Unique program awards $5,000 for pristine barracks

Taking “Home Sweet Home” to heart, Soldiers earned $5,000 by scrubbing top to bottom and in every nook and cranny to win in the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern 2008 Best Barracks Award Program July 30.

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Originating here nine years ago, this cash-award program recognizes residents who show pride in where they live by making sure repairs are done, safety standards are met and common areas are spotless, said Hans Huemer, the garrison’s housing manager.

“It’s a Kaiserslautern Garrison unique program,” he said. “It’s a way for us to show Soldiers living in the barracks that someone cares for them and appreciates their hard work.”

This program splits $5,000 among residents of winning barracks in four categories.

“Soldiers in the barracks are the ones who spend the money – not the unit or the first sergeants,” said the garrison’s Command Sgt. Maj. Pamela Carmouche, who with five representatives from local commands inspected almost 30 barracks at six installations here July 23. “They have the ‘say so’ on who spends that money and what items are bought (for all residents).”

Award ceremonies were held July 30 at each of the winning barracks. Almost 300 Soldiers shared in this year’s cash award.Winners in the unrenovated large category, earning $1,100, are the 8th Medical Logistics Company Soldiers living in Bldg. 1330 on Miesau Army Depot.

Soldiers living in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center’s Bldg. 3702 won in the

renovated large category and earned $1,500. For the second year in a row, second-place honors in the large renovated category and $900 went to Soldiers living in Bldg. 3707 on LRMC. These Soldiers are from the 212th Combat Support Hospital, Landstuhl Dental Command and U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine – Europe.

Soldiers with the 53rd Signal Battalion living in Bldg. 3813 on LRMC upset four-time winners – Soldiers with the 181st Signal Battalion living in Bldg. 3824 on LRMC – taking first place in the renovated medium category and $1,000.

The 181st Signal Battalion Soldiers did garner second-place honors in the renovated medium category along with Soldiers living in Bldg. 240 on Rhine Ordnance Barracks and in Bldg. 3242 on Kleber Kaserne. These Soldiers are from the Medical Transition Unit, 357th Air and Missile Defense Detachment, garrison’s Headquarters,Headquarters Detachment, 39th Transportation Battalion, 5th Military Police Company and more Soldiers from the 53rd Signal Battalion.

“This year, the barracks were in the best condition as far as cleanliness and upkeep since we began this program in 2000,” said Mr. Huemer.