The Citizen - July 2020

Vol. 49, No. 9, July 2020

Serving the Greater Stuttgart

Military Community

www.stuttgartcitizen.com

Cpl. Carlos Webster, from the 554th Military Police Company, was among the graduates of the first virtual Basic Leader Course held in Europe amid coronavirus restrictions. A June 12 ceremony recognized the Soldiers’ achievement. To read more about BLC, turn to page 5.

Photo by Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart

Soldiers graduate

virtual BLC

Community members support garrison "Equality for All" events

By Rebecca Castellano U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Community members at U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart came together June 19 to promote equality for all and to show their support for a global movement against discrimination.

In all, roughly 600 people took part, running and walking five kilometers together, enjoying music and talking about race and inequality. At Patch Barracks, Lt. Gen. Stephen Twitty, deputy commander of U.S. European Command, opened the event by speaking about the ongoing struggle for equality.

“The first slaves landed in the United States in 1619. Today is 2020,” Twitty said. “If you want to know why people are so passionate about protesting in the streets right now, it’s because of when these struggles started, and the fact that they haven't stopped.”

Twitty, who is African American, shared some personal experiences of discrimination before imploring everyone to unite against inequality.

“We’re hurt and we’re tired and it's not right,” Twitty said. “I need all of you out there to stand up for what is right. Stand up for gender, stand up for sexual orientation. It doesn’t matter what religion you are. We are human beings and should be treated with dignity and respect.”

On Panzer Kaserne, Stuttgart High School Principal Rick Renninger reminded the crowd why their participation mattered.

“We are gathered to run and walk in

Photo by Bardia Khajenoori, USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Lt. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty, Deputy Commander, United States European Command, speaks to a crowd at the June 19 “Equality For All” event at Patch Barracks.

solidarity to continue the fight to remove the barriers of discrimination for everyone- discrimination based on gender, race, age, color, religion, or sexual orientation,” Renninger said. “But we are not alone. We are here in solidarity with the millions of people world wide who are opening their eyes to what so many have lived their lives struggling against.”

The June 19 event, dubbed “Equality for All,” coincided with Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating a turning point in U.S. history.

On June 19, 1865, following the Civil War, a U.S. Army officer in Texas proclaimed that all slaves were set free.

Military leaders wanted to encourage meaningful dialogue about issues of race,

ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and other disparities in a way that is reflective of the Army’s core values, said Col. Jason Condrey, commander of USAG Stuttgart.

In recent weeks, military leaders in Stuttgart held informal discussions on issues of race and inequality, Condrey said.

See EQUALITY, page 2

COMMANDER’S CORNER

Page 2

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

A calm in the COVID storm offers pause for reflection

By Col. Jason Condrey Commander U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Looking back at the first six months of 2020, we can all say – without hesitation – that we could have hardly anticipated a microscopic adversary would become a storm that worked every day to capsize our world.

We’ve now reached a calm in the storm, allowing us to pause

and reflect on the efforts made to shelter us during the crisis. The coronavirus challenged our garrison – a skilled team of adaptive professionals – in a way we could not have expected. Our team members rose to that challenge.

Recently, Gen. Douglas Gabram, Installation Management Command’s commander, spoke of the garrison’s role as a strategic support area for those sent forward into harm’s way.

Here in Stuttgart, we have two headquarters responsible for the lives of service members working on two continents. In that context, I clearly see our garrison’s support as vital.

It took a pandemic, however, to flip the narrative.

While we still have U.S. personnel in harm’s way, in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, and working with partners on the African continent, the coronavirus came

Photo by Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Col. Jason Condrey takes part in Army birthday activities.

EQUALITY, continued from page 1 The equality events, planned by garrison equal opportunity staff members and local organizations, were designed to complement those talks.

“Like many of you, I sat at home and struggled to explain the inexplicable to my kids as we watched the news. Those conversations continued at the dinner table, into our places of worship, and into where

we work,” Condrey told a crowd gathered at Robinson Barracks.“This has given us an opportunity to talk about our experiences, our history, our values and examine how such things continue to happen.”

Holding four simultaneous events, similar in nature, kept participants physically distanced amid coronavirus restrictions.

Everyone attending signed a health tracking form and wore masks.

Meanwhile, chapels were open for a vigil. Community members prayed, lit

candles of remembrance and posted the names of those they wanted remembered in prayer. At 8:46 p.m., community members were encouraged to pause and reflect in silence, using candles, flashlights or cell phones to shine a unifying light wherever they were. Chaplains were on hand to help people struggling with frustration or grief.

Twitty understands that grief and frustration.

“It is real, I’ve lived it,” Twitty said. “Who would have thought that my daughters

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Commander Col. Jason W. Condrey

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for us here. We instantly became a front line garrison. Our families, our homes and the places where we work were part of the fight – a struggle we quickly found we were not quite prepared for.

Before going to combat, an infantry battalion trains for a year.

When the pandemic threw our garrison into COVID-19 operations, we had mere days to prepare. New reports trickled in.

