Groundbreaking Celebrates Future Stuttgart Schools by S.J
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November 28, 2013 The Harlem Globetrotters will Globetrotters to entertain Stuttgart families perform Dec. 6 with their basketball wizardry. 5 TSA’s expedited screening TSA Precheck expands to service members Vol. 42, No. 23 www.stuttgartcitizen.net now for military at 100 U.S. airports Dec. 20. 8 Groundbreaking celebrates future Stuttgart schools By S.J. Grady USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Office ilitary and community leaders gath- ered Nov. 12 to break ground for the Mnew elementary and high schools be- ing built in Böblingen, near Panzer Kaserne. With construction already under way at the Pan- zer Local Training Area, the ceremony allowed rep- resentatives from U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, the German State Construction Office Reutlingen and Supreme Finance Department Karlsruhe, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District and Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe to celebrate the long-awaited projects coming to fruition. “This project is the No. 1 priority for the Stutt- gart military community. We’ve been working to get new schools to the U.S. military community here in Stuttgart for years,” said U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Commander Col. John P. Stack during the ceremony. “We know the current schools are severely un- dersized. This campus will dramatically improve the infrastructure support for our students, teachers and parents as they work together … toward greater R. Slade Walters levels of academic excellence,” Stack said. Representatives from U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, the German government, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Defense Dependent Schools and two Patch High School students officially See Groundbreaking on page 4 break ground for the new Panzer Kaserne schools construction project Nov. 12. Stuttgart family member named finalist for Operation Rising Star By Robert Dozier from USAG Humphreys, Korea. of competition will be recorded, and move ahead in the competition. Every U.S. Army Installation Finalists from installations in the the general public will be able to view stage of the competition will be scored Management Command U.S. include: Sgt. Christiana Ball from and vote for their favorite performer to based on a combination of votes from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Pfc. Kiari the public and from the judges. rmy Entertainment has Mhoon from Joint Base Lewis-Mc- The initial performance will be announced the 12 finalists Chord, Wash.; family members Sarah available online at www.OpRisingStar. Aslated to compete in Op- Hopkins from Joint Base Langley- com on Dec. 8, followed by semi-finals eration Rising Star in December. Eustis, Va., Charrie Mae Riggs from and finals on Dec. 10 and 12. The win- U.S. Installation Management Fort Campbell, Ky., and Joyce Severino ner of the 2013 competition will be Command G9 Family and Morale, from U.S. Army Garrison Schofield revealed on Dec. 14. Welfare and Recreation programs will Barracks, Hawaii; and from California, Installation Management Com- host and conduct the finals at Fort Sam 2nd Lt. Derrick Bishop from Fort Irwin, mand G9 MWR programs operate and Houston Theatre, to determine the 2013 and Sgt. Scott Harris from the Presidio manage non-appropriated child-care winner. of Monterey. facilities, bowling and fitness centers, Operation Rising Star is a singing Audition packets, which were sub- golf courses, clubs, cafes and restau- contest for Soldiers and military fam- mitted by participating U.S. Army gar- rants across the Army for the benefit ily members similar to but not affili- risons, contained videos of first place of Soldiers and their families. ated with the popular television show winners from the garrison-level com- Operation Rising Star is one of their “American Idol.” petitions. These videos were considered programs designed to bolster morale Finalists from overseas garrisons by a panel of judges at Installation among troops and deliver positive rein- include: family member Raquel Sargent Management Command headquarters, Steve Roark forcement to Soldiers, military civilians from U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart; 1st and the 12 finalists were chosen from Raquel Sargent, a military family and family members. Lt. Matthew Gabriel from USAG Wies- the best. member from Stuttgart, will compete baden; family member Christina Lewis These finalists will compete against as one of 12 finalists Dec. 8 in Op- More information about Operation from USAG Rheinland-Pfalz; Sgt. the other contestants in daily perfor- eration Rising Star, Army Entertain- Rising Star, the contestants and how to Oscar Bugarin from Camp Lomonnier, mances and be judged on their singing ment’s singing contest for Soldiers and view the finals can be found at www. Djibouti; and Spc. Ikilya Davenport talent and stage presence. Each round military family members. armymwr.com. Page 2 OPINION The Citizen, November 28, 2013 Dolphins’ scandal has lessons HE T CITIZEN for service members Commentary by Col. Quinn Gummel