Inside
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Partnership
Read Across America
Spc. Broc Thorud said he would take a soccer ball with him on a one-way ticket to Mars. Read more on page 2.
Wiesbaden units exchange training, experience with host nation partners. See pages 3 and 5.
Wiesbaden schools celebrate Dr. Seuss, the fun of reading. See page 12.
erald Union H Vol. XXII, No. 11
Wiesbaden: Your home in Germany
March 12, 2015
Hainerberg Access control begins March 15 Story and photo by Shayna Brouker U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office
Photo by Shayna Brouker
‘AIDA’ reigns
Nubian slaves raise up their princess Aida, played by Hannah Cornish, in Wiesbaden High School Music and Theatre Departments’ production of the musical by Elton John and Tim Rice March 7. See story on page 6.
Army Emergency Relief campaign kicks off Story and photo by Shayna Brouker
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office
From car repairs to mortgage payments, Army Emergency Relief is here to help Soldiers and families in need — like the 139 Soldiers in Wiesbaden who received $236,000 in loans and grants from funds raised by the community in 2014. March 6 marked the kickoff for this year’s campaign to raise funds that enable “Soldiers helping Soldiers.” AER is a non-profit organization established in 1942 to provide emergency financial assistance to Soldiers and their families. It offers interest-free loans and grants to those needing emergency financial help with rent and mortgage, utilities and deposits,
food, medical and dental expenses and a slew of other needs. “This is a very important campaign that will raise funds that help keep your Soldiers focused on their mission,” said Mary Cheney, Army Community Services AER officer, speaking to Wiesbaden AER project officers March 6. Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Steven Broadway, senior emergency assistance administrator for AER, spoke to the project officers about why the campaign is so important. He would know. Once, as a junior enlisted Soldier, he applied for a loan to help with a car repair — and the AER officer threw his application in the trash and said, “We don’t fix cars.” He had to hitch-hike to work during a bitter Fort Carson, Colo. winter until his next paycheck
would pay for the repairs. “I was an E-6 before I thought AER did any good,” he said. “I vowed that if I ever got a chance to impact that area, I would. I never turn down a loan application for car repairs.” Now, 74 percent of AER dollars assist with privately owned vehicle repairs, rent or mortgage payments and emergency travel. “Those alone make it worthwhile to keep AER alive and well. We need to keep the fund healthy,” he said. “Where else would Soldiers go — loan sharks and high-interest loans? It’s terrible to think about.” Assistance is requested through the chain of command, and Soldiers rank E-5 and above do not need chain of command approval. Yet de-
See AER on page 4
Transformation of the Wiesbaden community footprint continues with Hainerberg Housing becoming access-controlled beginning March 15. It is necessary to prepare for the opening of the new Post Exchange on April 17. The closure of Hainerberg Housing has been in the planning process for the past five years and has always been tied to the opening of the new Exchange, said Lt. Col. Joe Hissim, Director of Emergency Services. It will be open only to those normally authorized access to controlled U.S. military installations. “With the new PX, it was not feasible to continue securing individual facilities, [such
as] the schools, PX and the Taunus movie theater. It is more economical to have one access control point for the entire Hainerberg Housing,” said Roger Gerber, Director of Transformation Stationing Management Office. In addition, German authorities require the Army to control access to the Exchange for tax and customs purposes, similar to operations at the current PX. “Besides the cost savings of a single access control point, a controlled perimeter also allows us to provide additional security to all our large gathering areas such as the Wiesbaden lodge, the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center and the commissary,” added Hissim. A temporary access control point on WashingSee Hainerberg on page 3
The new Exchange on Hainerberg is scheduled to open April 17.