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Grow speech skills with Toastmasters, Page 3
Ramstein welcomes Senegal Air Force leadership, Page 10
Baumholder Bucs DODEA Champions, Page 16
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March 2, 2018 | Volume 42, Number 9
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21st OWS: Writers of the storm by Senior Airman Devin M. Rumbaugh 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Airmen assigned to the 21st Operational Weather Squadron stand for a photo Feb. 14 on Kapaun Air Station. The Airmen were a vital part of documenting and alerting Department of Defense personnel in Europe of record-breaking winter storm Friederike which struck western Europe. Photo by Senior Airman Devin M. Rumbaugh
Planning for operations in the military takes information from multiple sources including weather. When 4,000 troops were at risk due to a record-breaking storm, Airmen from the 21st Operational Weather Squadron sprang into action. They began tracking winter storm Friederike from infancy to a record storm persisting three days in northern Europe Jan. 17 to 19. The 21st OWS observes and reports weather patterns for all of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. At any given time approximately 20 weather technicians are on watch. “We started looking at this storm around 13 of January,” said 2nd Lt. Scott LaVoise, 21st OWS weather operations officer. “As it materialized, we issued the special weather statement giving all areas forecasted to be involved a heads up.” See WRITERS, Page 2
New Parent Support Program offers support for families by Airman 1st Class Alexis C. Schultz 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs For parents who are expecting and those who already have children, the 86th Medical Group’s New Parent Support Program can offer information, support, and guidance. With a team of registered nurses, the NPSP provides assistance in the areas of pregnancy, labor and delivery, child care and safety, and more. The program gives parents the opportunity to express concerns and ask ques-
tions about their infants and young children. Families learn new skills while improving old ones with resources the program teaches them. The NPSP provides information and referrals, a support group for parents, as well as a library with books and DVDs. Tara Coenen, New Parent Support Program family advocacy nurse, says parents can attend classes such as prenatal and post-partum care, breast feeding, infant massage, and infant and toddler parenting.
“It really is a wonderful program,” said Coenen. “I feel very honored to help even one family.” NPSP registered nurses work with parents to arrange home and office visits at times that work for families. Home visits give parents a chance to talk with a professional about their pregnancy and parenting issues in the comfort of their own homes. Coenen explained that even if parents have already raised a child, they are still eligible to be a part of the NPSP.
The program helps families adjust to new challenges often experienced as their family grows. “You have to have compassion,” said Coenen. “I have been able to connect to these families more than I ever have before. It’s an honor to be let into someone’s space. It’s their home.” Department of Defense ID card holders are eligible to be a part of the program. For more information, call the New Parent Support Program at 06371-46-2098.