Vol. 49, No. 3, March 2020 Serving the Greater Stuttgart Military Community www.stuttgartcitizen.com Thirteen top Soldiers from across Europe converged at U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart from March 1-4 to compete in Installation Management Command — Europe’s “Best Warrior 2020” competition. The event began with a ruck march. To see more images from the competition, turn to page 5. The full story can be found on StuttgartCitizen.com. Photo by Jason Johnston, TSC Stuttgart Best Warrior 2020 US military chefs take silver at culinary olympics By Sgt. Alexis Gonzalez American Forces Network, Stuttgart U.S. military chefs showed their love of cooking over Valentine’s Day weekend during the 2020 Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung culinary olympics. Nearly 1,800 top chefs from around the globe took part in the event, held Feb. 14-19 at the Stuttgart Messe in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. The U.S. Army Culinary Arts Team competed on Sunday, Feb. 16. Among military teams, the U.S. team ranked second overall, earning the silver medal. The Swiss Armed Forces Culinary Team took gold. The teams from Germany, Britain, and Hungary fi nished third, fourth, and fi fth, respectively. The competition was fi erce. Military chefs bent over shining white plates teeming with roasted meats, vegetables and decadent sweets in their assigned kitchen. Behind the scenes, the U.S. military team effort was what truly made them champions. Arriving at 5:30 a.m. on the morning of their test, they set up their Staff Sgt. Marc Susa USACAT team leader puts the fi nal touches on the starter at the 2020 IKA Culinary Olympics, Feb. 16 in Stutttgart. kitchen, prepped garnishes, heated ovens and Photo by Paul Hughes, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart stoves — creating a symphony that was truly unique to watch. Café, the Army dining facility on Panzer Kaserne. For national teams, Norway took gold, at local, national, and international culinary For USACAT’s team leader, Army Staff Sgt. They helped cook a special Valentine’s Day Sweden silver and Iceland bronze. The U.S. competitions, as well as provide training and Marc Susa, the biggest motivation was his meal and also prepared their best for Soldiers national team placed 17th. The top youth team conduct demonstrations all over the United peers, he said. to sample. The UK Combined Services Culinary was Sweden. The IKA Culinary Olympics is a States. “The teammates that I have in that kitchen Arts Team also prepared for the competition at quadrennial chef competition and the biggest The journey for this year’s USACAT was long is what motivates me the most — cooking Patch Barracks. culinary competition in the world. This year and challenging, Susa said. alongside them, we worked so hard to be USACAT competed in the category of com- marked the 25th year for the competition. “Even though it was a big battle with hur- here,” Susa said. munity catering, and fi nished with a silver USACAT is a program supported from Fort dles, I think we did great,” Susa said. During the week leading up to the event, medal overall. The National Culinary Team of Lee, Virginia and comprises culinary special- the team trained and prepared at the Originals Denmark took gold in the category. ists from all military branches. They compete See MILITARY CHEFS, page 11 Page 2 COMMANDER’S CORNER Stuttgart Citizen, March 2020 Garrison staff preparing for potential virus impact For more information on COVID-19, visit these sites: • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus • Military Health System https://www.health.mil/ news/in-the-spotlight/ coronavirus • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) https://www.ecdc.europa. eu/en • World Health Organization https://www.who.int Col. Jason Condrey, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, speaks with a garrison employee during a recent town hall at Kelley Barracks. Garrison staff are preparing for the potential impact of the coronavirus in the community. Photo by Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart By Col. Jason Condrey at the Tübingen university clinic, being large numbers of people are involved. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Commander, infected. Another person in Böblingen, Communicating facts, rather than Prevention website at cdc.gov. U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart who knows the man, was also infected. rumor, is key at this stage. False reports Our partners at the Exchange and People in Rottweil and Freiburg also have already begun to plague us. To the commissary realize the importance As March began, we faced daily have the virus. combat this, we will communicate early of stocking hand sanitizer, cleaning news headlines that the coronavirus, and often – whatever developments supplies and hand soap. We will keep or COVID-19, had made its way to the This March, we will likely see occur, we pledge to share them with the an eye on such supplies. Stuttgart area. U.S. military commu- more cases in our area. community. U.S. medical staff communicate regu- nities in South Korea and Italy have Our overall risk at USAG Stuttgart, Something to consider – we are larly with their German counterparts. already been affected by its presence. as of early March, remains low. Our amid still in the season for common The Stuttgart Public Health Department Now, we are preparing our garrison for garrison team, however, began taking colds. People with mild symptoms, has COVID-19 testing capabilities. A the potential impact of COVID-19 cases precautionary measures to protect the without fever or recent travel and expo- local Stuttgart hospital prepared an in Baden-Württemberg. health of the force and maintain opera- sure risks, should continue to remain at entire floor to accept COVID-19 patients, tional readiness. We are learning from home. The clinic call center and nurse if needed. How did it get here? Here’s what how USAG Daegu (Korea) and USAG advice line are your first options for Our goal remains to safeguard our we know. Italy, prepared their communities. further guidance, should you be con- workforce and family members at USAG In late-February, a man from This includes disinfecting shuttle cerned about having the virus. Stuttgart. We work daily with our higher Göppingen — roughly 30 miles west buses and childcare centers, monitor- Staying healthy starts with routine headquarters, U.S. medical experts and of Stuttgart — returned from Milan, ing staff for illnesses and fever, and lim- hand washing, not touching your face host-nation partners. Together, we will Italy, where it’s suspected he contracted iting travel to and from affected areas. with unwashed hands, avoiding sick take any steps necessary to make sure COVID-19. Contact with his girlfriend As we move forward, we may have people and employing good hygiene this virus does not impact our commu- led to her and her father, a pathologist to limit some on-post activities, when procedures. To learn more, visit the nity or our mission. UNITED STATES ARMY Paul Hughes, John Reese, Facebook: www.facebook.com/ The Stuttgart Citizen is an authorized patronage without regard to race, color, GARRISON STUTTGART Joel Wasko USAGarrisonStuttgart/ newspaper, produced in the interest of religion, sex, national origin, age, marital the U.S. Army community in Stuttgart by status, physical handicap, political af- Commander USAG STUTTGART PUBLISHER the U.S. Army-Garrison Stuttgart Public fi liation, or any other non-merit factor of Col. Jason W. Condrey PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE Affairs Offi ce. Contents of the Citizen the purchaser, user or patron. 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It is published monthly using Unless otherwise indicated, all Rick Scavetta Display Advertising Contact the offset method of reproduction and seven-digit phone numbers in The Telephone: 09641-70-5962485 Jaqueline Samad has a printed circulation of 5,000 cop- Stuttgart Citizen are DSN numbers Contributors DSN (314) 431-3105 Telephone: +49 (0) 631-30 3355 37 ies. Everything advertised herein shall and all longer numbers are civilian. Angelika Aguilar, Michael Collier, Web: www.StuttgartCitizen.com Email: [email protected] be made available for purchase, use or Stuttgart Citizen, March 2020 NEWS BRIEFS Page 3 Send your announcements for https://www.usps.com/internation- upcoming events to the USAG al/customs-forms.htm Patch garage opens, more parking by Summer Stuttgart Public Affairs Office Army Emergency Relief Polizei Meeting, Patch traffic Campaign On Feb. 25, Col. Jason Condrey The Army Emergency Relief and garrison leaders from the annual campaign kick-off event Directorate of Emergency Services is March 16, at noon, at the met with the Stuttgart police at their Exchange, Main Lobby, Panzer headquarters in the city. During the Kaserne, Bldg. 2903. Free food meeting, Condrey discussed traffic and drinks (while supplies last). New parking is now available Condrey said. The garage is near those levels open, two levels will patterns outside Patch Barracks.