Garrisons in Korea and Italy locked down amid rising positive case numbers.

Suddenly, COVID was among us.

What happened next amazed me. It still does.

I watched garrison staff, most of whom didn't know they would be in a fight, jump in and rise to the occasion. People volunteered to be a part of the response. The stakes were incredibly high, with a very visible cost for failure.

For months, I watched workers in our community face the coronavirus threat, knowing that they could come in contact with the illness and bring it home to their families. Yet, day in and day out, they persevered to support one another and this community.

Our hotel staff serves as an example. They could not close

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up their operations. In fact, as we shuttered most on-post activites, we relied on hotel workers to care for service members, civilians and their families at a vulnerable point of transition.

Our community’s first COVID19 cases surfaced at the hotels, forcing some staff to quarantine.

We closed the Kelley Hotel and moved everyone to the Panzer Hotel. As weeks passed, and no one could come or go, the hotel staff remained caregivers for a “stuck” population.

Countless others did the same, in our public works department, childcare services, cashiers and more. There is nothing that I, nor anyone in the chain of command, could ever say to thank them in a way comparable to their level of commitment, dedication and energy.

I’m often thanked by community members for what’s been done during this season of incredible change. But, the thanks really goes to the garrison team.

Fortunately, hard work and favorable conditions have helped us turn the tide against coronavirus. “I’m glad I live here,” once just a nice slogan that we aspired to, has become our anchor.

would be going through this mess today?

And that I would have to explain this to them? I don’t want my grandkids to have to go through this.”

As participants began to walk and run, Renninger reinforced that the right to educational, social and economic equality can be won through a united effort.

“We here are all connected and it is our diversity that makes us stronger,” Renninger said. “If we don’t lose sight of our goal, we will achieve equality for all.”

newspaper, produced in the interest of the U.S. Army community in Stuttgart by the U.S. Army-Garrison Stuttgart Public Affairs Office. Contents of the Citizen are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020 Send your announcements for upcoming events to the USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Office USO Stuttgart hosts online coffee connections Innovative ways of staying in touch with friends and loved ones have become essential. USO Stuttgart is filling this gap by providing the means to do exactly that in their Virtual Coffee Connections.

Virtual sessions are hosted online every other Tuesday morning. It’s BYOC or “bring your own coffee.” Participants join in a lighthearted hour spent meeting other area spouses, playing games, and connecting right from the comfort of home.

“Stuttgart Coffee Connection is a way to meet new people, share life and job experiences and learn more about our community,” said Delia Castillo, a local military spouse.

Spouses with a connection to the local military community are welcome and encouraged to participate in these free events. Coffee connections are scheduled for July 14 and July 28, at 9 a.m., online.

For more information and links to attend each session, visit USO Stuttgart’s Facebook page or www. uso.org/stuttgart.

Retiree shopping update: Customs Pink Cards extended through December U.S. Army Europe coordinated with the German Federal Customs Directorate to continue an automatic extension of expired/expiring German Forms 0217 (Pink Cards) through Dec. 31. This eliminates the need for generally high-risk groups to personally visit military customs offices in person if their card was valid through March 1, 2020. However, for those individuals with a card that expired prior to March 1, a visit to their local USACA-E field office is required for issuance of status verification. As German Customs operates differently regionally, Pink Card holders should monitor guidance from their local German Customs Offices. For current hygiene protection requirements, German Customs offices may be working by appointment only, or to avoid further traveling, may be allowing card holders to submit their receipts via mail or to provide receipts at a later date.

Husky Field and Track closed until July 16 The Patch Barracks Husky Field and running track will be closed to the public until July 16 for

Page 3

Mask requirement in place for duty buses Baden-Wuerttemberg requirements that mandate face coverings on public transit apply to passengers on U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s duty buses as well.

Garrison Commander Col. Jason Condrey reiterated the importance of following hostnation guidelines and addressed the issue of face coverings on June 11.

“We have evidence within our community, within the cases we have had here, that not only does asymptomatic transmission continue, but we need to find a way to protect against that,” said Condrey. “Until there’s a better way, other than the mask, to do that, along with handwashing and maintaining six feet of physical distance, that’s something that will continue to be here.”

Condrey added that those who refuse to utilize masks renovation and upgrades.

Health Clinic COVID testing station open Sundays The Stuttgart Health Clinic’s

Photo by Rebecca Castellano, USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs A service member rides the Stuttgart shuttle bus at Robinson Barracks.

where they are required will be denied access to those services, and that community cooperation and self-policing, rather than law enforcement, should compel people to wear them.

“The masks, I think are going to be part of our future until COVID is not,” said Condrey. “It drive-through COVID testing station will be open on Sundays starting at noon. The only change to this schedule will be on the July 4th weekend when the COVID testing

might make the difference to prevent another spike.”

