Kaiserslautern American, April 20, 2018

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FEATURE

HEALTH

NEWS

SPORTS

New and improved: Ramstein’s oldest barbershop receives a twist, Page 5

Protect your family against tick-borne illnesses this spring, Page 6

Building partnerships, Page 10

Raider baseballers sweep past Vilseck, Page 16

April 20, 2018 | Volume 42, Number 16

Read the KA also online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com

KMC innovations: 569th USFPS saves time, money, and lives Story and photos by Senior Airman Elizabeth Baker 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Senior Airman Nicholas Miller, left, and Staff Sgt. Ian Metcalf, 569th United States Forces Police Squadron desk patrolmen, use a tablet and satellite tracking application to locate other patrolmen March 9 on Vogelweh Military Complex. The 569th USFPS uses tablets installed with three applications to perform the function of a computer aided dispatching system at a small fraction of the cost.

Innovation drives today’s Air Force, and the 569th United States Forces Police Squadron is doing it right. Instead of spending $1.2 million to cut response time with a computer aided dispatching system, the 569th USFPS has figured out how to get the same effect for $10,000, and it’s helping them save lives as well as time and money. Tech. Sgt. Swen Swearingen, 569th USFPS noncommissioned officer in charge of operations, explained the function of a CAD. When a dispatcher needs to send patrolmen to an incident, a CAD can automatically locate the nearest patrol and notify them, reducing response time.

“In the States, civilian law enforcement agencies use CADs,” Swearingen said. “They’re extremely expensive and hard to get overseas. We figured, ‘Why not use what technology we have available to do the same thing?’” By using their own version of a CAD, the 569th USFPS estimates it is saving 369 man-hours per fiscal year. The innovation began when Maj. John-Paul Adrian, who was then a captain serving as 569th USFPS operations officer, figured out how to use tablets and three free tablet applications to do the work of a CAD. Following Adrian’s design, the dispatcher and each patrolman keeps a tablet. A satellite tracking applicaSee INNOVATIONS, Page 2

Still time to register for ‘Amazing Base’ by Staff Sgt. Tory Patterson 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs It’s not too late to take part in one of the most unique team-building events to be held by the 86th Airlift Wing: “The Amazing Base.” The Amazing Base, loosely inspired by American reality television game show “The Amazing Race,” will place 4-person teams in fierce, but friendly competition April 24 on Ramstein Air Base. Participants are challenged to race towards and overcome a variety of “Road Blocks” around base. The purpose of the event is show support for Ramstein’s military spouses. Kristin Moore, spouse of 86th Airlift Wing commander Brig. Gen. Richard Moore, said the Amazing Base will get

spouses familiar with places they may need to know during their time here. “It is easy to rattle off a list of all the things Ramstein has to offer, but until you are comfortable enough to walk through the front door of an office, you cannot take advantage of services,” she said. According to Moore, the Amazing Base was specifically designed to attract spouses that may not typically attend more traditional spouse events. “House husbands, civilian spouses, spouses who work and can’t take 2 or 3 days off for a resiliency conference —this event is for you!” said Moore. The Amazing Base is open to all Department of Defense ID card holders 18 years of age or older, but teams should have a minimum of two spouses par-

ticipating in order to compete for prizes. Participants are encouraged to use a variety of transportation modes including vehicles, bicycles, roller blades, or on foot. “We are a huge community with spouses of Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve, but we also have DODEA, GS, NAF, NATO, and more,” said Moore. She added that after participating in the Amazing Base, “you will no longer question where to go when you need information, and hopefully you will come out with a few more friends than when you started the race.” People wanting to participate but who are unable to organize a 4-person team are still encouraged to sign-up. If participants let the coordinators know they are racing as an individual when registering, they can be placed

The 86th Airlift Wing hosts “The Amazing Base” at Ramstein Air Base on Tuesday. The event seeks to empower and attract individuals who may not attend more traditional spouse event offerings. Graphic by Regina Burbidge

on teams with other individual racers. To participate, volunteer, or learn more, visit Ramstein.af.mil and click the Amazing Base graphic for sign-up links. Check-in for the event is from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday at the Ramstein Officer’s Club. The event will end with a lunch provided by the USO.


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