U.S. ARMY GARRISON WIESBADEN
HERALD UNION herald-union.com
August 19, 2021
Last edition of post newspaper rolls off press Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden It’s a wrap! This is the last printed edition of the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Herald Union. Although it has been around since the World War II era, budgetary constraints, manpower issues and the increased use of social media sites to obtain news and information has signaled it is time to stop publishing the printed newspaper. The newspaper stopped publication for a short while in 2017 when it transitioned from a bi-weekly to a monthly newspaper, but The Herald Union and its predecessors, all under different mastheads, commands and locations, kept military members in the greater Wiesbaden area apprised of community news and information as a post newspaper for more than 75 years. According to Laurri Garcia, USAG Wiesbaden Public Affairs Director, the end of the Herald Union printed newspaper is a way for the public affairs staff to provide more timely, relevant and accessible information to the community. “We’re excited about the opportunity to focus our limited resources on producing products and communications platforms available to a wider more diverse audience; with a focus on mission, relevance, resilience and readiness,” she said.
Photo by Connie Dickey
The August 2021 edition will be the last printed edition of the Herald Union. The paper has served the military community here in Germany for the past 75 years. “If COVID has taught us nothing else, it’s taught us information, and the timely dissemination of information, via multiple channels is critical to the life, health, safety and readiness of our Soldiers, Families and the USAG
Wiesbaden Community at large,” Garcia said. The Herald Union’s lineage dates to just after World War II when The Occupation Chronicle was established in 1946 to serve readers stationed at the
Frankfurt Military Post. The newspaper’s name remained until 1950. According to available archives, a “Chronicle” rolled off the presses in Frankfurt for nearly 22 years. Over the years, it has been named The Chronicle, The Chronicle-Post, TASCOM Chronicle and the NACom Chronicle — which stood for the North Area Command. Nevertheless, the purpose of the paper remained the same through 1974 until the temporary retirement of the TASCOM Chronicle, which was likely associated with the dissolution of the U.S. Theater Army Support Command Europe in the same year. The newspaper re-emerged on Oct. 1, 1975, as the Frankfurt Chronicle, a four-page weekly newspaper “devoted to readers in the greater Frankfurt Military Community,” according to the first edition. It, like the Wiesbaden Post, Giessen Courier and other similar newspapers, served the individual U.S. military communities scattered throughout Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz. The newspaper was delivered to all housing area mail boxes each Friday and was available at the Frankfurt Shopping Center for
See ‘Final Edition’ on Page 2
Wiesbaden community members need no-fee passport Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden No-fee passports are required for military family members and official passports are required for civilians and civilian family members. These are referred to as Special Issuance Passports and the requirement is not new, according to Douglas Beasley, chief, Military Personnel Division, Directorate of Human Resources.
Passports are completed by appointment on Wiesbaden’s Clay Kaserne. Beasley said customers can email the Passport Office group box at usarmy.wiesbaden.imcom-europe.list.passport-office@mail.mil or call DSN 548-1603/1604/1605 to schedule an appointment. “Appointments fill up quickly, so the community will need to be proactive in keeping their passports updated. Currently, passport appointments are scheduled out
between 60-90 days,” said Beasley, but he said if an individual or family has official travel orders within 90 days of the request, they will be accommodated as needed. The Wiesbaden Garrison passport office hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
See ‘Passport’ on Page 2
Photo by David Overson
The Official No-Fee Passport (Brown), along with a Tourist (Blue) Passport.
CONTINUED FREE MEALS FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS
GARRISON SAYS GOODBYE TO COMMAND SGT. MAJOR
FREE RIDES FOR INTOXICATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS
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NEWS & FEATURES Vol. XXIII, No. 12 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 Ila Dermanoski, 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.
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. Page 2
Herald Union
FINAL EDITION Continued from page 1 “economy dwellers and Soldiers living in billets.” The Frankfurt Chronicle continued to provide weekly news and information through the 1980s and early 90s and was eventually consolidated into the new area support group publication, based out of Darmstadt and Hanau. The newspaper went through a name change when the 103rd Area Support Group deactivated and the 418th Base Support Battalion passed to the 104th ASG in 1993. For two months, the paper was named What’s My Name? while a community
PASSPORT Continued from page 1 Tuesday hours are from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Basic requirements for applying for a passport are listed below. This does not cover every circumstance or situation. Please contact the passport office for any situation other than ordinary. Please keep in mind for SIP orders, a justification memorandum is required. The requirements for obtaining a passport are: a passport application, DS-11 or DS-82; 2 x 2 photo within the last six months and you cannot use a photo from a previous
contest was held to choose a new name. At that time the newspaper also changed from a weekly to a biweekly. The publication’s new name, Hessen Herald, was revealed in the Dec. 16, 1993 edition. The winning name was selected from more than 60 entries. Changes were still to come for the 104th ASG and the new masthead didn’t stay around long. Military drawdowns and base realignment and closure prompted another name change in October 1997 to begin serving readers in the communities of the former 53rd ASG which included the communities of Babenhausen, Baumholder, Dexheim and Friedberg.
According to an article in the last Hessen Herald on Sept. 18, 1997, the name change was a result of combining the current name, Hessen Herald, with that of the 53rd ASG’s newspaper, the Post-Union. The first Herald Union was published Oct. 1, 1997 and served the areas of 104th ASG, which was made up of the following Base Support Battalion Groups: 221st BSB ( Wiesbaden); 222nd BSB (Baumholder); 233rd BSB (Darmstadt); 284th BSB (Giessen /Friedberg); 410th BSB (Bad Kreuznach / Dexheim); 414th BSB (Büdingen and Hanau). The black and white newspaper was printed biweekly with a circulation of 23,000.
