WIESBADEN, Germany - Visitors might have thought the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden was getting a jump start on St. Patrick's Day this month as more and more of the distinctive Green Boot signs began appearing around the community.
"It's an honor for us to come and give these," said Col. Mary Martin, USAG Wiesbaden commander, as she presented employees of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade's Logistics Readiness Center, Wiesbaden, with the Green Boot Certificate Nov. 12. "This shows that members of your organization are doing their part to save energy and resources.
"There's a lot to be done to make our environment better?-- and I appreciate your efforts," Martin said.
Five Wiesbaden agencies were the latest to achieve Green Boot status after a concentrated effort to meet the garrison's Green Boot requirements and to help change the culture in their organization toward more environmental awareness and response, according to Maj. William McGlothlin, operations officer for the garrison's Directorate of Public Works.
"As we developed the program, one of the main points was tailoring the Green Boot Program to each individual organization," said McGlothlin, while helping recognize the garrison's Directorate of Resource Management for achieving Green Boot status on Nov. 6.
Other Wiesbaden units and agencies recognized on Nov. 6 and 12 included the Wiesbaden Middle School's Environment Club, 529th Military Police Company and the Joint Multinational Training Command's Wiesbaden Training Support Center.
"I appreciate everything you are doing to save dollars," said Martin as she recognized DRM employees in their Mainz-Kastel Storage Station location. Martin said she was especially impressed by the organization's detail-packed information board and monthly newsletters.
Like other organizations that have worked through the garrison's Green Boot checklist, DRM has stressed recycling paper, batteries and other refuse items in each office.
"We're trying to set a good example for others to follow," said Eleni Savvidou, Green Boot project officer and budget analyst for DRM. "I think education and communication is very important -- to show people all of the benefits of resource conservation."
While for some organizations the Green Boot initiative is a matter of starting from scratch to ensure everyone is doing his or her part to save energy and resources where possible, for others it's a matter of fine-tuning.
"The system was working pretty well when I got here," said Augustus Blair with Wiesbaden's Training Support Center. "It was just a matter of fine-tuning things to be in compliance."
"We have four different sections and we made sure that each section had a lead person and that employees bought into the Green Boot Program," added Ron Clendenen, Wiesbaden TSC supervisor. "We set out to look at things and to see what we could do to save energy and for environmental conservation. We also limited extension cord use and made sure lights are turned off when they're not in use."
"It wasn't that hard, actually," said the 529th MP Company's Sgt. Nigel Rose, about his unit's efforts in the program. "The big thing was getting all of the supplies (paper recycling containers, turn off lights when not in use stickers, etc.).
"It's a work in progress, changing the culture," Rose added, explaining that it's an ongoing process to get everyone to adopt the conservation mindset.
"Thank you for all of your efforts to help your barracks and your unit stay green," said the garrison commander while presenting the MPs with the Green Boot Certificate.
For more information about the Green Boot Program, call Maj. McGlothlin at mil 548-4006 or email william.p.mcglothlin.mil@mail.mil.
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