The Logistics Readiness Center-Stuttgart, which operates the duty buses at U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, added signs requiring face coverings for all passengers and implemented measures to ensure compliance. station will be open on Saturday, July 5 at noon. For more information on the COVID testing station and other clinic related topics, visit: https:// rhce.amedd.army.mil/stuttgart

NEWS

Page 4

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Patch Library led virtual storytime, now launches summer reading program

Photo by Pfc. Logan Ludwig, AFN Stuttgart Library technician Raechele Butler records an online show where she reads to young people at U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart.

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By Rebecca Castellano U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart When kids couldn’t go to the library because of COVID19 restrictions, they could turn to a creative online reading program hosted by library technician Raechele Butler.

Her videos, posted online by U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s directorate of Families, Morale

Welfare and Recreation, included songs and books for the community’s younger readers.

Now, with summer in full swing, readers across the community can take part in a new 2020 summer reading program, which kicked off June 11. This year’s theme is “Dig Deeper: read, investigate, discover,” Butler said.

“We have weekly themes that fit within our summer one,” said Butler. “Things like spies and detectives, investigations, science, digging into ancient civilizations or outer space. It’s all about being inquisitive, asking questions and exploring.”

COVID-19 forced the program, which is usually the biggest event for the library, to move to a virtual format. Butler said the shift gave her team a chance to be creative while overcoming obstacles.

“It’s challenging because our activities are science based or story time or action and movement,” Butler said “It’s really hard to dig in, when you’re not present and able to get your hands in there.

But, I think we pulled it off well and we’re really excited to show everyone what we came up with.”

One positive aspect of the virtual program is that kids can complete each activity as many times as they want. Butler said it helps motivate her to know kids are

creating laboratories in their own backyards.

“We definitely miss the reaction from silly songs, story time groups and science experiments, all the laughs and the oohs and ahhs,” Butler said. “But, I know it’s happening in living rooms and kitchens and bedrooms all over so it’s still very rewarding.”

Naama Krauz, a registered participant, uses the program to track her reading as well as her kids. She said that while her children read a lot before the program, the incentives help to keep them engaged.

“There are different challenges to help kids use all kinds of texts online and at home,” said Krauz.

“They help expose children to various sorts of reading- reading for pleasure vs. reading for information.”

Community members have until July 20 to join the summer reading program by registering at patchlibrary.beanstack. org. Registered participants can earn entries for each activity. On July 23, there is a drawing for 10 $100 Amazon gift cards.

For more information visit Stuttgart Family and MWR on Facebook.

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NEWS

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Page 5

First virtual Basic Leader Course graduates at Stuttgart garrison

By Bardia Khajenoori U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Twenty soldiers at U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart stepped forward toward careers as noncommissioned officers, graduating June 12 from the Basic Leader Course during a physically distanced ceremony.

Participants took the same course as many Soldiers before them. This class, however, were trailblazers in their own right— having been the first to complete a virtually-taught BLC session in the Army.

The ceremony’s separated formation, with friends and family dispersed around the Panzer Kaserne parade field, was just one aspect of the course that changed amid coronavirus restrictions.

Spc. Jessica Gifford, from the Stuttgart Army Health Clinic, found leadership styles training valuable, she said.

"I learned about my own personal leadership style, and other styles, and how that plays into communicating more openly with Soldiers and being aware of their needs," Gifford said.

BLC is the first “course of meaning” in the NCO training regime and, over the course of

about three weeks, it prepares specialists to become sergeants by teaching the fundamentals and practical aspects of unit leadership, to include speaking before crowds and leading physical training, said 1st Sgt. Lisa Zoechbauer, of the USAG Stuttgart, Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

The training is required for promotion to the NCO ranks, but restrictions instituted in the wake of the pandemic prevented travel to the resident course at the 7th Army NCO Academy in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

After Zoechbauer became aware of the continued need for the course among units in the community, she worked with the U.S. Army Europe and NCO Academy to organize a virtual alternative. The substance of the class was taught remotely by instructors at the NCO Academy, with locally-based Assistant Instructors providing day-to-day oversight and monitoring. Student feedback was generally positive, despite some technical difficulties, Zoechbauer said.

“I wanted to make sure the Soldiers went by the schedule as much as possible to better replicate the traditional experience,

U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Col. Jason Condrey and Command Sgt, Major Toese Tia thank the cadre for their support.

despite not being able to leave their installation and make connections with others throughout the Army,” Zoechbauer said.

The virtual cohort was also of mixed occupational specialties. This was done to maintain diversity, said Zoechbauer, which is especially important given that future NCO development courses would be within one’s own field.

During the ceremony, Col. Jason Condrey, commander of USAG Stuttgart, and Command Sgt. Maj. Toese Tia, the garrison’s senior enlisted leader, recognized Spc. Anthony Almaguer Barrozo as the cohort’s outstanding student.

Tia paid tribute to noncommissioned officers as the “backbone” of the service and offered his praise to the graduates for “taking on the mantle of leadership.”

Gifford came out of the experience with increased confidence, particularly due to the efforts of the assistant instructors.

