should set up a username and password for a wireless router or any similar equipment so that only those who know the password are able to use the Internet connection through the wireless router. Keep the password safe. If you receive a demand letter from a law firm alleging you made an illegal download, don’t ignore it. The issued notice letter is generally considered to be legally sufficient and enforceable. In their letter, most attorneys insist on payment of damages,
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Wiesbaden High School cyber in annual cyb Candy Knight 2nd Theater Signal Brigade Public Affairs The 2nd Theater Signal Brigade Commander, Col. Michael R. Kaloostian, presented Certificates of Excellence and congratulations April 15 to Air Force Association United States CyberPatriot program participants at Wiesbaden High School for placing first and second during the CyberPatriot’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. AFA US CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics
disciplines critical to our nation’s future. The CyberPatriot’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition is the nation’s largest cyber defense competition that puts high school and middle school students in charge of securing virtual networks. The 2nd TSB Cyber Security Division introduced the Air Force Association United States CyberPatriot program to Wiesbaden High School in the winter of 2019. Twenty-two students signed up for the challenge, with 12 joining two, six-member teams: CyberAvengers and CyberDefenders. The CyberAvengers won 1st Place, Gold Tier, At-Large Open Division in the State Round. The CyberAvengers’ were the Best
Gold Tier team outside the United States and US territories. The CyberDefenders won 2nd Place, Gold Tier, At-Large Open Division in the State Round. During the six-hour per round competition window, team members must secure: • Windows and Linux operating systems • Find and eradicate malware • Close suspicious ports on the firewall • Trace packets using CISCO Packet Tracer to answer forensic questions Additionally, the teams take a CISCO networking quiz, where the questions rival senior network technician certification questions.
U.S. Army photo by Candy Knight
Mr. Alexander Hubert, Director, 2nd Theater Signal Cyber Security Division, shows Col. Michael R. Kaloostian, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade Commander, a portion of the Wiesbaden High School’s STEM lab April 15. Kaloostian visited the school to present certificates of excellence to members of the CyberPatriot program.
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r warriors take 1st, 2nd place ber challenge
U.S. Army photo by Candy Knight
Members of the Wiesbaden High School CyberPatriot program pose for a group picture during a ceremony April 15. Col. Michael R. Kaloostian, Commander, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade presented certificates of excellence to the participants in recognition of the members earning 1st and 2nd place during AFA US CyberPatriot Challenge in the Gold Tier, At-Large Open Division in the State Round.
U.S. Army photo by Candy Knight
Col. Michael R. Kaloostian, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade Commander, presents Skylar Broussard with a Certificate of Excellence for his contributions to the Wiesbaden High School’s Air Force Association United States CyberPatriot program. Members of the program earned first and second place honors during AFA US CyberPatriot Challenge in the Gold Tier, At-Large Open Division in the State Round.
U.S. Army photo by Candy Knight
U.S. Army photo by Candy Knight
Col. Michael R. Kaloostian, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade Commander, presents Emily Benjamin with a Certificate of Excellence for her contributions to the Wiesbaden High School’s Air Force Association United States CyberPatriot program. Members of the program earned first and second place honors during AFA US CyberPatriot Challenge in the Gold Tier, At-Large Open Division in the State Round.
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Col. Michael R. Kaloostian, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade Commander, presents Deziar Tezeno with a Certificate of Excellence for her contributions to the Wiesbaden High School’s Air Force Association United States CyberPatriot program. Members of the program earned first and second place honors during AFA US CyberPatriot Challenge in the Gold Tier, At-Large Open Division in the State Round.