The Herald Union name remained with the newspaper for 19 years and five months. During those years, the front page appeared regularly in full color starting in November 1998. After paid advertising was introduced in 2000, the entire paper appeared in full color and an online version was launched at Herald-Union.com in 2009. The newspaper also moved with the command – first from Darmstadt, then to Hanau with the 104th ASG and eventually to Wiesbaden to serve U.S. Army Garrison Hessen and then U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden.
passport; applicant must be present; original birth certificate, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship; proof of social security number or from memory; government identification card; previously issued passports; marriage certificate or court order for a name change request and a cashier’s check or money order in the amount of $145 (first time adult or lost passport), $115 (children 15 and younger) and $110 (adult renewals). For passports, the priority is set based on unit or individual mission requirements.Currently the office is fully focused in processing the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion family member
no-fee passports because of their short fuse relocation to Italy. Consideration is given to each situation on a case by case basis. Those that have official travel orders within 90 days have priority. Personnel initiating permanent change of station travel after July 1,2021,must have applied for the SIP prior to departure from the United States. The exception allowing travel on a regular passport in lieu of a SIP while on official travel will expire Sept.30,2021,for Department of Defense personnel currently assigned and transitioning between the U.S. and the PCS country of assignment. Tourist passport processing times are 4-6 weeks. SIP
processing times are 4-6 weeks. However, some SIPs are taking 8-10 weeks. All passports are mailed back to the DoD Passport Facility that submitted the application. Applicants are either emailed or called if email is not available, once the passports are returned. Tourist passports are valid for 10 years for those 16 and older, but are valid for 5 years for children 15 and younger. SIPs are valid for 5 years, or for a shorter period depending on applicant status regardless of age. Specific requirements for each country can be found in the Foreign Clearance Guide at https://www.fcg.pentagon. mil/fcg.cfm.
(Historical parts of this story were used from a story by Amy L. Bugala)
Wiesbaden Garrison holds quarterly town hall Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
The U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden hosted a town hall July 28 from the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center and livestreamed on Facebook. The town hall provided garrison staff from each directorate answering questions from the community posted onto Facebook prior to and during the town hall. The town hall representatives provided needed info on COVID and vaccination plans, updates on housing, child and youth services, the new requirement for
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a no-fee passport and issues such as ID card requirements for youth, mask policies and new programs for the community. The Director of Emergency Services, Lt. Col. Jon Jackson, the Garrison Provost Marshal, explained the new policing in the community initiative in Aukamm and Crestview. Military Police will be biking around those communities in an effort to get to know the residents and for the residents to get to know their on-duty MPs. The next quarterly town hall is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Photo by Ila Dermanoski
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Commander Col. Mario Washington, along with Garrison Public Affairs Director, Laurri Garcia, directed questions to Garrison subject matter experts during the live-streamed town hall July 28.
home.army.mil/wiesbaden
NEWS & FEATURES
Transportation experts provide resources, advice to help with PCS moves in Europe Cameron Porter 405th Army Field Support Brigade Europe & Africa Permanent change of duty station moves can be stressful. In Europe, the transportation offices are assigned to the 405th Army Field Support Brigade’s Logistics Readiness Centers and aligned with each Army Garrison across Germany, Italy and the Benelux. They know how stressful the PCS process can be and stand ready to fully assist Soldiers and Families with managing their household goods shipments, unaccompanied baggage and other transportation needs. Nicole Vatcher, a transportation specialist with LRC Wiesbaden, 405th AFSB, said two important elements to assist Soldiers and Families and help to ensure a successful PCS are knowledge and decisive action. “This summer wasn’t a classic peak season summer for us,” Vatcher said, “so on our end we aren’t experiencing hardly any difficulties – inbound or outbound – and we are very pleased about that. But it’s still very important to always stay informed and act fast.” “As soon as you have your orders, come to transportation as quickly as possible,” said Jeffrey Morrison, a transportation specialist with LRC Rheinland-Pfalz, 405th AFSB. “We are taking walkins, and they can either come to Kleber Kaserne to the in and out processing building, or they come to the transportation office at Daenner Kaserne.” It’s unclear how much longer Soldiers and Families will experience any sort of difficulties with arranging HHGs movements in the United States and at other locations, according to Vatcher, but it’s important that Soldiers and Families are well prepared and they expect in advance the possibility of late delivery times. Immediately upon arrival at the new duty station,
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Soldiers should sign up for and take advantage of Army Community Service’s lending closet and the installation loaner furniture program, when available, said Vatcher. These services are available for incoming Soldiers and Families at many installations and garrisons here in Europe and offered at other locations as well, especially overseas. Soldiers and Families should contact ACS and their local housing office for more information and to check availability. In addition, the Army recently announced that it is widening its PCS reporting window, which will assist Soldiers and Families who are PCSing this summer. Soldiers scheduled to report to a new assignment now through Sept. 30 can check in to their new duty station up to 30 days before their scheduled report date and as much as 20 days after their report date. “Prior to making your flight arrangements through SATO travel, make sure you have your household goods pickup appointment booked. You have to allow adequate time to clear the installation,” said Morrison. Increasing the PCS reporting window will help Soldiers and Families better plan for and schedule their HHGs appointment and allow them enough time to properly clear their unit and installation before departing, Morrison said. Previously, Soldiers had to file a request through their chain of command to HRC, a process that took up to 60 days for approval. Now, Soldiers can receive an extension authorization locally through their chain of command within a few days. Jon Finke, the chief of A r m y H u m a n R e s o u rc es Command’s Operations Management Division, said Soldiers will sometimes request a shipment date only to learn they will have to wait an extra month for an available moving company. “You’re kind of at the mercy of the moving system,” Finke
Graphics by Cameron Porter
a live transportation specialist to address unique challenges that come up during the PCS process. Soldiers can download the app – which has information on entitlements, types of moves, planning, scheduling and claims – in the Google Play and Apple App stores. More information can be found at https://move. mil/customer-service. Soldiers can also call a 24-hour hotline for questions on PCS moves at 833-MILMOVE. No matter what the circumstance, when it comes to a HHG move, Morrison recommends that Soldiers always reach out to their local transportation office and speak to a trained representative. They are there to help.