“I was a little more shy at first, and they really pushed me out of my comfort zone by having me lead PT formations and marching and those types of things,” Gifford said. “I think, taking that back to my unit, that I’ll be more confident—not just with my peers,

Photos by Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Soldiers stand in a physical-distance formation during graduation.

Dozens of family members and fellow soldiers attended the ceremony.

but with my superiors and my patients.”

Working in the medical field and as an NCO both have the responsibility of putting your needs to the side and helping

patients and Soldiers, Gifford said.

“I like to help people,” she said. “I’m hoping I’ll be able to help people better with all I’ve learned in the BLC.”

NEWS

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Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Army Emergency Relief campaign moved to July

For more information or assistance, contact your local ACS, or go to www.armyemergencyrelief.org

Photo by Rey Ramon, TSC Stuttgart Service members and families take part in a recent Army walk-run on Patch Barracks. When they are in need, Army Emergency Relief can assist with grants and loans.

By Paul Hughes U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart

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COVID-19 made routine fund raising for the annual Army Emergency Relief campaign— which provides interest-free loans, grants and scholarships to eligible military members in Stuttgart—unfeasible this Spring.

To continue AER’s legacy of caring, the campaign is now this July.

Staff Sgt. William Slaughter, a noncommissioned officer with Special Operations Command - Europe and a regular contributor to AER,

promotes the AER campaign to many of his Soldiers.

He tells them about a Soldier whose insurance failed to pay out, creating a financial emergency in which he was unable to afford to return home. An AER grant helped the Soldier get back the U.S. In 2019, when Slaughter needed to purchase a car seat for his newborn, he found himself in his own financial emergency.

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Slaughter said.

Last year more than 130 eligible Stuttgart military community members sought assistance from AER to pay for lodging, funeral expenses, vehicle costs, home repair, clothing and more. They benefited from nearly $164,000 in AER assistance.

However, the total fund raising efforts on the garrison amounted to just $9,000 in donations.

Soldiers can also apply for AER assistance online. In Slaughter’s case, the application was approved and completed, with the money available in just a few days.

“Together, from senior leaders to our most junior Soldiers, we must work together to generate what is required to ensure AER continues its legacy of Soldiers helping Soldiers,” said Col. Jason Condrey, USAG Stuttgart garrison commander.

USAG Stuttgart is a purple community, Condrey said, and all branches of the armed forces are eligible for AER assistance.

“AER is here to support military members, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guard, both regular and reserve including retirees, through this fight, and we will be there to support AER in July,” Condrey said.

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

NEWS

Page 7

Staff earns four-star recognition for efforts amid coronavirus

By Rick Scavetta U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Before coronavirus restrictions halted travel, a lodging guest coughed near Colleen Brown, a hotel staff member. That guest later tested positive for COVID-19, forcing Brown to quarantine.

Brown, later medically cleared after testing negative, volunteered at the Kelley Barracks hotel, which was quarantine and isolation lodging for service members in transit – a critical role within U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“Throughout the process, she remained positive and was eager to return to work,” said Joe Johnson, director of FFamily and Morale, Welfare & Recreation, the garrison directorate that oversees lodging.

Brown was among the DFMWR employees recognized during a June ceremony, along with several of her colleagues from lodging and Child and Youth Services. For their efforts supporting the garrison during COVID-19 operations, each employee received a letter from Gen. Gus Perna, commander of U.S. Army Materiel Command and his challenge coin. Col. Jason Condrey, USAG Stuttgart commander, said he felt privileged to represent Perna and share the four-star notes.

“It’s important to recognize members of our team who stepped in front of this and

continue to be front and center. I want to say thank you,” Condrey said. “Your presence was noticed and it was felt. Without you, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Condrey told the physically distanced crowd who gathered in the chapel on Panzer Kaserne, that the praise from senior leaders and community members should really go to the work force.

“It’s because of your efforts,” Condrey told the award recipients. “I want to extend those thanks and the compliments.”

Lodging staff recognitions Christopher Morris, Army lodging manger, led the lodging team during the COVID-19 crisis by motivating employees to maintain

services. Morris implemented quarantine and isolation facilities and COVID-19 procedures, coordinating efforts with leadership and medical staff.

“His constant presence in the facility impressed upon his staff that he was willing to work in the same environment he was asking them to work in,” Johnson said.

Andera Yaninek volunteered to work at both the Kelley and Panzer hotels, filling a critical role to help keep the hotels operational and its customers well cared for. Michal Knef helped close Kelley Hotel and move guests to the Panzer Hotel. She worked with guests implement quarantine measures and worked countless hours to support the community.

Michael Marzett was instrumental in

Photo by Bardia Khajenoori, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Col. Jason Condrey, USAG Stuttgart commander, presents Christopher Morris, Army lodging manger, with a four-star note and coin from Gen. Gus Perna, commander of U.S. Army Materiel Command, during a June 12 ceremony at Panzer Chapel.

distributing and acquiring critical supplies and resources for the Panzer and Kelley Hotels, often giving up his nights and weekends. He stood in long lines at local stores to get dehumidifiers, masks, and respirators for lodging staff. He also helped fellow staff during times of quarantine and isolation. Donald Ellis quickly sourced important supplies such as disinfectants, sanitizers, masks, gloves, toilet paper and other daily hotel necessities. That meant working with multiple vendors to maintain stocks.

Child and Youth Services recognition As COVID restrictions set in, Katie Fox, the CYS nurse, worked long hours and some weekends to implement sanitation practices to keep the children and staff healthy. When CYS shut down, she maintained communication with medical professionals and informed staff on the latest healthcare guidance on preventive measures.

As the acting CYS Coordinator, Jeff Carpenter was commended for his tireless commitment to CYS employees – many of whom were frontline screeners at high traffic service areas within the garrison. He would check on them daily, making sure screeners had protective gear and cleaning supplies. Laura Kussmaul created the schedule for screeners, who were posted to the community mail rooms, food courts and convenience stores. Scheduling was often a challenge as the community restrictions often changed hours.

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Photos by: Top left: Hyla Melloy, community member Bottom left: Rebecca Castellano, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Bottom middle: Hyla Melloy, community member

FEATURE

Stroller: Rebecca Castellano, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Top right: Lea Scavetta, Stuttgart Citizen volunteer L-R sequence of three: Bardia Khajenoori, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart ď‚&#x; Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Lea Scavetta, Stuttgart Citizen volunteer

Stuttgart Citize

FEATURE

en, July 2020

Photo by Tina Gutierrez/Shutterstock.com

Equality for All

Page 9

NEWS

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Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Army colors make nonstop 24-hour trek at Stuttgart garrison

Photo by Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Col. Jason Condrey, commander of USAG Stuttgart, and Spc. Anthony Almaguer Barrozo cut the Army's birthday cake at Panzer Kaserne.

Photo by Margaret Kiser, Special to the Citizen Service Members from U.S. Special Operations Command Africa participate in Army birthday activities at Kelley Barracks.

By Rebecca Castellano U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart celebrated the Army’s 245th birthday with a daylong event that saw hundreds of community members take to the track carrying the

Army colors.

In fact, the Army colors were on the move throughout the night too.

On Thursday, June 11, Col. Jason Condrey and Command Sgt. Maj. Toese Tia, the USAG Stuttgart command team, departed the garrison headquarters carrying the

Army flag across Panzer Kaserne to the track at nearby Stuttgart High School.

Soldiers, family members and Army civilians were joined by members of every branch of the service. The event was held simultaneously on Patch Barracks and

Photo by Kenneth G. Takada, TSC Stuttgart Soldiers assigned to the Stuttgart Veterinary Clinic run with the Army colors during a run for the 245th Army Birthday at Panzer Kaserne, Boeblingen. U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart celebrated the Army's birthday over the course of June 11-12 with a 24-hour run by teams from units in the Stuttgart area running in two hour blocks.

Kelley Barracks. They began at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, ran through the night, and culminated on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Participants ran, walked or rucked a minimum of 2.45 miles – to commemorate 245 years of Army pride – before passing the Army flag off to the next team.

Substitute runners were on hand to keep the flag moving if a break was needed.

“Our colors started marching, they started running and for 24 hours they were on the move,” said Condrey, who described the run as a symbol of the Army’s capabilities.

“We’re always ready. Ready for the call, ready to meet the need. Ready to support and defend. The Army never stops.”

Proper physical distancing and sanitation measures ensured runners could keep the flag in motion while preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Sgt. 1st Class David Evans, a Cyber Network Defender at Defense Information Systems Agency, helped carry the flag for 12 miles between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Patch Barracks. He said he was excited to test his endurance after several months of COVID-19 restrictions.

“I think the fact that we were able to keep the flag in motion at three different locations, for 24 hours shows that our Soldiers have great self-discipline and take pride in their physical fitness,” said Evans, who had to find alternative ways to work out due to gym closures during COVID-19.

Scott Carter, chief of operations at USAG Stuttgart and a former U.S. Army noncommissioned officer, joined the run at 5:30 a.m. at Panzer. As he grabbed hold of the Army flag, memories surfaced.

“I felt honored. It allowed me to reflect on my time as an active duty Soldier,” said Carter, a former

military police Soldier who deployed to Iraq and Kosovo. “I was there with my wife and other civilian employees. It made me miss the time of doing (physical training) and the camaraderie.”

The 24-hour run concluded with a cake cutting ceremony on Panzer Kaserne. The Army’s birthday is June 14. Condrey said the 24-hour event was inspiring to watch, as service members of all branches, civilians and DOD employees came together for the event.

“We found a way to celebrate 245 years of history and service in a safe way,” Condrey said. “And I think it shows that we found ways to overcome restrictions and maintain mission readiness under difficult circumstances.”

Members from U.S. Africa Command and Special Operations Command Africa came together on June 11 at Kelley Barracks to celebrate the Army’s 245th birthday.

