Features

Keeping Ramstein Air Base excellent

by Tech. Sgt. Rose Gudex
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
April 28, 2023
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Shane Strate, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa satellite communications manager, rakes leaves during Installation Excellence Day at Ramstein Air Base, April 18. The day gave Airmen the opportunity to take the time to clean around their common areas and places of work in preparation for spring. Photos by Airman 1st Class Tabatha Chapman

Service members from across the Kaiserslautern military community participated in Installation Excellence Day on April 18-19, to clean and spruce up work centers and living spaces at their respective bases.

Installation Excellence Day happens every year during Earth Week, said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Wilson, event coordinator from the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron. He said everyone who lives or works on Ramstein Air Base, Kapaun Air Station, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Clinic participated to clean both inside and out of their respective facilities with a ‘clean where you work’ and ‘clean where you live’ day.

“This allows facility managers and housing residents to clean inside and outside their buildings,” he said. “We do it to help with general maintenance and do our part by recycling what we don’t need anymore.”

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, A6 unified communications office, tie trash bags during Installation Excellence Day at Ramstein Air Base, April 18. The day was coordinated by the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron to encourage Airmen to take personal care of the places they work.

Volunteers from 786th CES picked up biodegradable bags, bulk items such as old furniture, toys and appliances, Wilson said. In addition to getting rid of old or broken furniture, facility managers received help with basic landscaping.

Not only does Installation Excellence Day help the KMC with a “spring cleaning” of the bases, but it helps service members across the installations take ownership in their work centers and living spaces.

“It united our squadron through a focused goal: decluttering and freshening up our work environment,” said Airman 1st Class Dustin Huynh, 86th Comptroller Squadron financial operations technician.

U.S. Air Force Airmen dispose of lawn trimmings during an Installation Excellence Day at Ramstein Air Base, April 18. The day was coordinated by the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron to encourage Airmen to take personal care of where they work.

Not only does decluttering and cleaning create a tidier work environment and help increase the lifespan of office furniture, but Huynh said the more comfortable work environment boosts coworkers’ moods and overall productivity.

Spring cleaning is a great reset to start fresh as the year moves toward warmer months, but tidying up the installations is something that can be done year-round. Wilson said service members can borrow tools at the U-Fix-It store or call the CE customer service for assistance if it requires a little more expertise.

Over at the 86th CPTS, Huynh said their office tackled the larger tasks like weeding outside the building and walkways and deep cleaned all the windows, but they also have a schedule to regularly tidy up work spaces and keep the office clean year-round.

After Installation Excellence Day and with fresh, decluttered installations, the KMC is poised to execute the Global Gateway mission.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Raeanna Cunningham, 86th Maintenance Squadron precision measurement equipment laboratory apprentice, pulls weeds during Installation Excellence Day at Ramstein Air Base, April 18. The day was an opportunity for Airmen to clean and develop a sense of ownership and pride in base facilities and common areas.
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