March 15, 2013
HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?
Volume 37, number 10
Ramstein: It’s your home, take pride in it by Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
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Lt. Gen. Donald M. Campbell Jr., U.S. Army Europe commander, discusses Sgt. Megan Loveland’s plans after the Army during a chat at U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s new transition center on Kleber Kaserne.
New transition center helps Soldiers achieve post-military goals
aking care of the base is important for the well-being of everyone who lives, works and visits here. “Ramstein is the same as our house. We want people to see it looking good and show that we have pride in Team Ramstein,” said Staff Sgt. Anitrea Bryan, 86th Airlift Wing knowledge operation manager and facility manager. One way for everyone on base to help is participating in the annual spring clean-up April 26. Spring clean-up is for all military and civilians living and working on Ramstein to come together and clean everywhere on base. This is an older base and has a lot of history. It’s
important for everyone to take care of not only its future, but its fascinating past. Rheinland-Pfalz and the surrounding area have been around for years and taking care of the base ensures it’s stability for future generations. “Airmen walking through Ramstein may not be aware of it, but ancient German settlers, Romans and other medieval societies walked the same pathways and hunted in the forests of Ramstein,” said Bill Harris, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa history, museums and art programs director. “From a (philosophical) point of view the base is a living, breathing artifact.” Ramstein, built in 1952, was designed by French engineers, built by Germans and operSee PRIDE, Page 2
Story and photos by Rick Scavetta U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern Public Affairs
Tip of the Week Mornings are still low visibility. Wear reflective belts.
MXS completes AFSO event Airman 1st Class James Duncan, 86th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs a step in an overall check on a C-130J Super Hercules being reviewed by the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Feb. 27 on Ramstein. AFSO21 is a continuous process improvement focused on generating efficiencies and improving combat capabilities across the Air Force. For more on this story, see Page 3.
FEATURES
See CENTER, Page 9
Photo by Airman 1st Class Jordan Castelan
LIFESTYLES
After Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell cut the ribbon on U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s new transition center, the U.S. Army Europe commander spoke with Sgt. Megan Loveland about her leaving the Army. Loveland, an Indiana native who serves as a medic with 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, served four years, including a tour in a combat zone. At Kleber Kaserne, she recently underwent courses on employment, education, finances and veterans’ benefits. “Do you have a plan?” Campbell asked. “What are you going to do?” “I do, Sir,” said Loveland, who plans to leave the Army in late April. “Having a plan, that’s the most important thing.” Helping Soldiers plan for their lives after the military is the aim of Army Career and Alumni Program staff at the garrison’s new center. The center’s resources can help Soldiers transition out from federal service to become a productive member of the workforce, said Lt. Col. Lars Zetterstrom, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern. “We owe it to our Soldiers to help them transition back to civilian society at the best degree possible,” Zetterstrom said.
Civilian sees son en route to deployment, Page 8
Lautern bursts into bloom, Page 20
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As of March 12
711