Steps to take:
said. “And the Army is realizing that and trying to work with Soldiers and Families so that they can move, but we have to honor what the transportation companies can do and how they can support us at the same time.” “We know this year is more challenging than usual, and we are working to give our Soldiers and Families options, resources and flexibility to reduce as much stress as possible,” said Gen. Edward Daly, the commander of U.S. Army Materiel Command. Colonel Brad Bane, the commander of the 405th
AFSB, said that each Garrison and LRC in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa footprint has the right people in place to ensure our Soldiers and Families are well taken care of, and the additional measures emplaced by AMC and the Army will help even more. If anything out of the ordinary occurs or the inkling of a problem arises, Soldiers and Families should immediately contact the Soldier’s chain of command and reach out to their local transportation office. They can also use the new chat function in the Army’s PCS Move app to speak with
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• Visit the installation transportation office as soon as orders are received. Don’t wait. • Whether this is a first move or 15th, take advantage of counseling. The local transportation office is the best resource of information specific to that location. • If movers cannot be arranged to support the PCS, talk with Soldier’s chain of command immediately to explore options – which may include changes to reporting timelines. • Be patient with the transportation office personnel. They want to solve problems for you. • Contact the local transportation office if moving plans change or when questions or concerns arise during the PCS process. Again, as soon as Soldiers receive PCS orders, they should go to their local transportation office for assistance, said Morrison. The website https://dps. move.mil/cust can help with getting started and scheduling their next PCS moves. But remember, always check with or call the local transportation off ice to ensure everything is on point and good to go.
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Wiesbaden Garrison expecting more Soldiers and family members Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden The U. S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden is expecting about 500 soldiers and about 750 family members now through fiscal year 22 as two units officially activate here. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the plans to permanently base the units here during his visit to Germany in April 2021. Austin added that the planned troop increase underscores the U.S. commitment to both Germany and the NATO alliance. Col. Mario Washington, USAG Wiesbaden commander said, “We will welcome Soldiers and their families from various locations into our community as part of the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden community
and we are prepared to do everything necessary to ensure the infrastructure and resource requirements, including housing, schools and access to health care for our Soldiers and families, are met as we welcome them to the team and into the incredible Wiesbaden community.” The units, a Theater Fires Command and a Multi-Domain Task Force, will bring a wide range of sophisticated weaponry, such as field artillery, air and missile defense, electronic warfare, space and aviation elements, USAREUR-AF said. They will be stationed at the Mainz Kastel Station and Housing with a few at the Dagger Complex at Darmstadt. Mainz Kastel Station is currently being used for administrative opera-
tions; vehicle registration, inspection and storage operations, POV refueling, and warehouse space,Washington said. The heavy equipment maintenance and vehicle registration office and its function will move to North Clay, he said. In a statement released from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Maj. Gen. Chris Mohan, former commander of the 21st said, “New strategies and a continuously changing operations environment requires more capacity to ensure we have the necessary infrastructure for increased capabilities to support our Allies and partners. We’ve worked closely with German officials to come to an agreement on retaining these sites and are very appreciative of their continued support,” he said.
Photo by Connie Dickey
Once the Soldiers arrive they will work from Mainz-Kastel Station.
United States Army Europe-Africa Career Outreach Event Ila Dermanoski U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
United States Army EuropeAfrica held a Career Outreach Event at Army Community Services July 23. The outreach event was geared towards community members seeking federal employment in the area. Representatives from USAREUR-AF, ACS, the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and other Department of Defense partners were present to assist participants with resume reviews and guidance on navigat-
Photo by Ila Dermanoski
Earl McFarland, Employment Readiness Program Manager for USAG Wiesbaden, answers questions from a job applicant during the USAREUR-AF Outreach Event July 23. ing the intricacies of the federal hiring process. USAREUR-AF is committed to simplifying the
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 11.00 a.m. followed by Bible Study
Upcoming Special Services and Events
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we require pre-registration for concerts. Please also check the website for updates / last-minute changes.
