USAFE commander meets with German officials at Ramstein

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Gen. Roger Brady, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, hosted German politicians from western Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland on Wednesday to discuss USAFE’s mission and aircraft training requirements and to answer questions and hear concerns from his guests. Many local officials wanted to talk about aircraft noise and what the Air Force is doing to mitigate it. They said they appreciated the opportunity for open dialogue but would like noise to be reduced further.


USAFE commander meets with German officials at Ramstein
By Jennifer H. Svan and Marcus Klöckner, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, February 20, 2009

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Given the ear of Gen. Roger Brady, local officials, from village mayors to state lawmakers of western Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland, didn’t hold their tongues, even though what they really want is quiet.

Aircraft noise dominated talks Wednesday between the Air Force’s top leader in Europe and his 50 or so guests during a roundtable discussion at U.S. Air Forces in Europe headquarters, marking the first time the USAFE commander had hosted so many German politicians at once.

In a country that values tranquility so much so as to ban lawn-mowing and car-washing on Sundays, military aircraft noise continues to be a nuisance, the bureaucrats complained.

Brady, with patience and humor, listened to their concerns for more than an hour. One of the goals behind the event was to thank local officials for their support and give them a chance to ask questions, according to USAFE staffers.

But it was also an opportunity, USAFE officials said, to share the command’s vision and mission — and how the latter drives training requirements — throughout Europe and at Ramstein and Spangdahlem air bases in Germany.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60845