he t Citizen Vol. 39, CNo. 2 U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart January 28, 2010 Serving the Greater Stuttgart Military Community Full steam ahead Job fair helps New construction nears injured Soldiers By Susan Huseman completion on Panzer, Kelley USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Office Story & photos by Brittany Carlson ealing is a warrior in transition’s USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Office mission. H After 18 months of therapy and ast year was a year of breaking ground, treatment, Staff Sgt. Tyrone C. Basnight, assigned but this is a year of cutting ribbons. to the Warrior Transition Unit in Kaiserslautern, has L In 2009, U.S. Army Garrison Stut- accomplished that mission and is about to transition tgart leaders dug their shovels into fresh dirt to begin to civilian life. several new construction projects, including the The 20-year veteran and his wife attended the Kelley Barracks Shoppette and Child Development Association of the U.S. Army Stuttgart Chapter Job Center, and the Panzer Hotel on Panzer Kaserne. Fair in the Marriott Hotel in Sindelfingen Jan. 15. Since then, construction workers and project “My ideal job would be something dealing with managers have worked to finish these new build- photography,” said Basnight, 38, who expects to be ings, and, in 2010, community members will get medically retired from the military by March 1. “It’s to see the fruits of their labor. my passion.” Panzer Hotel But the signal support systems specialist from Pittsburgh, Pa., interviewed with representatives from Construction on the $34.5 million Panzer 20 major defense contractors and Defense Department Hotel, funded by the Family and Morale, Welfare agencies for a position more closely aligned with his and Recreation Headquarters’ Army Lodging military experience. department, began in January 2009. “If you find a good job, you’ve got to take it,” said It is anticipated to be completed in early June Basnight, the father of five. “Here, [good jobs] seem to and open for guests around Sept. 1, according to be everywhere, so you’ve got to pick the right one.” Dave Roach, Kelley Hotel manager and future This is the second year that the AUSA Stuttgart manager of the Panzer Hotel. Inside a finished sample room of the Panzer Hotel, chapter has sponsored the job fair, with the support The hotel project is managed by the USAG Stut- Col. Richard M. Pastore (from left), USAG Stuttgart of U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s Army Community tgart Directorate of Public Works, U.S. Army Corps commander, views a model of the hotel with Gen. Service. of Engineers and the German construction agency, Carter F. Ham, USAREUR commander, Jan. 21. “We’re providing the service member in Europe SHBA (Staatliches Hochbauamt Reutlingen). with the ability to access major defense companies,” It is designed to meet anti-terrorism/force and variety of rooms, including pet-friendly rooms said AUSA’s Bill Campbell, who organized the event. protection standards, as well as the highest proj- and family suites. The flip side, he said, is that the job fair provides ect standard, the LEED Sustainable Project Gold “This will give families, as they join this com- defense contractors access to eager, willing and Standard Rating, according to Norm Seare, DPW munity, a very positive first experience,” Ham said, qualified employees. project manager and general engineer. “and we all know how important that is.” Defense contractors and government agencies find The Panzer Hotel will house 218 hotel rooms Ten rooms will follow the Americans with that military vets are ideally suited for employment. — including 69 standard rooms, 84 extended Disabilities Act guidelines for full handicap acces- “For us, because we are a defense contractor, rooms and 65 family suites — on seven floors, sibility, said Roach, hotel manager. In addition, all [military veterans] know our customer better Seare said. rooms will have kitchenettes, and some will have than anyone else because they used to be our A few sample rooms are already finished, and cooktops, a feature Roach believes will be a hit. customers,” said Joanna Peyton, of Computer Sciences received a visit by Gen. Carter F. Ham, U.S. Army “It gives people coming here with families, or for Corporation. Europe commander, on Jan. 21. an extended period of time, more options to cook in Chris Foley, Lockheed Martin’s program manager Ham could only find one issue: “The problem the rooms and have family-style meals,” he said. for Europe, agreed. “Military vets come in and can is, people aren’t going to want to leave,” he said. Each room is also equipped with an energy- do the job on Day One. They bring quality, loyalty He was also impressed with the plan for an and mission focus — that’s everything we are about,” indoor fitness room, breakfast area by the lobby See Construction on page 4 See Job fair on page 6 Page 5 Page 11 inside MLK Jr. still serves Art museum delivers his as inspiration fresh perspective t The USAG Stuttgart Martin Luther King The Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, located on Jr. celebration Jan. 12 focused on King’s the Schlossplatz downtown, showcases edition service and the service opportunities modern artwork that explores the question: community members have today. “What is art?” The Citizen, January 28, 2010 Page 3 Page 2 OpiniOn The Citizen, January 28, 2010 newS Army Family Covenant still delivering to Army families News & Notes Commentary by Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch Installation Management Command commander I am dedicated to delivering on the Army leadership’s Graco recalls hazardous strollers The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commis- n Oct. 8, 2007, the Army unveiled the promise to continue to provide the best care and quality of sion, in cooperation with Graco Children’s Prod- Army Family Covenant, institutionalizing life possible to Soldiers and their families. Our commitment ucts Inc., announced a voluntary recall of Graco’s Othe Army’s commitment to providing Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Soldiers and families — active duty, National Guards- to delivering the Army Family Covenant is non-negotiable. Systems. The hinges on these strollers’ canopies men, and reserve — a quality of life commensurate pose fingertip amputation and laceration hazards. with their quality of service. Consumers should immediately stop using the However, as I travel around, meeting with Army We have also met access standards for 90 per- We are indeed making progress on delivering the recalled strollers and contact Graco to receive a Soldiers and families, I’m surprised to find that many cent of acute, routine and specialty appointments, Army Family Covenant, but we have much more free repair kit by calling 001-800-345-4109. are not familiar with the AFC and the commitment authorized TRICARE standard coverage for more work to do. I am dedicated to delivering on the Army For more information, visit www.graco- Army leadership has made to provide a better quality than 500,000 eligible members of the Selective leadership’s promise to continue to provide the best baby.com or www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/ of life to Soldiers and families. Reserve and their family members and lowered the care and quality of life possible to Soldiers and their prhtml10/10115.html. We are delivering the AFC with a focus on co-payment. families. five specific areas: standardization and funding In addition, we have funded the Training Bar- Our commitment to delivering the Army Family Post office news The U.S. Postal Service recently announced of existing programs and services; increasing ac- racks Modernization Program to allow 11,306 Covenant is non-negotiable. We will not depart from changes in pricing for mailing parcels. First cessibility and quality of health care; improving Soldiers to move into newly-designed or renovated this commitment. Class letter prices remain the same, express Soldier and family housing; ensuring excellence in barracks in fiscal year 2009, and introduced the I would ask that we always take the time to ac- prices are now higher, and priority parcel prices schools, youth services and child care, and expand- First Sergeants Barracks Initiative to enhance centuate the positive. We have so very much to be Birgit Thompson can be higher or lower, depending on how far ing education and employment opportunities for single Soldier quality of life. The AFC reduced the thankful for when it comes to health care, housing, Roter Stich used to run through RB. Now, a new fence separates the installation from the German the package travels from the east coast. For family members. financial burden on Army families by eliminating services and programs, and many other things. Many community. U.S. housing units on the western side of Roter Stich were turned over to Stuttgart in 2008. Over the past two years, we have standardized Child, Youth and School Services registration fees times, we immediately start talking about negative postage rates, visit www.usps.com. Army community staffing and programs at all garri- and by reducing program fees. In collaboration items, and many of those conversations are based on In U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, the Panzer sons; added 1,079 family readiness support assistants with more than 373 school districts, it also sup- anecdotal evidence without firsthand knowledge. and Kelley Army Post Offices now have ex- positions to provide administrative and logistical ported military-connected students transferring to Let’s be grateful for what we have, and strive RB continues to transition tended hours; they are open five days a week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. support to commanders and Family Readiness Group new school districts. together to improve. An attitude of appreciation will By Carola Meusel Due to possible terrorist threats against the For families stationed overseas with a spon- leaders; funded Exceptional Family Member respite We have helped to increase placement of military go a long way.