Sunday 29th August:
Wednesday 15th September:
Outdoor Service and Parish Picnic: 11:00 am Lunchtime Recital 1:00 pm
Friday 3rd September:
Night of the Churches (worship, music, and hospitality) 6.00 pm to midnight
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employment search process for spouses, family members and veterans in theater. One way they are assisting potential job candidates is through EURCIVJOBS, a self-advertising portal and resume repository. EURCIVJOBS is not intended to replace USAJobs, but to help hiring managers find professionals in the commuting area. According to the portal site, “This tool will provide expanded visibility of our spouses, family members and veterans seeking employment opportunities, while expediting the hiring process and promoting morale within our communities.” The portal can be accessed online at https:// https://civjobs. ext.eur.army.mil/. The process of searching for federal employment can be challenging to navigate, but there are resources available to help spouses and family members find a job that is right for
them. Even overseas, numerous employment opportunities exist but are missed because people do not know where to look, they are not emphasizing their qualifications on their resume or they do not provide the proper documentation. Some of the resources in the Wiesbaden footprint are The Employment Readiness Program in ACS, USAJobs, the Wiesbaden Family and MWR Facebook page all have job listings for the community. Local businesses such as Community Bank and Andrew’s Federal Credit Union also have job listings on their websites. Military Spouse Preference is a valuable hiring authority that hiring managers utilize to hire spouses of active duty military members for federal jobs. Military Spouses are authorized to use the preference once per permanent change of station. Earl McFarland, the Employment Readiness Program Manager for USAG Wiesbaden emphasized “When utilizing the MSP spouses must make sure they are well-qualified for the position and that they upload the required documents to USAJobs. These documents include: a marriage certificate and a copy of the spouse’s active military orders, other documents required will be included in job listings.” For more information on Military Spouse Preference please visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/ working-in-government/unique-
hiring-paths/military-spouses/ or https://www.opm.gov. McFarland encourages all job seekers to “Tweak your resume each time you apply for a new position and concentrate your efforts on specialized experience. Make sure your resume supports the questions asked in the questionnaire associated with the job listing on USAJobs. Resumes must support the qualifications in the job announcement.” The Employment Readiness Program Office is located in Army Community Services and is a valuable resource for anyone seeking employment. They provide up-to-date information on employment opportunities, education,certification resources and classes on civilian and federal resume writing.They also provide guidance and support to community members interested in opening a Home Based Business. Job fairs in the community came to a halt with the COVID-19 pandemic but they will resume in September, please stay up-to-date on events by liking and following the Garrison Wiesbaden Facebook and Twitter pages and the Wiesbaden Family and MWR Facebook page. According to McFarland, the most important thing for employment-seeking community members to remember is,“Think outside the box, consider all of your experience, paid and volunteer when writing your resume and be patient with the process, sometimes it takes a while.”
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SCHOOLS Military students overseas to continue receiving free school meals Courtesy Story Army and Air Force Exchange Service The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, in conjunction with the Department of Defense and Department of Defense Education Activity will continue to serve free meals to all students enrolled at DoDEA schools overseas. “The USDA recently extended a waiver to the DoD School Food Authorities, operated by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Navy
Exchange Service Command and Marine Corps Community Services, to provide free school meals through June 30, 2022,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s senior enlisted advisor. “This is a tremendous benefit to military families.” Families can elect to participate and receive free reimbursable meals, subsidized by the USDA, at participating schools. Participants are required to have a DoDEA student ID number and student meal account. Photo by Department of Defense Education Activity
Students at the Wiesbaden Middle School enjoy a free lunch at school.
Photo by Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com
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No action is required to receive free school meals for students with an established school meal program account. Parents of students without an account are encouraged to create one at their local military exchange customer service area. Parents can visit the school meal program site at https://www.aafes. com/about-exchange/school-lunchprogram/ for additional information.
Since 1955, the Exchange has been the school feeding authority for the Army and Air Force. The school meal program is operated for military students overseas, serving more than three million meals a year. Nutritional standards for DoDEA student meals are set by the Exchange’s registered dietitian in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines.
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NEWS & FEATURES
Army Community Service birthday bash Ila Dermanoski U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
USAG Wiesbaden’s Army Community Service and the military community celebrated the 56th Birthday of ACS on July 23. ACS was founded on July 25, 1965 by the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Harold Johnson. Army Community Service has grown and evolved in 56 years but the organization’s core mission of supporting Army communities has remained the same. ACS is steadfast in supporting the Army’s mission of keep-
ing soldiers, families and units ready and resilient at all times. ACS is the social services hub for the Army and a cornerstone for Army families. They offer assistance to military communities by offering programs such as New Parent Support, Information and Referral ser vices for families during PCS moves, Employment Readiness services, Volunteer Management, Family Advocacy Counseling, Exceptional Family Member Support, Financial Assistance, and Survivor Services for families of fallen soldiers. Clara Schuler, the Division
Chief for ACS said it best,“The Army couldn’t do its mission as well as it does without the Army Community Service.” “ACS deserves to be celebrated, it just makes Army life better,” said Jane Taylor, an Army spouse that attended the Birthday Bash. The celebration had activities for guests of all ages, including carnival games, giveaways, a dunk tank, birthday cake and food provided by the USO. The USAG Wiesbaden Fire Department displayed a fire truck and the shark and AFN Eagle brought many smiles.
Photo by Ila Dermanoski
ACS staff welcome the community to its birthday bash July 23.
Photo by Ila Dermanoski
Isla Stinson plays in the duck pond at the Army Community Service birthday bash. Photo by Ila Dermanoski
Garrison Wiesbaden Commander, Col. Mario Washington, takes his turn in the dunk tank during the Army Community Service birthday bash July 23 on Hainerberg Kaserne.