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Wiesbaden observes Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, supported by the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion, commemorates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. The theme for the month is “Advancing Leaders Through PurposeDriven Service” and Asian American and Pacific Islanders are recognized for their service to the nation and other ways they have contributed to our society. Senator Daniel Inouye served as a Captain in the United States Army a part of the All Japanese 442nd Infantry Regiment during World War II. Sen. Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during an attack to capture an important enemy controlled junction in San Terenzo, Italy on April 21, 1945. Representative Tulsi Gabbard is one of the U.S. Army’s first combat veterans. She enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard in 2003 and went on to graduate Officer Candidate School in 2007. She is the first woman to receive an award for appreciation from the Kuwait National Guard. She is currently the U.S. Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd District and a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves. Staff Sgt. Hiroshi H. Miyamura is a Medal of Honor recipient who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was recognized for
Graphic by dsnovik/Shutterstock.com
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, supported by the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion, commemorates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. The theme for the month is “Advancing Leaders Through Purpose-Driven Service.” his actions during an assault on his camp on April 24, 1951, when he selflessly kept fighting to allow others to reach safety. During the fight he used his bayonet and hand to hand combat until he was captured by
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enemy troops. He received his Medal of Honor from President Eisenhower in December 1953. Brig. Gen. Coral Pietsch became the first female Asian-American General Officer in the U.S. Army in 2001. In
2007 she volunteered as a DoD Civilian to serve as the Deputy Rule of Law Coordinator where she oversaw various civil society projects. In 2012 Pietsch was appointed a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
IMCOM Firefighter of the Year recognized Photo by Liz Lambert, USAG Wiesbaden
The Church of St. Augustine of Canterbury English speaking Episcopal church in the center of Wiesbaden (since 1864) Welcoming all nationalities & denominations. Sunday worship (Holy Eucharist) at 10 a.m. including Sunday School & fellowship Wednesday Worship at 10.00 a.m. followed by Bible Study
Upcoming Special Services and Events
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we require pre-registration for all services and events. Please also check the website for updates / last-minute changes.
Wednesday 19th May:
Trinity Sunday 30th May:
Whitsunday (Pentecost) 23rd May:
Wednesday 16th June:
Lunchtime Recital: Online only via our website and YouTube channel Festive Eucharist 10:00 am
Holy Eucharist 10:00 am and Evensong 5.00 pm Lunchtime Recital 1:00 pm
Herzlic
Mr. Tommy Mize, Director of IMCOM Europe, presents Enrico Gottschalk a plaque for being recognized as the 2020 IMCOMEurope Fire Inspector of the Year. Gottschalk also received an IMCOM Europe Coin of Excellence.
ch Willkomm en!
Frankfurter Strasse 3 • 65189 Wiesbaden • 0611 30 66 74 www.staugustines.de • parish@staugustines.de
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NEWS & FEATURES
Financial Capability and Literacy Month Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden April is designated Financial Capability and Financial Literacy Month. During the month, Wiesbaden Army Community ran events geared to help military members save money and help to understand their financial wealth. According to Federica LeMauk, financial readiness program manager with the Army Community Service, along with financial readiness classes and a 3-part retirement class, they ran a financial happiness art contest through the end of April. This contest is intended to help community members create a more concrete picture of their financial goals and help them get a little closer to achieving those goal, under
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the motto “if you can picture it, you can achieve it.” Their campaign also includes: know your legal right when it comes to finances: understand the Military Lending Act and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, and very important for military personnel and their families stationed overseas, to realize how the protections of the Servicemember Civil Relief Act do not extend to a German cell phone contract. Saving with a plan: save for emergencies, save with a goal and save to invest. Take inventor y : your monthly cash flow and your net worth, understand credit reports, major purchases, car buying tips and CFPB’s home loan kit and your family’s financial goals and how to have the money talk.
Photo by safriibrahim/Shutterstock.com
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OPPENHEIM: Water, bones, history and fresh air Courtesy Story militaryingermany.com Oppenheim is a place of wine and water, a small town on the banks of the Rhine where the circle of life is very much present. It is a place where you can get back to basics. Travelers can stroll past gorgeous buildings, wander sprawling vineyards, and emerge from a forested park to see the power of a mighty river. It is
also a place of stone and bones. Oppenheim offers more than enough to satisfy day trippers. Aside from its beautiful location, centuries-old city ramparts, fascinating wine museum (open April through October) and a handful of outstanding churches, here are four more reasons to visit.
Water: the mighty Rhine
Oppenheim does the Rhine River right. Watersports and a riverside beach are popular during the summer. In all other seasons, visitors can wind through the Oppenheimer Wäldchen, a small forest on the water’s edge, and feel as if they have the river all to themselves.
Bone: discover an ossuary
Oppenheim has an ossuary, in which bones and skulls are stacked like firewood behind St. Katharine’s Church. Though this may seem macabre, the idea is to reinforce the joy that comes with being mortal. Carpe diem, indeed.
Wandering: all you want
Photo by MLIN/Shutterstock.com
Old Town Oppenheim is lovely and accessible no matter the season or weather. Plus, it offers multiple opportunities to wander into vineyards and then back again. During ordinary times, visitors can find a wonderful number of shops and restaurants to enjoy.
Photo by Sina Ettmer Photography/Shutterstock.com
Labyrinth...after lockdown
Put this one on your post-lockdown list. Oppenheim has a winding cellar labyrinth that stretches beneath the city. It’s super cool (in both senses of the word, so bring a jacket) and offers guided tours.
