AFriCAn GenerAlS viSit US trAininG AreAS

GeS kindergarteners trick-or-treat Grafenwoehr Mayor

Grafenwoehr Elementary School kindergarteners exchange Halloween candy with Grafenwoehr Mayor Edgar Knobloch, Oct. 21, 2021. All three kindergarten classes of GES attended this educational field trip.

GrAFENWOEHr, Germany — In the spirit of Halloween, Grafenwoehr Elementary School kindergarteners donned costumes and visited the Grafenwoehr rathaus and Mayor Edgar Knobloch on Thursday, Oct. 21. Per American tradition, the host nation mayor distributed trick-or-treat candy to the children, and in return, the children surprised him with sweets of their own.

According to Erica Finlay, a kindergarten teacher with GES, the school has a long-standing tradition of arranging class field trips to the city hall. However, the field trip was not held last year due to COVID-19.

“This is the first off-campus field trip of the year,” said Finlay. “Also, this is our first field trip since COVID-19 impacted the world.” All three kindergarten classes of GES attended this educational outing. Together, they surprised the mayor by reciting a poem — in German — about autumn.

Before heading back to GES, the kindergarteners were given an opportunity to spend a few euros at the city center’s autumn festival, or Herbstfest. This farmers’ market celebrates the season’s harvest and the community as a whole.

“It helps the children learn more about the community around them, and it helps them learn about the person who runs the town,” Finlay said. “Plus, it’s nice for them to be out in the world and get out of the classroom.”

to view additional photos of the field trip, scan Code. GrAFENWOEHr, Germany - 30 representatives from various African nations and NATO allies visited US training areas in the Upper Palatinate for four days. The so-called "African Land Forces Colloquium" was organized by the Southern European Task Force - Africa (SETAF-AF) of the U.S. Army, stationed in Vicenza, Italy.

Major Gen. Andrew rohling, the commanding general of the South European reaction Force Africa of the US Army describes the African countries as important partners when it comes to global security. The colloquium is also intended to promote the dialogue between the African countries to clarify questions of military training independently and among each other.

The meeting was the first visit by African generals and other high-ranking military officers since the incorporation of the Southern European Task Force - Africa into the US Army Europe and Africa. Its commander, Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, also attended the colloquium one day. Cavoli was the commander of 7th Army Training Command (7ATC) in Grafenwoehr from 2014 to 2016.

7ATC also introduced the African guests to the excellent exercise opportunities at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas. In addition to insights into current training exercises, target construction equipment and electronic devices for recording hits on targets were presented on range 118. The intent was to provide the African partners with suggestions and examples for their own military training and the establishment of an infrastructure on their training grounds.

| by Gerald Morgenstern

Major Gen. Andrew rohling (third from left) and the 7th Army Training Command presented the training opportunities and infrastructure of the Upper Palatinate training areas to African generals and NATO allies at the African Land Forces Colloquium.

HIGH CoSTS SHouLD STIMuLATE uSAG BAVARIA ENERGy CoNSuMERS To ACTIoN

HOHENFELS, Germany — October is Energy Action Month, and if you need any motivation to take action, look at the high cost of energy consumption.

This October has seen higher than normal energy prices, which has an impact on the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria bill as well as your household bill.

Knowing that most of a household’s energy consumption goes into heating, the first thing you can check is whether your thermostat follows your weekly routine. Make sure your temperature is lowered during the night and when the house is empty.

Are your lights and appliances energy efficient? Look for energy-efficient products that will help you save money in the long term. To help you choose the best product, the EU has developed energy labels, with the same goal as the US ENErGY STAr label. revised European energy labels have been launched for some products such as fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, television sets, light bulbs and lamps. More product categories will follow in the coming years.

The new labels show a simpler scale (from A to G), replacing the previous ones where more and more products were achieving ratings as A++ or A+++. This new scale is stricter so don’t be surprised to see more products in the B, C or D categories as it leaves space for even more technology improvement in the future. Scan the Qr code on the label to get even more information on the model you are looking at.

| by Paul Hlawatsch, USAG Bavaria Energy Manager

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USAG BAvAriA UnveilS 15 new hoMeS

The Tower and Rose Barracks Post office hours are extending for the holiday season! The extended hours will start on Monday, Nov. 1, and end Friday, Jan. 7.

Col. Patrick Dagon (right), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District commander, presents U. S. Army Garrison Bavaria Garrison Command Col. Christopher Danbeck with a symbolic key to the neighborhood during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at rose Barracks on Oct. 6, 2021.

VILSECK, Germany — On Wednesday, Oct. 6, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of 15 new family homes in the Kittenberg Housing Area of rose Barracks. This achievement successfully concludes phase two of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria’s ongoing project to provide new homes to service members in Vilseck.

USAG Bavaria, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District and Staatliches Bauamt Amberg-Sulzbach (also known as the State Construction Office of Amberg-Sulzbach) partnered together to construct and reveal the new housing units.

According to roman Beer, director of Staatliches Bauamt Amberg-Sulzbach, the second phase started in September 2017. By 2020, 14 homes were completed and made available for Soldiers and their families to move in. The homes revealed at this ceremony bring the total number to 29 for this phase.

