Spring 09 Edge 1

SPRING 09 t EDGE 1 Contents SPRING 2009 Commander’s Corner CS season is quickly approaching. As Soldiers and Civilians relocate, the Benelux will lose Psome of its greatest resources, but in their place, new faces and new talent will arrive. The transient Army makes us strong. Our tenured personnel move on and share the knowledge they gained working in support of NATO, while our new arrivals bring their Kevin Downey Kevin Thad Moyseowicz Pierre-Etienne Courtejoie own experiences to help the Benelux transform. Throughout this issue of the Edge, you will see how Our People Local Support Training our people shine. From Noncommissioned Officers We Need You We Care We’re Partners to Department of the Army and Host Nation Civil- 4 2009: Year of the NCO 18 euReport 32 First Responders ians, each plays an integral part in our day-to-day Diversity strengthens 20 Suicide Stand Down Military Police throughout operations. Noncommissioned Officer The Benelux reaches out to the Benelux work with local This year, the Army is honoring our enlisted leaders Corps at the Benelux help all uniformed personnel officials to save lives by naming 2009 – The Year of the NCO. IMCOM- Europe’s newest Command Sergeant Major paid a visit 7 NCO Spotlight prevent suicide 34 A Training First to our garrisons to meet our noncommissioned officers 9 Banner Year for NCOs 21 American Family Action Plan Air Force partners and to understand life in the Benelux. Read how she is working with Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph 10 Host Nation Employees Servicemembers, spouses, with Benelux and the Ford to enhance the NCO Corps, recognize our outstanding leaders and to inform the public The locals who have spent teens work to enhance the Netherlands to conduct about how they make us Army Strong. decades supporting the U.S. Benelux from the bottom up necessary crash drills I’ve been blessed to serve for 30 years in the U.S. Army, but we have host nation employees military and NATO 25 Students Conduct VTC 37 Road to War who have given 30, 35 even 42 years of their lives to support America’s efforts abroad. In 2009 13 Benelux Recognizes Best Technology allows SHAPE New Alliance Training alone, nearly 65 host nation employees will have served our garrisons for 30 years or more. Their dedication to duty, to serving a nation other than their own will never go unnoticed. 2008 Civilians of the Year Elementary students to share Area hosts first multi- It’s because of our personnel who use ingenuity and creativity to get the job done that our Big Will Henry 14 projects with Fort Hood unit training exercise to Family programs continue to reach new heights. Our schools are breaking cultural barriers A gentle giant who impacts 28 Saving with VAT prepare a task force for its through the use of technology. Our health clinics are providing customer care for those faced hundreds at Brussels The steps to get back money mission downrange and to with emergencies in foreign lands. And our Soldiers are executing new training techniques that 16 Memories of WWII on major purchases hone tenant units’ mission have never been conducted in the Benelux. A personal account of the war 30 Health Care Alternatives essential task lists Finally, we need each and every one of you to make the Benelux great, and on the heels of Army-wide suicides reaching new heights, it’s important that you all are aware of the current Suicide Stand Down. We’re a unique Family in the Benelux, and with that distinctiveness comes COMMANDERS challenges. Keep an eye on your fellow Servicemember and coworker. Take time to listen. And Col. James P. Drago - USAG Benelux Lt. Col. Darin S. Conkright - USAG Brussels Lt. Col. Fern O. Sumpter - USAG Schinnen Lt. Col. Brian S. England - Chièvres Garrison if required, take action! On the cover PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS EDITORIAL STAFF Marie-Lise Baneton - USAG Benelux Christie Vanover - Editor As the handlineman, Senior Airman Bradley Thomas Budzyna - USAG Schinnen Kevin Downey - Writer Fear leads the charge against a fuselage Christie Vanover Thad Moyseowicz - USAG Brussels Sarah J. Schmidt - Writer Cis Spook - Chièvres Garrison COL JAMES DRAGO engulfed in flames. Fear and other members The Benelux Edge is an authorized unofficial news magazine published under the provisions of AR 360-1 for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Benelux EDGE are not necessarily the official views of the 309th Airlift Squadron trained on the of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army or the USAG Benelux. The Benelux Edge is a USAG BENELUX COMMANDER free quarterly publication distributed throughout the Benelux. Editorial content is edited and provided by USAG simulator at the Woensdrecht Firefighting Benelux, USAG Schinnen, USAG Brussels and Chièvres Garrison Public Affairs Offices. It is published by the Public Affairs Office, USAG Benelux, Unit 21419, APO AE 09708. Telephone (0032) 068-27-6123/DSN 361-6123; Training Facility in the Netherlands. See fax DSN 361-5106. Printed circulation is 3,000. Submissions are welcome, but will be edited for accuracy, brevity, story on page 34. clarity and journalistic style. Submissions are due on the first day of the month, one month prior to publication date. USAG Benelux is a direct reporting garrison to the Installation Management Command-Europe. 