Representatives from every directorate at both commands took a turn carrying the Army flag in an effort to keep the colors moving for 245 laps.

AFRICOM’s Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Bill Gayler, carried the flag for the final lap with Specialist Jeremy Thornton of SOCAFRICA. Thornton said the event showed the team's commitment to overcoming obstacles and celebrating traditions during COVID-19.

“Nothing can or will stand in the way of us accomplishing goals or tasks that we as a family set our minds and hearts out to do,” said Thornton.

FEATURE

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Page 11

Getting and returning gear amid COVID-19

By John Reese U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Service members about to make a permanent change of station or leave the military from U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart must return the equipment they signed for from the garrison’s Central Issue Facility.

While these aren’t normal times, the CIF team is on the job to get warriors the gear they need for mission accomplishment or check that block before they PCS-out, retire, or reach their “expiration– term of service,” more commonly known as ETS. “The Stuttgart CIF is unique in that other services stationed here also draw their gear from it. No other CIF in Europe supports all branches,” said Nate Holmes, a supply technician with the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, who oversees the Stuttgart CIF. Normally, PCS season is from May to October. The process of being issued “battle rattle” or returning it, has been slowed by

COVID-19. Stuttgart’s CIF maintains a stock of organizational clothing and individual equipment, or OCIE, for the Marines. The CIF team’s work must continue so that military personnel in the Stuttgart military community have operational continuity.

“We are currently slow due to the pandemic, with limited staff and service members not being able to move. We expect to get hit really hard when the stop movement (June 30) is lifted,” Holmes said. “Currently, we are focusing on the ETS, retirement, separations and PCSers with exceptions to policy because their movement has not stopped for post-COVID operations and how we will handle the surge.”

The CIF team gathers information about personnel affected by the stop-movement order, asking those Soldiers to apprise them of their situations and schedule an appointment. For the most part, personnel who need to turn in only a few items can be accommodated quickly while things are slow to

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Photo by Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Navy LCDR Joe “CJ” Hontz, an officer at U.S. European Command, turns in his equipment at the Central Issue Facility at U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart.

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“We continue to try and limit the face-to-face interaction with customers,” he said.

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SCHOOLS

Page 12

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Middle school students dine on literary delights

Seventh graders Hannah Winkels (left) and Shelby Johnroe savor the starter.

Photos and story by Stephanie Nelson Special to the Stuttgart Citizen Before COVID-19 closed schools, Patch Middle School students found opportunities to explore their literary tastes as the institution’s information center was converted into a “Reatery.”

Nothing pairs with a delightful comedy appetizer quite like a meaty drama entrée, topped off with a sweet fantasy desert.

“Book tastings are the rave in elementary schools, but they usually focus on genres," said Lorien Gustafson, a former English teacher now in her first

Dylan Longworth (left), Delores Jordan and Jackson Freds (right) enjoy the main course.

year of managing the information center. “The concept encourages students with a different method to select new titles to check out by reading the beginning of the book for just a few short minutes to determine if the book is a good fit.”

Over the last several years, the Department of Defense Education Activity has made a concerted effort to improve student literacy through initiatives such as the adoption of College and Career Ready Standards, shared grade-level curriculums across 160-plus schools worldwide, as well as teacher collaboration and training.

With the help of parent volunteers and studentlibrary apprentices Nicole Ortiz, Katerina Donovan, Ruthie Thompson, Kariella Trump, and Carolina Jones the information center was converted into a restaurant over the course of a weekend. For weeks prior, apprentices and parent volunteers worked with Gustafson to identify more than 100 books – in particular firsts in book series – then wrapped each in book covers.

“The idea behind the secrecy of the books was to get students to consider works they otherwise would ignore and “to reel in and encourage repeat readers,” said Gustafson, who is married to a retired Marine and is mom to a sixth grader attending Patch Middle School.

“Like local restaurants host many people from different cultures, the Reatery established an atmosphere to bring together the military students with diverse backgrounds in one place that encourages literacy no matter their grade level, course schedule or beliefs.”

Beforehand, kids viewed a tasting menu scroll and booked a reservation.

Volunteers dressed as wait staff greeted students at the door and directed them to their tables, which were adorned with black tablecloths, placemats, floral arrangements, and hourglass timers. Once seated, students enjoyed smooth jazz during three courses of “cerebrum cuisine” to tempt their literary taste buds. Servers brought out silver trays of wrapped books, so students wouldn’t be able to judge books by their covers.

“What I enjoyed about the book tasting was it gave me an opportunity to discover new books,” seventh-grader Alexandra Burns said. “I think the library should do this at other schools.”

Students had a few minutes to read passages and then reflect. The event was a hit, as library checkouts increased 92 percent following the event.

“I really enjoyed the aesthetic of the book tasting,” said Iris Weiland, a sixth grade student. “I thought it was unique and different, which I found interesting and surprising.”

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FEATURE

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Local group marches to support babies

Page 13

Runners challenge each other amid COVID-19

Photo by Pocho Nieves, Stuttgart Citizen volunteer The runners Anita Nieves (left) and Cassie Johansen (right) challenging themselves amid covid.

