Baumholder unit wins Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz 'Best Barracks' award

By Mr. Stefan Alford (IMCOM)April 1, 2016

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Best Barracks
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USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Best Barracks
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KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- It may have been April Fool's Day, but the visit from the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Commander and Command Sergeant Major to present an award to members of the HHB 5-7 Air Defense Artillery at Baumholder was no prank.

Col. G. Shawn Wells Jr., and CSM Edward J. Williams III visited the unit April 1 to recognize the Soldiers' accomplishments in earning the garrison's Best Barracks of the Quarter for the third quarter FY16 in the U.S. Army Europe's Strong Europe Barracks Inspection and Recognition Program.

"Our Soldiers really brought that building up," said the HHB 5-7 ADA First Sergeant, Larry Hoedebeck. "With the work they put in, they improved the facility and its surroundings."

That work included more than 60 hours of painting, cleaning and decorating, according to Hoedebeck.

"The primary goal of the barracks inspection program is to improve the quality of life for Soldiers who live in the barracks," explained CSM Williams. "This program empowers our junior Soldiers to take action and promotes and instills a high degree of individual and leader responsibility and self-discipline."

Other goals of the inspection and recognition program are to promote a sense of home ownership, develop a spirit of camaraderie and esprit-de-corps, and instill a desire to exceed established standards to ensure the highest level of barracks care and maintenance.

In addition to the award, the unit also received a $780 prize from Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.