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home.army.mil/wiesbaden
NEWS & FEATURES
Army Emergency Relief final donations released Ila Dermanoski U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden The 2021 Army Emergency Relief campaign officially ended June 15. The campaign kicked off March 1, 2021 with a virtual cake cutting. The Wiesbaden community raised a total of $18,337. AER is the Army’s own nonprofit financial assistance organization. It was established in 1942 by Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Marshall and Secretary of War Henry Stimson. Contributing to AER is the most direct way to help Soldiers. AER offers zero-interest loans and grants as well as scholarships for education. Ninety cents of every dollar donated goes straight to Soldiers and Families that need some type of financial assistance. AER ensures no Soldier faces financial hardship alone. In 2020 AER provided $109,976.45 in emergency relief to service members,retirees,and families in the Wiesbaden military community. There are numerous categories of assistance through AER and each request is considered on an individual basis. Just a few of the categories are: emergency travel, permanent change of station travel, healthcare costs, immigration and passport fees, child care and assistance purchasing car seats. “We’re not trying to create demand, we’re trying to meet valid demand,”AER Director, retired Lt. Gen. Raymond Ma-
Courtesy photo
Contributing to the Army Emergency Relief is the most direct way to help Soldiers. son said.“That’s the one thing that keeps me up at night — is there a Soldier or family member out there that’s hurting and doesn’t know about us?” Tawana Ballard, the Program Director for AER at USAG Wiesbaden said “AER is constantly changing and evolving to meet the needs of Soldiers and families. For instance, in June we started offering pet transportation assistance to alleviate the financial burden of PCS moves overseas with pets.”
The AER Pet Transportation Assistance Program offers no-interest loans of up to $5,500 for eligible individuals. Army and Air Force Exchange Service customers have an option to donate to AER with every purchase. Until this year this option was only offered during campaigns but is now available year-round. There are different ways to donate to AER, such as through the Combined
Federal Campaign, one-time or monthly recurring donations with credit cards, debit cards or PayPal, or through payroll allotment for active duty and retired Soldiers. To learn more about AER, you can visit the local office at ACS, Building 7790 on Hainerberg or call 0611-143-548-9201. Follow the AER Facebook page facebook. com/AERHQ for the latest program news and developments.
Civil Protection Medal of Honor presentation Courtesy Story U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
At a July 13 ceremony hosted by the Baden-Wuerttemberg Minister of Interior, Thomas Strobl,the State’s Civil Protection Medal of Honor was presented to Sean Schulze, the USAREUR-AF U.S. Forces Liaison Officer for the German States of Baden-Württemberg and Thuringia. The Civil Protection Decoration is awarded to people who have made a special contribution to civil protection and furthered civil protection operations. Other recipients were members of the Red Cross, the Technichen Hilfswerk, firefighters, and members of volunteer organizations who respond to disasters such as flooding or mass shootings.
home.army.mil/wiesbaden
Photo by Steffen Schmid
Colonel Matt Ziglar, Stuttgart Garrison Commander, Thomas Strobl, Interior Minister of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Sean Schulze, US Forces LNO to B-W, and Michael Anderson, Director, Government Relations, US Army Europe-Africa. The Civil Protection Badge of Honor that Schulze received is indicative of the work that he and his fellow US Forces Liaisons in Germany,and Host Nation Advisors in Poland and Italy,perform for USAREURAF under the leadership of
Mike Anderson, the Director of Government Relations. Collectively they maintain, cultivate, and foster good relations and links with Host Nation authorities.In this instance, the award is a sign of recognition and appreciation to liaisons
such as Schulze and members of relief organizations who further the civil protection of the state of Baden-Württemberg, the fire brigades, and the technical relief organization. The award is presented annually and is limited to 20 per year.
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The fact that Strobl personally presented the award, as both the Minister of Interior and the Deputy Minister President of the State, is indicative of how much the state values the close German-American relations that Schulze fosters each day.
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Wiesbaden Garrison ho says goodbye to comma Story and photos by Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
The U. S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden held its annual organization day July 30 and used the opportunity while all the Garrison members were together to say goodbye to Garrison Command Sergeant Major Chris Truchon. Truchon is leaving the garrison to become the command sergeant major at Installation Management CommandEurope. Garrison members began the day at the Clay Sports Field in Newman Village to participate in kick ball, flag football, soccer and a corn hole game. At lunch time the group moved over to the old
post office area, building 1032, to eat, say goodbye to Truchon and to participate in more games. Many of the directorate chiefs thanked Truchon for his leadership and presented him with special gifts. His wife, Gwyn, received a special gift from the spouses club with thanks from Elizabeth Washington, wife of Garrison Commander, Col. Mario Washington. A traditional cake cutting was observed with Command Sgt. Maj. Truchon, his wife, Gwyn, and a young summer hire employee, Josh Kaiser, cutting the cake for the employees of the Garrison to enjoy. The employees spent the afternoon playing velcro darts, badminton, Bingo and mingling before ending the day.
Image by Milena_Bo/Shutterstock.com
Col. Mario Washington, Garrison Wiesbaden commander, Mitchell Jones, deputy to the garrison commander and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Truchon, show the plaque given to the command sergeant major for his goodbye from the Garrison.
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Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Truchon, his wife, Gwyn, and summer hire employee, Josh Kaiser, cut the goodbye cake for the command sergeant major at the Organization Day.
Herald Union
August 19, 2021
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olds organization day, and sergeant major
Gwyn Truchon, wife of the Wiesbaden Command Sgt. Maj., received a special thank you gift of a hand-carved table, from the spouses club, as Garrison Commander Col. Mario Washington, his wife, Elizabeth and Command Sgt. Maj, Chris Truchon look on.
Members of the Wiesbaden Garrison community play velcro darts during organization day July 30.
One of the games that the Garrison Wiesbaden staff members participated in was a soccer game at the Clay Sports Field during organization day July 30.
Members of the Garrison Wiesbaden enjoy a game of flag football during organization day July 30.