By Rick Scavetta U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart

Photo by Moneé Luckey, Stuttgart Citizen volunteer Lt. Col. Jason Luckey, team captain, completed the four-mile March for Babies run on Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart.

By Moneé Luckey Stuttgart Citizen volunteer COVID-19 impacted private organizations’ ability to hold fundraising events, but it didn’t stop members of Theta Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, who recently held a four-mile virtual “March for Babies” walk.

Theta Theta Lambda raised $2,218 online for the May event, which they coordinated through online chats. Chapter members and families from U.S. military community across Germany took part in the walk, part of an annual March of Dimes effort, while adhering to local coronavirus restrictions and community guidelines. Proceeds help fund research to prevent premature births, birth defects and infant mortality.

“In the midst of this unfortunate global COVID19 pandemic, Theta Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. continues to collaborate and partner with the March of Dimes to raise needed funds for healthy babies research,” said Dr. Noah Mitchell, Chapter President and Chief of

DODEA Procurement Field Support Operations.

March of Dimes and Alpha Phi Alpha, a private organization under U.S. Army Installation Management Command Europe, have collaborated since 1980. In the last five years, the fraternity has raised more than $1 million in support of March for Babies.

“This is my seventh year supporting March for Babies from five military communities in now a third country,” said Lt. Col. Jason O. Luckey, Chapter team captain and C4/Cyberspace Planner with U.S. European Command.

“Charitable fundraising and the community organizations are a unique part of what makes military family life so enjoyable.”

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While COVID-19 curtailed most major races and marathons, some runners in the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Community have kept going.

Anita Schorlemmer, an avid runner, is the spouse of Maj. Pocho Nieves Concepción, of Defense Information Systems Agency – Europe. Through Facebook, she organized fellow runners from the U.S. and Europe to take part in virtual run.

“It was a 24-hour challenge.

I put it on my Facebook and had a huge response from my runner friends,” Schorlemmer said.

Runners ran or walked five miles every four hours for 24 hours; totaling a 50 kilometer adventure. In all, 30 runners took part in the Mother’s Day event.

They all began at the same time, 9 p.m. locally. Some were in Hawaii, a 13-hour time difference from the “Stroller Warriors,” a running club on the island made up mostly

of military spouses. Locally, a club called “Mothers Run This Town,” joined in. Runners from every U.S. time zone, plus runners from the UK and Central Europe also took part.

“We had a couple guys too,” Schorlemmer said. “Not just moms.”

Some starts were in the wee hours of the morning, long before sun-up. One woman ran at Robinson Barracks, others were on Patch Barracks.

One runner used a treadmill at night. Schorlemmer, who lives in Dettenhausen, convinced a friend to run with her at 1 a.m. in the nearby forest. Runners motivated each other through Facebook video chats. Later on, they shared images through Facebook of their accomplishments.

“This run was an uplifting experience,” said Schorlemmer, adding that she hopes to do a similar event again. “We were all over the world and we ran together. It’s what we needed.”

CHAPLAINS

Page 14

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Chaplain Corps supports Soldiers, yesterday and today

By Col. Jack J. Stumme, U.S. Africa Command Chaplain Although a person may not like the idea of becoming a year older, a birthday is a significant milestone and an opportunity to reflect on the impact and blessings of the past.

July 29 is the 245th birthday of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. As we grow another year older, it is time for us to reflect on who we are and where God has taken us. Within the Army chaplaincy, we have been and are still blessed. A few notable memories are worth sharing.

First, there was the moment of pride when the Continental Congress officially established us at the request of none other than General George Washington. His request was based upon the need to provide worship, inspire courage, and care for his troops during the struggle to gain independence. At that time, a chaplain was assigned to each regiment or brigade and paid $20 per month. Chaplains have since come a

long way. We now have a major general as our chief of chaplains, and a sergeant major as our regimental chief. Unit ministry teams are at the battalion level and above, ready to serve God and our Soldiers.

There were many times of courage, where chaplains stood with military personnel as they faced the most trying of times.

In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, Calvin P. Titus, a religious affairs specialist, assisted his chaplain with worship services and much more. He climbed a wall in view of the enemy, which allowed his company to gain a tactical advantage. For that action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Then there are "The Four Chaplains," who gave

their life-vests and went down with the Dorchester in the icy waters of the North Atlantic on February 3, 1943, giving their lives to save others. Continuing, memories of sacrifice also come to mind with Chaplains Emil Kapaun, in Korea, and Charlie Waters, in Vietnam. Both gave their lives to save others. Neither saw the Medal of Honor presented posthumously.

The lives they served and preserved were the real reward.

Today, to offer a few snapshots from our daily ministry, chaplains join community members as we officiate at weddings—sometimes just days before deployment. We also get to dedicate and baptize children, and we rejoice to see our church members grow in faith. Many times,

we even get to offer a prayer of thanks during promotions, reenlistments, and change of command and responsibility ceremonies.