2 EDGE t SPRING 09 SPRING 09 t EDGE 3 “Noncommissioned officers put integrity into everything they do.” 2009 Downey Kevin Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Ford shows Command Sgt. Maj. Tracey Anbiya Year around the new training area on Chièvres Air Base. Soldiers. The NCO has been the backbone of the Army demographics have shifted over the years. of the NCO and will always be that backbone of the Army.” “Much of the success that we have in the Army is Ford recalled when he first pinned on his chevrons. from the diversity of ideas and personalities working By Christie Vanover t USAG Benelux Public Affairs “I think I was wowed by it for the fact of, as a special- together to achieve the mission,” said Anbiya. “I think ist, you look at those other leaders, those NCOs, and that when we embrace diversity, we create a stronger you say, ‘I want to be an NCO.’ And you always have and more efficient team.” that particular one. ‘I want to be like that NCO.’ NCOs throughout the Benelux and across the Army “So when I first made sergeant, I remember just walk- are charged with the mission of promoting diversity ing and looking in the mirror and saying, ‘Gosh, I’m to their fellow Soldiers, Family members and the local an NCO,’ said Ford. community through Equal Opportunity programs. It takes the average recruit about four years to become Sgt. 1st Class Lee Leggett, in addition to his primary As young men and women enter the Army, they’re taught discipline, an NCO, and that accomplishment is what the Year duties in the operations section, volunteered to serve of the NCO is all about. The program’s goals are to as the Equal Opportunity Leader for the U.S. Army self-confidence, endurance – the skills it takes to be “Army Strong.” enhance, recognize and inform. NATO SHAPE Battalion. As such, he coordinates ob- Recruitment numbers are at the high- not really sure about what your long- recognizing our NCOs for their con- “Through the enhancement, we are looking at the servances for events like Black History Month. est they’ve been in years, nearing 105 term goals are.” tributions, as far as what they’ve done pride, the physical fitness, leadership development and He said he does it to educate Soldiers. “It keeps the percent of the projected goal for the Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Ford, for our Army…I think as our junior those other programs that sustain and grow our Non- heritage of diversity in the Army alive.” current fiscal year. Of those new re- said the Year of the NCO changes that. enlisted Soldiers see that and recognize commissioned Officer Corps,” said Anbiya. Because of the Benelux’s remote locations, the garri- cruits, nearly 84 percent will serve as “It gives them that long-range goal of that, they understand the important “This year we’ll also recognize the commitment, sons and tenant units have NCOs serving as EO Lead- enlisted Soldiers. wanting to become a noncommissioned roles of noncommissioned officers and the dedication and the service of our noncommis- ers who rotate planning the community events. “When I joined the Army 25 years officer because they see exactly what the it will make them aspire to want to be sioned officers. And we’re also looking to inform the “The NCOs play a role in it because we are the educa- ago, I knew it was an opportunity to noncommissioned officer is all about,” an NCO.” American people of what we do as noncommissioned tors, the trainers, the mentors,” said Ford. better myself,” said Command Sgt. said the USAG Benelux Command Ser- Anbiya said NCOs play various roles officers in this Army.” Equal Opportunity in the Benelux is about more Maj. Tracey Anbiya, IMCOM-Europe’s geant Major. in the Army. “They are leaders. They are From Corporals to the Sergeant Major of the Army, than skin color and gender. “Here in the Benelux, we’re senior noncommissioned officer. “but “I think they will get motivation – that mentors. They are coaches. They teach. the make-up of the NCO corps is diverse. Although not just Army. We have Air Force located here. We just like past and future NCOs, you’re motivation to excel,” he added.

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