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August 19, 2021
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Wiesbaden community begins free rides for intoxicated members Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden A newly formed private organization, Armed Forces Against Drunk Driving, has been approved through U.S Army Garrison Wiesbaden to provide free rides to intoxicated Wiesbaden ID cardholders beginning July 30.
The organization is staffed through volunteers and will be in operation every Friday and Saturday and on special military events, holiday weekends and training holidays in accordance with USAREUR/
USAREUR-AF calendar schedules. “This is an outstanding new initiative that will not only increase the safety of all members of our community, but may also save lives,” said Command Sgt. Major Christopher Truchon, USAG Wiesbaden Command Sgt. Major. Volunteers will be on standby between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to pick up individuals up to 15 kilometers from the center of Clay Kaserne and will drive them up to 30 kilometers to their residence. Safety rules have been put into place for the riders and drivers of the program. A single female caller will be picked up by an unaccompanied or accompanied female driver. A single female driver will not pick up a single or group of males. A single male caller will be picked up by an unaccom-
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A newly formed private organization, Armed Forces Against Drunk Driving, has been approved through U.S Army Garrison Wiesbaden to provide free rides to intoxicated Wiesbaden ID cardholders. panied or accompanied male driver. A single male driver will not pick up females. A pickup of a couple or group comprised of both female and male members is authorized.
The free rides are available to all U.S. Department of Defense and NATO military and U.S. civilian employees who are a part of the Wiesbaden military community.
The phone number for the rides is 0151 68758463. The email for more information and to inquire on being a volunteer driver is usarmy.wiesbaden.usareur-af. mbx.af-aadd@mail.mil
Chaplain Corps celebrates 246 years of service Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
The Chaplain Corps celebrated 246 years July 29 with a cake cutting and speeches at the Clay Chapel on Clay Kaserne under a blue sky and white clouds. Maj. Daniel L. Claypoole, U.S .Army Garrison Wiesbaden Chaplain, began the celebration and had several Chaplain Corps members tell the stories of individual chaplains and religious affairs specialists
who served in the corps and their sacrifices during each of our country’s wars. The celebration included a cake cutting with the youngest religious affairs specialist, Spec. John Thompson and the oldest chaplain, Lt. Col. David Meyer, cutting a cake to share with the community members present. Col. Jack J. Stumme, Command Chaplain and Sgt. Maj. Wyman E. Loveless Jr, Chief Religious Affairs non commission officer, both with U.S. Army Europe-Africa, assisted with the cake cutting.
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August 19, 2021
Photo by Connie Dickey
The Chaplain Corps celebrated 246 years July 29 with a cake cutting and speeches at the Clay Chapel on Clay Kaserne.
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Working through request for orders for movement Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
If Soldiers find incorrect data on their orders, they should notify reassignments so that office can verify the correct information and create
an amendment to the order so the Soldier can continue to out process. Neal emphasized that orders can only be cut 120 days before
departure, and said the Soldiers’ availability date to leave Germany is three days before their date estimated return from overseas and the Soldiers No Later
Than date is six days after their DEROS. He said if a Soldier chooses to take in country leave their leave must be before their DEROS or NLT date.
Human Resources offices as well as military members are finding themselves especially busy during this time of year, which is traditionally referred to as Permanent Change of Station season, with getting orders and getting processed to move to another assignment. The post reassignment office does the Request for Orders once they receive assignment notification from the Human Resources Command, but Soldiers are responsible for getting their packet together, providing the Military Personnel Division with their required documents according to a checklist they receive from reassignments. According to Kerry Neal, human resource assistant, it usually takes from 30 to 60 days to get orders once reassignments sends out an RFO. He said once the Soldier submits their completed RFO packet to their S1 Personnel, there is nothing remaining for Soldiers need to take a personal interest in working through the process in receiving orders for any permanent change of station move. them to do.
Photo by military.com
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Garrison summer hires receive certificates for participation
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Photo by Connie Dickey
The group of Wiesbaden Garrison summer hires pose with their certificates along with the Garrison Commander, Col. Mario Washington, the Deputy to the Garrison Commander, Mitchell Jones and the Garrison Command Sergeant Major Chris Truchon. The 2021 Summer Hire session has ended on Wiesbaden Garrison and the youth who participated were given certificates of appreciation during the Garrison’s organization day July 30. For six weeks, 13 youth worked at Outdoor Recreation, the Golf Course, the Directorate of Public Works and the Postal Services Center to gain work experience. “I really enjoyed meeting new people and learning first hand how the Garrison functions,” Raymundo Ochoa said. Ochoa spent his six weeks working at the the Garrison post office.
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August 19, 2021
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Commissaries, industry suppliers partner to create more opportunities to save for military community Courtesy Story U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden More opportunities to save are on the horizon for commissary customers thanks to a new initiative created by the Defense Commissary Agency and its industry suppliers.
Courtesy graphic
The Commissary began a new savings campaign in August. Known as “Come Home to Savings, Shop Your Local Commissary,” this joint DeCA and industry promotion will be coming to commissaries worldwide starting in August, said DeCA Director and CEO Bill Moore. “We are partnering with our network of manufacturers, sup-
pliers and distributors to offer our service members and their families even more savings,” he said. “We’re not only offering everyday savings and weekend and seasonal events, but we’re also putting special emphasis on health and wellness.” There are several ways customers can “Come Home to Savings.” In-store promotions, the Commissary CLICK2GO curbside service, and DeCA’s website, www.commissaries. com especially with digital coupons, will all lead to these special savings. The following are some ways customers will access “Come Home to Savings”opportunities:
• Commissary Rewards Cards
Customers without rewards cards can ask any employee at their commissary for one and register it on the MyCommissary portal to set up a customer account. Once registered, they can download digital coupons instantly and enter to win special events and giveaways.