Sometimes we spend it with you in far away and dangerous places. For me, the most cherished memory has been serving beside the next generation of young patriots who sacrificially commit their lives to our nation, even in conflict.

Our memories are also filled with sacred opportunities for reflection as we remember the times we officiated at the memorials of dear patriots who had given their all in service. We are also humbled to officiate and render honors for a veteran who lived out her or his days and is laid to rest.

Our birthday is important to us not merely because of how old we are, but because for the last 245 years the women and men who make up the chaplain corps have had the honor to spend each birthday with brave Soldiers. We thank God for another year to serve.

USO Stuttgart has reopened

By Sarah Kemp Senior Center Manager USO Stuttgart It has felt like a long two and a half months, but the wait is over and USO Stuttgart reopened its doors to the community at the start of June.

USO Stuttgart was the first USO center in Germany to reopen.

Following careful guidance from USO leadership and USAG Stuttgart, some restrictions are in place until

further notice; these include maskwearing, occupancy limits and, for now, no visitors under 18.

While we won’t be able to serve our famous USO popcorn for the time being, there are plenty of prepackaged snacks, Coca-Cola products, water, and of course coffee available. Like always, there will be smiling USO faces to greet you at the door and free WiFi, printing, faxing, scanning and copying.

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Visit the center’s Facebook page (USO Stuttgart), Instagram account (@uso_stuttgart), or website (https://stuttgart. uso.org/) for details.

Courtesy photo Sarah Kemp, the USO Stuttgart Senior Center Manager, welcomes the community back into the Center.

USO Stuttgart Live on Monday mornings at 8:30 a.m. to learn what is going on at USO Stuttgart that week. There will still be

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Coffee, Coca-Cola products, water, pre-packaged snacks are available.

Print, fax, scan and copy capabilities are available.

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Free phones to call the U.S., Germany and DSN are available and sanitized before each user.

Everyone must sign in. We’ll sanitize stylus pens for the iPads before each user. We encourage guests to use the USO mobile app on their own phone to check-in.

FEATURE

Stuttgart Citizen, July 2020

Page 15

Local woman hopes to become combat medic, Army ranger

By Mac Hightower Stuttgart Citizen volunteer

Interested in the Army?

Contact the Stuttgart Recruiting Station Guidance Counselor at Panzer Kaserne 2913, Room 314, or call +49 162 2631241

Courtesy photo Pictured from left to right, Lt. Col. Noelle Racette stands alongside Rebecca Hartner and her mom, Susanne, at Hartner's recent enlistment in Stuttgart.

Rebecca Hartner is two parts muscle and three parts brain. At 19 years old, the Oregoner has worked as a surgeon, travelled to Norway, Taiwan, and Nepal, and ran a half marathon. A student at the International School in Ulm, Germany, Hartner made the decision to enlist in the Army.

The idea came on a flight back to the U.S. from Frankfurt. Hartner shared a casual conversation with an enlisted Army service member. The physical and mental challenges that one must overcome attracted Hartner.

“We talked and I thought, ‘wow, this is really up my alley,’” Hartner said. “I want to attend Ranger school.”

She works out regularly, running three times a week, and weight training four. All the women in Hartner’s family work in medicine. Her mother and grandmother

are nurses, and her sister works in public health.

Before heading to basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Hartner spoke to the Stuttgart Citizen about her goals.

Stuttgart Citizen: What will you be doing in the Army?

Hartner: I’m going to be a combat medic. I want to help people.

SC: Do you have any family who served?

Hartner: No, not really. My grandfather was in the German military. I have family in Bavaria.

SC: Do you have any other future or professional goals?

Hartner: Yes. I want to be a trauma surgeon. I worked in a trauma lab as an intern for a few summers and I really loved the fast pace of the operating room.

Supporting the Red Cross

By Mac Hightower Stuttgart Citizen volunteer Two years ago, when Melissa McDaniel arrived in Germany, it was the first time she’d moved into a community without her children. McDaniel and her husband, who works at U.S. Africa Command, have been overseas before, but she said it felt harder than previous relocations to integrate into the community. Then, she saw an American Red Cross

Facebook post, calling for volunteers, on a group for expatriates.

“We were empty nesters and I was looking for something productive to spend my time on,” McDaniel said. “I saw the post and signed up that day.”

She didn’t have a background in medicine or health, but the Red Cross placed her as a caseworker in the Hero Care Network program. McDaniel’s responsibilities include processing volunteers, emergency care

messages, client follow-ups, and helping conduct orientations for new participants. In 2019, she logged 142 hours. Red Cross staff know her for “radiating” the five Red Cross values of compassion, collaboration, creativity, credibility, and commitment.

“I’m just happy to be assisting them in whatever way I can,” McDaniel said. “With every move I make, I think volunteering is a great way to find a place within a community.”

Photo by Mac Hightower, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Melissa McDaniel found her place in the community while giving back to it by volunteering for the American Red Cross.

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