“In constructive collaboration with our planners, our clients, the Corps of Engineers and our contractors, we again completed a great construction project,” said Beer. “Today, we are celebrating the inauguration of 15 new residential buildings.”

These new three and four-bedroom homes are reserved for junior non-commissioned officers and their families. According to the USACE Europe District Commander, Col. Pat Dagon, these new homes will improve the quality of life for those that move in.

“This project is special to us because we know that service members and their families will be moving in.” Dagon said. “Hopefully these homes will make them a little more comfortable.”

The new homes come equipped with new amenities and have the latest cooling and heating technology — meeting both U.S. and German standards for housing. Furthermore, skylights, solar panels, STAr-rated appliances, fire suppression systems and remote garage door openings come standard in these quarters.

Members of USAG Bavaria, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractors that worked on phase two of the rose Barracks housing project tour the newly constructed homes after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at rose Barracks, Oct. 6, 2021.

Additionally, one of the houses is constructed to be compliant with American Disability Act standards.

During the ceremony, Dagon presented USAG Bavaria Garrison Commander Col. Christopher Danbeck with a symbolic key to the neighborhood.

“It’s a huge team effort. I’m really proud of our partnership with USAG Bavaria,” Dagon said. “We take great pride in being able to coordinate and lead the project delivery team to construct one of these houses, in this case, 29 of them.”

“I’m grateful to have such strong partners like Col. Dagon and his team at USACE and my hard-working team here at USAG Bavaria, especially the Directorate of Public Works,” said Danbeck. “I also want to thank Mr. Schertl for his continued support and the support of Vilseck.”

Mr. Hans-Martin Schertl, the Vilseck Mayor, was also in attendance.

“It’s great to be here today revealing new homes,” Schertl said. “New homes in Vilseck means a great future for Vilseck. It’s great to see that the Army is investing in this installation.”

The new homes will be available for occupants to move in soon.

The third and final phase of the housing project will bring 36 more homes to Vilseck. This phase is projected to start in March 2022 and be completed in April 2024.

| by Julian Temblador

From left to right, Mr. roman Beer, Col. Christopher Danbeck, Command Sgt. Maj. Sebastian Camacho, Col. Patrick Dagon, and Vilseck Mayor Hans-Martin Schertl cut a ribbon to signify the completion of 15 newly constructed homes at rose Barracks, Oct. 6, 2021.

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SUN VITAMIN D RELAXATION A LITTLE BREAK FOR YOU

USAG BAvAriA implementS heAlth And civiliAn fitneSS proGrAm

GrAFENWOEHr, Germany — U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria implemented the fitness and health program for civilians to ensure maximum health and disease prevention for the workforce. Garrison Commander Col. Christopher Danbeck signed the Department of the Army Civilian Fitness and Health Promotion Program policy into effect on Sept. 13.

Subject to governing law, regulation and policy, full-time United States civilian and local national employees may be granted up to three hours of administrative leave per week. It is limited to one hour per day and three hours per week — not to exceed a maximum of 80 hours per calendar year. This includes participation in command-sponsored fitness and health promotion programs, such as physical fitness activities, preventive health events, education on health promotion topics (like nutrition and exercise principles), and any other activities covered by the program.

To enroll in to the program, employees need to assess their fitness program participation with their supervisor. The next step is to sign a written program participation agreement at least annually, or more frequently if deemed appropriate by the supervisor. The fitness times — coordinated with the supervisor — are also part of the agreement. The employee also needs to provide a self-certify that they are not aware of any medical conditions or limitations that would put them at risk of injury or illness while participating in the program. Once complete, both employee and supervisor should retain a copy of the agreement for their records. Lastly, the employee needs to ensure proper timekeeping, because the fitness time is considered administrative leave.

All USAG Bavaria civilian employees, which includes GS employees, local nationals and NAF employees, are eligible to join the program. Employees should ask their supervisor if the mission allows them to join the program.

“This is a good opportunity to keep your body in better shape and increase your personal fitness,” said Hans-Peter Brunner, who works for the garrison S6 Shop. “I joined the Fitness Program, and I feel good after completing my Nordic Walking sessions.”

The administrative fitness time can be taken in conjunction with the employee’s regular lunch break. The time for showering and commuting to the gym is included in the hour.

Employees participating in the program will use garrison fitness facilities to the maximum extent possible. Employees in telework status may join the program. In this case, the supervisors may approve the use of an offsite fitness facility.

recreational sports — golf, bowling, baseball, softball or basketball — are not authorized within the fitness program. Additionally, it is mandatory that the participating employee report to their workstation before and after each authorized fitness period. The maximum fitness allotment of three individual one hour periods cannot be transferred to the next week, if unused.

Employees serving on a Performance Improvement Plan, who are subject to leave restrictions, or who have been disciplined within the previous year, are ineligible to participate in the program. A supervisor can also deny participation based on workload or mission requirements.

For more information, view the policy and forms here. Scan QrCode.