• In-Store Coupons
Customers may find a multitude of in-store high-value
U.S. Army photo by Kristen Beckman
Eric Jones, Commissary store worker, restocks supplies May 28, 2020, at the Wiesbaden Commissary. Meat sold in the Commissary is sourced from the U.S. coupons located on the shelves, as well as when they walk in the door and find militaryaffiliated free magazines that include commissary/militaryonly coupons.
• Commissary Store Brands
Commissaries have their own private label brands offering quality comparable to national brands with even deeper savings. Look for DeCA’s own store brands, Freedom’s Choice and HomeBase, as well as other private label brands such as Full Circle organics, Tippy Toes baby products, Wide Awake ready-to-drink coffee products, Crav’n comfort food products, Pure Harmony pet food; TopCare health and beauty and Flock’s Finest wild bird food.
INVEST IN YOUR OWN FUTURE • Individual planning, Germany wide and Benelux etc. • Use your LQA, OHA and other allowances for your own home • Mortgages available to service members, DoD civilians, contractors • Also to EU/ UN / NATO employees, non-German tax-payers and expatriates • More than 20 years of experience
• Your Health and Wellness Programs
The Dietitian-Approved Thumb makes it easier for shoppers to find high-performance, nutrient-dense foods; look for the DAT label on shelves. Dietitian-approved Fueling Stations offer nutritious on-the-go meals and snacks. Posters in the center store highlight affordable and nutritious dietitian-approved quick and easy-to-make meals. There is a “dietitian alongside you” at your commissary.
• YES! Program
The Your Everyday Savings Program offers everyday great savings on many of the items that customers buy frequently. The items are marked by bright orange and blue YES! labels.
• Deal of the Week.
On select Thursdays in commissaries located in the U.S., customers will find seasonal products with slashed sales
prices. These deals last three to four days while quantities last. Look for Deal of the Week signage and the Sales Flyer for super discount pricing.
• Saving the Best for Last!
Throughout the entire month of August commissary customers worldwide will have the opportunity to win a $500 shopping spree. The winners will be awarded their prizes in Commissary Gift Cards. On Aug. 14, stateside commissaries will host a Come Home to Savings Excitement Day,” offering product sampling and instant giveaways such as Commissary Gift Cards and high-value coupons while supplies last. “Come home to the savings you deserve is the message we’re communicating to our customers,” Moore said. “We are here to help them find the very best deals in grocery shopping every day on the installation – that’s what this campaign is all about.”
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NEWS & FEATURES Clay Kaserne fitness facility gets new basketball court
Photo by Alfredo Barraza
The physical fitness facility on Clay Kaserne is sporting a new basketball court, thanks to repairs finished July 14. U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Commander, Col. Mario Washington,Mitchell Jones, deputy to the garrison commander,Sascha Richardson and Klaus Hahn cut the ribbon to officially open the court July 22. Preliminary planning began in September 2019 with construction starting in No-
vember 2020 to replace the original court floor from 2006. The approximate cost for the new flooring is $1.5 million and included minor repairs to accommodate wood expansion due to humidity along with it becoming FIBA Euroleague certified with a completely new substructure. The court is now a mutli-purpose sports flooring with the Wiesbaden Garrison Crest as the center court logo!
The Family Morale Welfare Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation is sponsoring an event to get the community involved in its celebration.
Family Morale Welfare Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation celebrates 50th anniversary Connie Dickey U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
The Family Morale Welfare Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation is sponsoring an event to get the community involved in its celebration.
Visit the outdoor recreation facility on North Clay to register and pick up a special 50th anniversary item. Then go outside, participate in an activity, snap a photo of you and the special item doing the outside activity and post it to their Instagram accounts. Entries must be tagged “@armyodr”and “#armyodr50” in the caption.
Courtesy photo
To celebrate Outdoor Recreation’s 50th anniversary, the facility is sponsoring a contest for the community.
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Prizes will be awarded for the winning photos. The contest runs until Sept. 7. The Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation is now located in its state-of-the-art facility in Building 3400 on Clay North. The new ODR center houses the customer service hub along with their equipment, two class rooms, full service bicycle and ski shops along with ODR parks & picnic grounds available for Organization Days and private parties. “If you are seeking adventure and exploration, join ODR. We offer year-round adventure programs, cultural tours, educational classes, leisure travel trips along with private tours to destination locations throughout Europe,” Joseph Harris, ODR facility manager, said. He said that even though ODR teaches life-long skills, it also provides educational, certifications and hunting, fishing and sport shooting and many other programs throughout the year. “Soldiers and Military Units assigned to, or stationed at USAG Wiesbaden are able to participate in the Warrior Adventure Quest programs hosted by ODR,” Harris said. Community members can enjoy a wide selection of camping and other equipment including bicycles, canopies, dunk tank, grills, skis, snowboards, tents and much more.
Photo by Ila Dermanoski
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Commander, Col. Mario Washington, Mitchell Jones, deputy to the garrison commander, Sascha Richardson and Klaus Hahn cut the ribbon to officially open the court July 22.
