Twitter
Facebook
***image1***While the diversity of the Kaiserlautern Military Community is widely recognized, too few recognize just how scattered the community really is. It is the geographically separated units who provide the outermost layer of the KMC patchwork.
While every GSU environment is certainly unique, the three operating locations of the 435th Communications Squadron have been able to strike the ideal balance between integrating into their local stations while maintaining close ties to KMC family.
Based at several U.S. Army posts throughout Bavaria, the OLs provide critical electronics maintenance and operation for weather monitoring and forecasting systems as well as flight navigational equipment. Operating Location C and Operating Location D provide navigational and meteorological capabilities for an estimated 25,000 annual sorties at their home stations in Geibelstadt and Grafenwöhr, respectively. OL-D also supports Grafenwhoer range, the largest live-fire training range in the European Command.
With eight members, OL-E is the third and largest of the operating locations and is based at Katterbach Army Airfield. They are a traveling maintenance team and support a wide variety of Army, Air Force and NATO missions throughout Bavaria.
Air Force fish in a big Army sea
While the mission is always the primary focus, the OLs participate in their local communities in many other ways. Being Air Force fish in a big Army sea provides OL members with almost daily opportunities to represent the KMC.
Whether volunteering at the school, participating in base sports and activities or being active in local organizations, the after-hours contributions of the OLs do not go unnoticed.
“I think that there is a real sense of appreciation (from the local community)” said Master Sgt. Scott Robbins, OLs chief. “When the Army guys see us out there with them helping to make this an even better place to live, it really contributes to us all going into work the next day and being able to work together more smoothly.”
Maintaining KMC ties
These locations also strive to maintain close ties to their unit and the KMC as a whole. Squadron leadership makes a special point of including OL members in unit and base activities whenever possible and also make regular trips to Bavaria to participate in many OL morale functions, said Sergeant Robbins.
Additionally, many squadron members go out of their way to provide support which would otherwise not be feasible. In fact, most OL members agree that GSU support in general has improved greatly in the KMC as of late.
“I’ve noticed a big difference in the last couple of years,” said Senior Airman Jason Williams, a technician at OL-E. “There seems to be a much greater understanding of the challenges associated with being so far away from our main base of support.”
The current squadron Airman and NCO of the quarter are OL members – being stationed far away has clearly not dimmed the visibility of the OLs when it comes to awards and recognition.
By straddling two worlds, the OLs have been afforded opportunities to work jointly with another military branch while also working in tandem with their higher unit in a form of supported autonomy. While this has fostered leadership skills and other positive work habits, it has also provided the OL members with an invaluable experience.
