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Last year, military police Soldiers at Sembach Kaserne frowned on a barracks’ rumor – the post barber shop was going to close.
When Sgt. Sam Dagiau heard the scuttlebutt, and then had the rumors confirmed by barbershop staff, he wondered, “Where am I going to get my haircut?”
The U.S. Army recently took over responsibility for Sembach, which had belonged to the U.S. Air Force.
An Army unit was looking to occupy the building that housed Sembach’s barber shop. When a Soldier raised the concern at a community town hall, senior Army leaders stepped in. They funded renovations for a new barber shop, which opened in November near the post shoppette.
“That’s why we have town halls,” said Capt. Josh Larson, 28, after getting a buzz recently at the new barber shop. “It’s great that they kept this here. I don’t have to drive all the way to Ramstein for a haircut.”
When Soldiers and other community members voice concerns, leaders within U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern listen, said Patrick Rothbauer, the garrison’s chief of the plans, analysis and integration office. As Army leaders prepare for an upcoming town hall, they hope the community speaks up.
“Town halls create a platform for voices from the community to be heard,” Mr. Rothbauer said. “Commanders and senior community leaders get direct feedback from the people who we serve.”
The event, held jointly by U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, takes place at 1:30 p.m. March 2 at the Kaiserslautern Community Activities Center on Daenner Kaserne. Lt. Col. Kevin Hutchison, U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern commander, will be joined by garrison directors and special guests.
“The most important thing we gain from town hall meetings is input from the community,” Mr. Rothbauer said. “This is the opportunity to voice your ideas on how to improve our community.”
In the past, few community members were attending the town halls – often held in the evening. To make things easier, the command scheduled the meeting in the early afternoon.
“Also, people can submit ideas for discussion through the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern website,” Mr. Rothbauer said. “There’s a logo on the right-hand side of the homepage. Ideas submitted there will be addressed in March.” To increase attendance, the garrison is also leveraging social media sites and the American Forces Network to publicize the upcoming meeting.
“We live in an ever-changing community, where issues evolve and problems arise,” Mr. Rothbauer said. “The command always needs community input to tackle current problems and issues.”