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Hunters show expertise at Golden Buck Competition Stephanie Douglass Wiesbaden Hunting, fishing and sports shooting Marketing & Advertising Coordinator For many decades, American and German hunters of the local hunting association, Jägerschaft Wiesbaden, have come together to compete in the Golden Buck marksmanship competition. The 2020 competition had been postponed numerous times due to Covid-19 restrictions but the group was able to assemble on July 17 to compete once more. The Golden Buck competition consists of shooting three rifle rounds while standing from 100 meters at a Roe Buck target; the same target used to train and test for the German hunting license. An additional three rounds are then shot seated, but at a smaller target to represent the distance of 200 meters. With a maximum of 60 points possible (10 points per shot) the highest score wins the Golden Buck Trophy. Additionally, shooters earn gold, silver or bronze hat pins according to the score they achieve in the match. Of the 12 competitors this year, five shooters obtained a 59-60 point score. Since there was no perfect round, the top five competitors then shot at an even smaller target resembling a 300-meter attempt in order to determine one winner. Wiesbaden Hunting, Fishing, and Sport Shooting program’s Alex Brink was one of the top shooters, but was outshot by winner,Thomas von Heesen, shooting his 6.5 Creedmoor. Von Heesen’s name will be added to the Golden Buck Trophy which will be
prominently displayed at the JSW. His will be the first name to be engraved on the new trophy which was donated by Steven and Liam Steininger in 2019 after the previous trophy fell into disrepair from years of use. Ehrenscheiben, or ‘honor plates’ were also donated by Steven Steininger and added another round of competition for the remaining shooters. Traditionally these plates are artfully decorated,and are quite popular among shooters. A white dot was placed on the Erenscheiben and each competitor had one shot to get the closet and claim the plate to take home. By mere millimeters, Ralph Gerstenberger, shooting his .222 Remington, edged out both John Meyer and Steve Steininger for the win. Though, as evidenced by the other shots on the Erenscheiben, the competition was full of excellent shooters. The Golden Buck is just one of four shooting competitions hosted by the JSV each year for hunters. The upcoming Handgun-Shotgun Cup will be held August 21, followed by the Wild Boar “Schwarzkittel Pokal” on October 2, and next April the JSW will hold the Predator Cup, also known as the Fox Trophy. Hunters can also qualify for Deutsche Jagdverband, or German Hunting Federation, qualification pins at these competitions.
Photo by Steven Steininger
Steven Steininger preparing to shoot the standing 100-meter Roe Buck target.
For more information contact WI-HFSS Hunting Coordinator John Thruelsen hfssac. hunting@gmail.com or visit Facebook @ hfsswiesbaden.
Photo by Steven Steininger Photo by Steven Steininger
Holes in the Ehrenscheiben, or honor plate, show the skill of all of the competitors for the Golden Buck Trophy.
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Ehrenscheiben winner Ralph Gerstenberger, Golden Buck Trophy winner Thomas von Heesen and third place competitor Ralph Mack pose with their awards.
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New hunters initiated in Jägerschlag Stephanie Douglass Wiesbaden Hunting, fishing and sports shooting Marketing & Advertising Coordinator
The Wiesbaden Hunting, Fishing and Sport Shooting program initiated its newest group of Jungjäger and Jungjägerinnen at the Jägerschlag held at the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation July 13. After completing months of extensive classwork and marksmanship practice, all while navigating the challenges and restrictions brought by Covid-19, students passed both written and oral exams, as well as shooting qualifications in order to fulfill requirements to obtain their Jagdshein, or German Hunting License. The Jägerschlag is a time honored ceremony that dates to the Middle Ages, and consists of three Schläge, or strikes.The induction, likened to a knighting, consists of three blows that signify the initiation of the hunter, that they hunt righteously, and that they always keep the Hunter’s Code of Honor. The ceremony was officiated by Weisbaden’s subordinate hunting authority chief, Ralph Mann, who administered the 800+year-old oath to the new hunters. The Jägerschlag is steeped with tradition and culture that all point back to a responsibility of conservation that German hunters are entrusted with. “I was drawn in by the great hunting community, and the German hunting traditions,” said Jungjäger Alex Brink. “I also saw the hunting course as an op-
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Photo by Stephanie Douglass
Jungjäger and Jungjägerinnen were inducted into the German hunting guild during Jägerschlag ceremony July 13 portunity to increase my knowledge and skills as an outdoorsman.” Erika Gardner, president of the local German hunting association, Jägerschaft Weisbaden, was in participation and gifted each new hunter books about German hunting and wild game recipes. Throughout the ceremony, Jägerschaft Wiesbaden Bläsercorps sounded traditional hunting music and fanfares with their horns. Songs such as Sammel des Jaegers (Gather the Hunters) and Auf,Auf zum Fröhlich Jagen (On to Happy Hunting) are traditionally played
by horn corps to hunters in the field, and are examples of Germany’s long-standing hunting traditions. It was the Bläsercorps first public performance in over a year, and their enthusiasm was evident as they played their bright, resonant songs. The presence of the Jägerschaft Wiesbaden contributed greatly to the authenticity and camaraderie of the evening. The event was the first Jägerschlag held since Covid-19 related restrictions had eased, and was a successful gathering of the American and German hunting communities, as well as family and friends. It was also an opportunity for new hunters from previously held hunting courses to participate, as many Jägerschlag ceremonies were cancelled or postponed during lockdowns. “For many of the new hunters, this was their first traditional German event. This event signified for us and our German partners that we are willing and able to proceed with such important social and traditional events in the shadow of COVID-19,” said Wiesbaden HFSS Hunting Coordinator John Thruelsen. For the Jungjäger and Junjägerinnen, obtaining a Jägerbrief and German Hunting License is an honorable accomplishment that few Germans achieve, and even fewer Americans. For more information about the U. S. Forces German Hunting Course, find the Wiesbaden HFSS on Facebook @hfsswiesbaden, or contact USAG Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation.
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