Must-see: Landskron Castle
Hike up to Burg Landskron and explore the ruins of a stunning medieval/late renaissance castle overlooking the city. Here, expect broad views of the town and valley, a fair amount of exercise,
and the chance to envision what this castle might have looked like during its glory days.
Getting There
By car, Oppenheim is 30 minutes from Wiesbaden. Check the Deutsche Bahn website for train information. For U.S. government employees, including service members, remember to always follow command regulations, which may be different than host nation policies, when it comes to travel and COVID mitigation measures.
Photo by Patrik Dietrich/Shutterstock.com
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NEWS & FEATURES
Military use of training area throughout centuries protects endangered plants Alper Koemuer U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Between the Mainz city districts of Gonsenheim and Mombach on the Sand Dunes Local Training Area of the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden lies a unique nature reserve with a long history and endangered plants worthy of protection. It all began around 20,000 years ago when the glaciers of the Ice Age in Europe slowly melted, creating space for new life. But long before the Ice Age, sand was blown through the Rhine river valley and landed at the end of its journey on the western slopes of today’s city of Mainz, forming unique sand dunes for Central Europe. After the end of the ice age seeds were carried over long distances by grazing animal herds and landed on the nutrient-poor soil and created a natural landscape unique to Central Europe. Fueled by the power of the new idea of freedom because of the successful American Revolution, the French Revolutionary Army swept over Europe and in 1798 Mainz was under its control. The modern army of free citizens, led by French officers, some of whom also served in the American war of independence, was changing the military training system in Europe.
In 1798 modern military exercises were carried out for the first time in the sand dunes of Mainz and on September 30, 1804, a five-hour exercise of 7,000 soldiers under the direction of Napoleon Bonaparte himself was conducted. The sand dunes remain a military training area to this day. “The almost continuous use as a military training area has saved this natural landscape nearly untouched to the present day. The surrounding areas have either been built up, used for agriculture or have been forested and are lost as a unique natural landscape,”said Annegret Lambrecht, environmental engineer for the Directorate of Public Works environmental division. The silver crack is protected and only grows on the Wiesbaden Garrison sand dunes training area. (photo by Alper Koemuer, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden) Lambrecht is responsible for the species and plant protection in the properties of the USAG Wiesbaden. The importance of the landscape and the remaining areas, which also include the military training area, were placed under protection in 1966. The nutrient-poor soil and the unusually dry climate for Central Europe allow for a unique flora, which is more widespread in Central Asia or
Southern Europe. “We have nearly a dozen of species of plants here that are very rare in Germany. But two plants stand out because our sand dunes is their primary or exclusive settlement area,” Lambrecht explained. “The beautiful Pheasant’seye Adonis vernalis is very threatened with extinction and our training area is their primary settlement area, while the silver crack Jurinea cyanoides is even rarer, only occurs here and is endemic.” The two plants are small and at first glance rather resemble desert plants. Asked about their appearance Lambrecht replied: “That’s right, in summer it gets very hot on the dunes and you feel like you’re in a desert. The plants prefer dry nutrient-poor soil and you can say in a way that these are our little desert roses.” “I am proud of my work and what we do. Together with my colleagues from DPW and TSAE and our German partners from BIMA, we protect this endangered treasure together,” she added. Lambrecht said nutrients and forestation are the two prominent dangers facing the area: “We must ensure that the areas remain free and that as little nutrients as possible are added. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people here with their
Photo by Alper Koemuer, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
The silver crack is protected and only grows on the Wiesbaden Garrison sand dunes training area. dogs and horses, who bring in exactly these nutrients with the feces but also with food that they leave behind.” In addition, nutrients would nourish other plants, eliminating the habitat currently being protected. Stefanie Wehmhoener the environmental protection expert of the German Federal Forestry Agency responsible for the region agrees to this statement and added, “Due to contamination by dog feces, the areas are considerable effected.” Wehmhoener also expressed that BIMA value the engagement of the U.S. Army Garrison DPW Environmental Office and the good relation. “The good relationship is used to bring in line the military demands on the area in very
good form with the requirements of nature and species protection.The military-related use of the area contributes to an optimal nature conservation management.” Wehmhoener explained further that the use of heavy equipment helps to stop forestation and the desired uncovering of sand areas to protect the needs of this protected plants. Projects like deforestation and scarfing the surface seem to work and helps the endangered fauna. “What we do count. The situation is stable,” Lambrecht summed up. However, she and those working to preserve the land and plants, remind those who walk through the area to leave nothing behind to further protect the endangered fauna.
