Army garrison in Germany takes home presidential award

By Erin O. StattelMay 5, 2011

Wiesbaden garrison accepts CINC Award
Representatives from U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden accept the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence. Standing left to right are Veronica Rivils from the Army's Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management;... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ARLINGTON, Va. (Army News Service, May 5, 2011) -- Several Department of Defense installations were recognized for their outstanding service to military families all over the world during a May 4, 2011, ceremony in the Pentagon.

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden took home the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence and was described as "a special place" by Garrison Command Sgt.Maj. Hector Prince.

"We all come together to form a close-knit community," Prince said of the Wiesbaden garrison.

The Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognized five military installations for exceeding standards set by the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Defense Logistics Agency. With the resources available to them, recipients of the award excelled in several areas to include sustaining the mission, increasing productivity of the workforce and enhancing the quality of life for all who live and work at the installation.

Col. Jeffrey W. Dill, who has been the garrison commander at Wiesbaden since June 2009, said the installation maintains excellence in services across the board, not just in one directorate or on one project.

"What I am very happy with is the high level of programs across the board," he said. "There aren't a lot of places like that, at least not where I have been, and we continue to do this within constrained resources. The key to that are good people executing those missions."

"That high quality [of programs] also comes during a huge transition," said Lorie Khatod, chief of plans for U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden. "There is a strong sense of community."

"Wiesbaden is interesting because they have a lot of challenges. The biggest is 'efficient basing,' through garrison closures and consolidations," explained Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment Katherine Hammack. "Over the past four years, we have closed 91 sites, most in Germany and returned 22,801 acres to the government. Over the next four years we plan to close 29 more sites and return an additional 6,652 acres."

"It takes a dedicated team to not compromise the main mission while handling all those other issues," Hammack said. "To get the Award for Installation Excellence on top of all that other work is quite an accomplishment."

During the ceremony, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ashton Carter noted that Wiesbaden "excelled at creating a positive working relationship with the city of Wiesbaden and organized events that would overcome the language barriers."

As for communications, Wiesbaden's social media strategic communication plan created an increase in traffic to garrison sites, Carter said.

Dill said the people at Wiesbaden are what make it such a special and unique garrison environment.

"This today is really all about the people, the Soldiers, the units, the family members and the host nations," he said. "At Wiesbaden we have a great group of people who really get along. Everyone contributes to the success. We have a strong garrison workforce, strong in competence and commitment."

"The teams here today are responsible for taking care of our most treasured places, places which launch young enlisted troopers into theatre. They excel at supporting the warfighter and the chairman counts on it," said keynote speaker Gen. Philip Breedlove, vice chief of staff for the Air Force. "As stewards of foreign property and property stateside, these teams make great installations."

Also recognized were Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, and Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime in Columbus, Ohio.

Related Links:

Army.mil: Europe News

STAND-TO!: Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden