erald Union H Vol. XXII, No. 9
Inside
Reader feedback Jonathan X, who works in security, said Martin Luther King Jr. inspires him “because of the things he’s done for people. ... I wish people would truly understand and live his words.” Read more on page 2.
Green efforts honored
Garrison leaders recognize the Army Wellness Center and Wiesbaden Dental Clinic for efforts to save energy. Read more on page 5.
Partnership exchange
Garrison and 5th Signal Command Soldiers swap know-how during training with German Bundeswehr troops. See pages 6 and 8.
Austrian allure
The luxury and elegance of Vienna dazzles in a quick getaway just across the German border. Read more on page 17.
Wiesbaden: Your home in Germany
Feb. 12, 2015
Passing of pastoral role
Cline says farewell, welcomes Kaiser to direct religious operations By Chrystal Smith
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office
“Thank God for the gift of Wiesbaden.” That’s what Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Harold Cline said as he shared remarks with those in attendance during a special ceremony Jan. 30 in the Clay Kaserne Chapel, where he relinquished Wiesbaden military community’s pastoral duties to Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Kaiser. Col. Mary Martin, U.S. Army Garrison commander, officiated the changing of the stole from the shoulders of a solemn Cline onto those of an enthusiastic and eager Kaiser. “We can’t change what’s been done. If we were a success, it’s God’s fault and yours,” said Cline as he recounted the variety of successful events the Religious Support Operations staff enjoyed during his assignment as USAG Wiesbaden Chaplain. “Our Army does everything in timing,” said Martin, noting that Cline shouldered the weight of transitioning RSO into the home for U.S. Army Europe. “You were the right leader to orchestrate the community’s religious support services through the season of change.” Among the long list of Cline’s accomplishments during his assignment, as noted by Martin, was the re-establishing of the religious
Photo by Volker Ramspott
Chaplain (Col.) James Watson, IMCOM-Europe, lays his hand on the kneeling Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Kaiser and prays to install him as the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Religious Support Operations chief during a Change of Stole ceremony Jan. 30 at the Clay Kaserne Chapel. education director, the “phenomenal” job of leading and training the garrison’s Unit Ministry Team, and participation with the host nation in various religious events. Such events as Night of the Churches, the Milal Missionary Choir concert and the Polizei Holiday Concert “have been instrumental in enabling our alliances and partnerships with our wonderful host
nation,” said Martin. “Cline has been willingly carrying this spiritual mantle of responsibility for our Garrison gracefully, with his faith leading him all the way.” As Cline stood at the podium to give remarks, he humbly acknowledged that the victories he enjoyed in the community were no fault of his own.
See Stole change on page 4
Better communications in time of emergencies New alerting system informs community faster and more efficiently By Chrystal Smith
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office
Crisis communication has gotten a major boost in Wiesbaden as the garrison launched a new notification system for getting the word out quickly and
efficiently in the event of a emergency. The Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security rolled out the AtHoc Mass Warning and Notification System Feb. 10 during a lockdown exercise on Clay Kaserne to introduce the mass notification system as a primary communication tool for quickly disseminating messages to the community. “This system gives us the capability of reaching more people in a shorter
amount of time,” said Nestor Milan, notification. “This system allows us to Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobi- reach more modern devices, and anyone lization and Security plans specialist, anywhere; multiple communication who said the former way of communi- devices with a single mouse click.” cating during an emergency involved Its wide-ranging collective ties a cumbersome routine that required together crisis communications bemaking numerous individual telephone tween organizations, people, devices calls. “The old system was not efficient, and external entities, and give leaders limited and non-trackable.” a more informed perspective to effecBecause the AtHoc platform is web- tively administer safety and security based it gives leaders and planners a programs for the community’s welfare. broad array of capabilities for mass See Alerting system on page 5