December 21, 2012
Kaiserslautern American
Page 7
Navy program arrives at Sembach Kaserne Story and photo by Rick Scavetta U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern
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he U.S. Navy has opened a Warrior Transition Program at U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern, a step that leaders say will continue to support Sailors returning to naval duties after serving ashore in combat zones. Leaders from several units at U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern joined Rear Adm. Kevin Scott, deputy commander of U.S. Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command, during a Dec. 12 ribbon cutting ceremony on Sembach Kaserne. “I share your joy in being able to open this fantastic facility,” Scott said. “It is a great Navy day.” When Scott asked the group — mostly Army officers and civilian employees — if they knew about the Navy’s program prior to its move to Germany, most said they didn’t. Following the Sept. 11,
2001, terrorist attacks, the Navy tasked Sailors to shore duty in support of ground forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. They call them “individual augmentees,” Scott said. At first, the Navy’s focus was quickly moving manpower to the fight, he said. A cook aboard an aircraft carrier could be assigned to a machine gun on a Marine ground convoy, Scott said, as an example of how different shore duty could be for some Sailors. Returning to a traditional Navy assignment was bound to be challenging. “We realized, on the back side, that we weren’t doing what we needed to do,” Scott said. “We needed to give our IAs time to transition, a down time to condition themselves before returning back to their families and loved ones and also transition them back to the Navy.” The Navy Warrior Transition program began in 2006 and moved to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in 2009. The last class of 200 Sailors recently wrapped up in
Army Lt. Col. Lars Zetterstrom (center), commander of U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern, joins Rear Adm. Kevin Scott, deputy commander of U.S. Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command, and other U.S. Navy and civilian personnel to cut the ribbon at the Warrior Transition Program at Sembach Kaserne.
Kuwait. The first class in Germany is underway. During their stay, Sailors check in gear, undergo mentoring and medical reviews, plus receive psychological support. What once took up to two weeks now just takes a few days, Scott said. The center is located below the recently reno-
vated Sembach Community Activities Center. Sailors stay in barracks nearby. Caring for Navy personnel who’ve served downrange is just as important for the garrison as is supporting Soldiers, said Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Creighton, the garrison’s senior enlisted leader. In the KMC, one of the larg-
est joint communities overseas, cooperation between various services comes with the territory, he said. “We are truly joint when it comes to supporting Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines,” Creighton said. “There are no lines in the sand. We’ll reach across our branches to provide care equally.”
Garrison employee takes top honor Byrne’s receiving the award is “indicative of the overall quality of the garrison workforce,” Zetterstrom said. n employee of the According to the award nomiU.S. Army Garrison nation narrative, Byrne spearKaiserslautern was headed many garrison projects, recently named the led a number of programs to recipient of the improve services and efficiency, 2011 Installation Management and contributed substantially to Command Stalwart Award, preseveral aspects of customer sersented annually to an employee vice and satisfaction, including who represents “high standards the community town halls and of performance in promoting Interactive Customer Evaluation IMCOM’s mission and vision,” system. according to the IMCOM release “I’m one of those people that announcing the award. just doesn’t believe in the word Jasmine Byrne, a plans no, or that it can’t be done. I specialist with the U.S. Army always try to find a way to make Garrison Kaiserslautern’s it get done,” said Byrne, who Plans, Analysis and Integration also enjoys a challenge that will Photo by Tim Hipps Office, received the award from allow her to prove what she can Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter, IMCOM Jasmine Byrne (center) accepts the 2011 Installation Management Command Stalwart Award with (from left) do, even if it’s not in her area of commanding general, in San Kathleen Marin, region director of IMCOM Europe, Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter, IMCOM commanding general, IMCOM expertise or at her level. Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Rice, and IMCOM-E Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Hartless. “If something is broken, and Antonio in early December. “She represents our great workforce, and Zetterstrom, the USAG Kaiserslautern commander I can help fix it, that’s always been something in we’re extremely proud of her,” said Lt. Col. Lars who was on hand to see Byrne receive the award. me,” she said.
by Mark Heeter U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern
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