Photo by Alper Koemuer, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
The Pheasant’s-eye is endangered and is protected on the Wiesbaden Garrison sand dunes training area.
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Get remote, fast:
Jossgrund and the Hessen Spessart Nature Park
Photo by franconiaphoto/shutterstock.com
Courtesy Story militaryingermany.com In many ways, Jossgrund is similar to most any little village in Germany. It’s small, tidy, tranquil and prosperous. You’ll find red roofs, a church steeple, a gasthaus. You can drive a small winding road through it and be gone in two minutes. But Jossgrund – and the surrounding area – holds something special. Look a little more closely, and Jossgrund almost becomes a metaphor for the German love of nature. Located near the border of the German states of Hessen
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and Bavaria, Jossgrund offers exploration, plenty of fresh air, and a chance to get off the beaten path. Jossgrund is also a jumping-off point for exploring a brilliant natural environment.
Must-See: Hessen Spessart Nature Park
The Spessart region is a heavily forested range of small, old mountains that stretch from northern Bavaria into southern Hessen. Stepping into the Spessart is like visiting an ancient, almost archetypal version of Germany. Autobahns and large cities disappear, replaced
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by vast stretches of what feels like well-cultivated wilderness. Parts of the forest are populated by hundred-year-old oak trees, towering beech trees and deep silence. From Jossgrund, explorers can plunge deep into the heart of the Spessart. Hiking and biking options abound along excellent trails through diverse landscapes. Beautiful views are available during every season, especially on hilltops that stretch to over 500 meters high. During an era when outside diversions are a must, the Hessen Spessart Nature Park will see you through.
Touring opportunities
Jossgrund also provides strong opportunities for those who love car or motorcycle touring. The Spessart stretches roughly 100 kilometers from north to south, and beautiful sights can be found along the way. Highlights include Mespelbrunn Castle, about 50 minutes south of Jossgrund, or the beautiful half-timbered buildings of Miltenberg further south on the banks of the river Main. Be prepared for the winding roads that snake through the heart of the Spessart. Start in Jossgrund, and then lose yourself.
Stop to hike or grab a bite to eat along the way. But just take the road and see where it goes. Sometimes it’s the best way to find what you’re looking for.
Getting There
By car, Jossgrund is about an hour from Wiesbaden. Check the Deutsche Bahn website for train information. facility. For U.S. government employees, including service members, remember to always follow command regulations, which may be different than host nation policies, when it comes to travel and COVID mitigation measures.
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NEWS & FEATURES
Preparing your garden for spring: 5 great tips 3. Prune shrubs that flower
Courtesy Story finditguide.com
While driving around lately, you may have noticed the German road crews giving anything and everything a crew cut. They have all sorts of cool connectors that go on their work vehicles that trim, cut and shave off just about any type of vegetation in its path. There are even trimmers that rotate around the road markers like magic while the maintenance truck cruises next to it. You should take this as a sign it is time to get your own bushes, grass and garden areas ready for spring. Generally, when it comes to bushes and hedges, you should not be afraid of cutting off too much (better to cut off too much than too little). In a lush growing area like Germany, where moisture is aplenty, if you are not aggressively cutting back, you can quickly get overrun. Here are five tips to help you get your garden in shape.
1. Get rid of the dead leaves
Clearing away the foliage that is still there, promotes growth to flowers and grass. If any perennials have pushed
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Now is the time to prune shrubs that bloom late in summer. Shrub flowers bloom from wood, so if you prune them now, you will not risk cutting off the buds.
4. Don’t forget to fertilize
Now that the ground is fully thawed (we hope!), spread fertilizers around shrubs, trees and perennials. Be careful when using weedkillers later in the season as the EU has laws regulating what can be used. If you PCSed over with products purchased in the U.S., be sure to check and see whether they are approved for use in Germany.
5. Look for broken branches Photo by Yuganov Konstantin/shutterstock.com
their way up out of the ground due to the recent frost, push them back in!
2. Pull those weeds
Probably the least favorite job to do for everyone, weed pulling can get rid of
those nasty critters that choke out the development of all the beautiful plants you actually want to grow. Pulling them now will make the work easier because the ground is soft from the winter.
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Winter storms can result in trees and bushes that have broken or splintered due to high winds, snow, ice, rain and anything else the German winters can throw at you. Cut off just before the broken area to help the vegetation regrow. If your evergreens suffered any dead ends from winter, cut off the tips and they’ll be looking good in no time.
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