Inside
Frankfurt museums
Elite NCOs
Reader feedback
Sergeant Morales Club welcomes “the best of the best.” See page 3.
Sgt. Luis Diaz, 214th Aviation, said he’d like to compete in the bobsled event at the Winter Olympics. See page 2 for more feedback.
erald Union H Vol. XVI, No. 8
Go back to a time of kings or explore modern art. See pages 16 and 17.
Wiesbaden: Your home in Germany
Jan. 30, 2014
School fix-up
Multibillion dollar projects to improve DoDD schools in Europe By Vince Little
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District, Public Affairs Office
Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe and U.S. Army Corps of EngineersEurope District are engaged in a robust military construction program designed to revitalize dilapidated schoolhouses, some of which were built in the postWorld War II era. It’s part of a multibilliondollar effort by the Department of Defense Education Activity to replace or renovate more than 130 schools worldwide based on age or failing conditions. The vision is to align 21stcentury instruction and learning concepts with state-of-the-art facilities that maximize energy and sustainability features while giving military children the best possible opportunities during their intellectual growth, officials said. Units, agencies and organizations throughout DoD face rapidly changing strategic and fiscal realities. However, the need for new schools at a time of
budget uncertainty boils down to upkeep, said Jose Tovar, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe facilities manager. “Maintenance requires a lot of investment — many of our assets date to the 1940s and ‘50s. The infrastructure has deteriorated, and costs are high,” he said. “Broken walls, chipped paint, aging classrooms, and old heating and cooling systems are not conducive to good learning environments. It’s more cost effective to replace it than fix it.” In 2008 DoDEA submitted a report to Congress on the condition of its facilities worldwide. Tovar said DoDEA now conducts those assessments every three years, and they serve as the basis for what’s being done to refurbish old schools or build new ones. The DoDEA military construction initiative began in October 2010 and is expected to run through fiscal year 2019. Europe’s portion includes more See School fix-up on page 11
Photo by Chrystal Smith
Fighting his way out of trouble Spc. Chad Nunes actively punches and kicks against the pressure of the battle pads to simulate warding off an attacker during a session of Professional Law Enforcement Training for the 529th Military Police Company Jan. 21 in the Wiesbaden Fitness Center.
Changes to Army separation policy offers Soldiers options By David Vergun Army News Service
The Enlisted Voluntary Early Separation Program and Enlisted Involuntary Early Separation Program have some important changes that took effect Jan. 1.
Voluntary separation
The Enlisted Voluntary Early Separation Program is designed for Soldiers who have employment offers and want to separate before the expiration of their term of service, or ETS. Photo by Karl Weisel They can now request getHainerberg Elementary School and Wiesbaden Middle ting out up to 180 days before School are among the DoDD Schools that will see major their ETS. Soldiers can request the replacement or renovation in the future.
separation through their local commanders, if they can show adequate salary or compensation from their potential civilian employers, and that the separation won’t hurt their ability to support their families, said James R. Bragg, branch chief for Retention and Reclassification — Involuntary/Voluntary Separation program, Human Resources Command, at Fort Knox, Ky. Bragg added that of that 180day maximum period, the Soldier would need a minimum of 90 days for normal transition/ separation processing. The previous voluntary separation policy was for Soldiers
planning to attend college. That policy allows them to separate up to 90 days early, so they can begin their semester work, Bragg said. That policy remains in effect. Nothing has changed with that policy. The new policy allowing for early separation for a job opportunity can be “good for the Soldiers and their families” as they transition, Bragg said. Further details of the changes can be found in All Army Activity message 340/2013.
Involuntary separation The Enlisted Involuntary
See Separation policy on page 6