This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Depart- Like a head coach or ment of Defense. Contents of The Citizen are not necessarily the offi cial 9th Reconnaissance Wing vice commander views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of De- fense or the Department of the Army. All editorial content in this pub- general manager, commanders lication is edited and approved for public release by the United States Army Garrison Stuttgart Public Affairs Offi ce. Advertisements and pri- his month, Jonathan Martin, an offensive are ultimately responsible for what vate organizations noted in this publication are not part of Department lineman on the Miami Dolphins football of Defense. happens in their organization. Tteam, walked out and quit the team due to a perceived hostile work environment allegedly characterized by demeaning, racially-biased com- fi gures of authority within the organization speaks to munications and fi nancial extortion by at least one a lack of basic trust in the leadership chain. Clearly team captain and other senior members of the team. Mr. Martin felt his leadership condoned the activities Though a lot of details are yet unknown, the events he was subjected to. thus far are suffi cient to provide a lesson for our own Mid-level leaders, either team captains or other Col. John P. Stack military community. “players council” members, appear to be complicit, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Commander Like a professional sports team, our military is either by their own actions or through concurrence R. Slade Walters comprised of motivated people held to a high thresh- by silence, in maintaining the established environ- Director of Public Affairs old of performance where teamwork is essential to ment. While seemingly unaware of the most egre- S. J. Grady success. How does a professional athlete who has gious activities, they were certainly aware of other Command Information Chief Managing Editor passed so many hurdles and is presumably fulfi lling incidents. Carola Meusel a dream to participate at the height of his profession What about the “wingmen?” Although team- Culture Editor suddenly up and quit? We might ask ourselves what mates were reportedly unaware of the most extreme would drive a dedicated and professionally fulfi lled instances, they were all apparently subjected to at USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Offi ce Building 2949, Panzer Kaserne service member proudly serving our nation to be- least some level of hostility and harassment them- come similarly disenchanted. selves. Also, while the most serious allegations rise Telephone: +49 (0)7031-15-3105, DSN 431-3105 Fax: +49 (0)7031-15-3096, DSN 431-3096 Let’s start at the top. Like a head coach or general from a relatively short time period, they merely Email: [email protected] Website: www.stuttgart.army.mil manager, commanders are ultimately responsible for culminate a progressive string of increasing severity. Facebook: www.facebook.com/USAGarrisonStuttgart what happens in their organization. The unit climate While some would fail to get involved, either out Army Post Offi ce Mailing Address: is actively set by the things the commander says and of fear or lack of concern, a proactive wingman (of Unit 30401, APO AE 09107 does; passively set by the items that are ignored or the sort we should aspire to be) would be engaged, German Mailing Address: allowed to pass without comment; and refl ected in take notice and question the negative impacts to the Panzer Kaserne, Geb. 2949, 3rd Floor, Panzerstrasse, 71032 Böblingen the appointment of subordinate leaders. Within the teammate. Publisher Dolphins, it appears that leadership accepted at least Regardless of how the Dolphins’ situation plays AdvantiPro GmbH some level of hazing toward newer/younger play- out, there are important lessons for us all. ers. Beyond being an ineffective leadership tool that Commanders need to foster an environment free Publishing House • Advertising Agency destroys morale, hazing and other demeaning “rites from hostility and not tolerate any such behavior, www.advantipro.com of passage” typically spiral into increasingly harsh no matter how “minor.” Supervisors need to nurture treatment that quickly surpasses all misguided intent a workplace where subordinates feel safe coming The Citizen is a biweekly off set press publication published by AdvantiPro GmbH and printed by Oggersheimer Druckzentrum. and results in physical or emotional injury. forward with their concerns. Finally, all of us should Circulation is 7,000 copies. Selective enforcement of “acceptable” levels of strive to be great wingmen, standing up for, and sup- Handelsregister: Zweibrücken, HRB 1824 Z Gerichtsstand Kaiserslautern this destructive behavior is impossible, and com- porting, each other when necessary. Ust-IdNr.: DE 229812354 manders who explicitly allow some of these activi- ties tacitly approve all of them. That the individual Editor’s Note: Gummel is stationed at Beale Air John Thompson Managing Director in question did not discuss the issue with any other Force Base, Calif. Telephone: +49 (0) 631-3033-5530 Email: [email protected] Corinna Emser Production Manager Newspaper Layout/Designer Alexander Pütz Dipl.