HEALTH
FEATURE
SPORTS
LEISURE
A peek behind the curtain: PTSD barriers and stigmas, Page 5
Masters of aerial delivery, Page 10
Tagged out at end, Pages 14 & 15
Car free Lauter valley, Page 18
July 13, 2018 | Volume 42, Number 28
Read the KA also online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
Taking an oath, paying it forward Story and photos by Senior Airman Jourdan Barrons 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs His coworkers described him in a few short words: positive, strong, and lively. Friends and family say Senior Airman Pascal Nyowatchon has a smile that’s contagious and a personality that fills a room. “I come to work happy every day,” Nyowatchon said “I smile, I laugh.” His decision to always keep smiling is a goal he set at a young age. Nyowatchon grew up in Togo, a small tropical country in western Africa and the site of political turmoil for more than 50 years, forcing families like Nyowatchon’s to be uprooted from
their homes and seek refuge in neighboring countries. “I remember being a little kid not knowing what’s going on,” Nyowatchon said. “We just left everything behind. It was tough.” That hardship is what motivated him to keep his head up, work hard and influence others to maintain their resilience. “I learned from a young age that when things come your way, embrace it,” Nyowatchon said. “Stop complaining. Life is not meant to be easy, so just take one step at a time.” In early 2005, Nyowatchon and his family found themselves fleeing See OATH, Page 2
Senior Airman Pascal Nyowatchon, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, performs a ceremonial Honor Guard drill on Ramstein Air Base, Feb.15. Nyowatchon came to the U.S. as a refugee and now serves in the United States Air Force.
Vehicle Registration: Improving times, process Story and photos by Airman 1st Class D. Blake Browning 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Personnel assigned to the 569th United States Forces Police Squadron pose for a group photo at the Vehicle Registration office on Kapaun Air Station, June 27. The Vehicle Registration office has optimized its procedures in processing patrons to include reorganization of the building’s interior, handling a safety hazard within the complex while also enhancing the efficiency of the facility and customer comfort.
The Vehicle Registration office on Kapaun Air Station, has optimized its procedures in processing patrons to better serve the members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community. A portion of the optimization included a reorganization of the building’s interior enhancing the efficiency of the facility and customer comfortability. “The first change we made was to the layout,” said Staff Sgt. Misty Dail, 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron assistant noncommissioned officer in charge of vehicle registration. “Previously, we had an ‘L’-shaped See VEHICLE REGISTRATION, Page 6