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NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Volume 27, No. 9 NATO E-3A COMPONENT IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION UNIFIED PROTECTOR NATO E-3A COMPONENT IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION AFGHAN ASSIST 58 DAYS 126 DAYS AFGHANISTAN PAKISTAN INDIA CHINA TURKMENISTAN UZBEKISTAN IRAN KYRGYZSTAN TAJIKISTAN ej Oz. Issyk K T H Srinagar Mashhad Herat Bukhara Farah Zahedan Tashkent Sheberghan Samarkand Dushanbe Qandahar Kabul Quetta Lahore Islamabad Multan EGYPT LIBYA TUNISIA ALGERIA NIGER CHAD SUDAN ISR LEB TURKEY GREECE CYPRUS MALTA ITALY Nile Gulf of Sirte Sicily Sardinia Nubi Lake Nasser Tamanrasset alah giers Constantine Tunis Trapani Ghardaia Annaba Ghadamis Misurata Sfax Benghazi Alexandria Cairo Asyut Ankara Tripoli Athens Sue H Q Ada Derna Izmir Port Said Text and photos Lt.Col. Antje Kalka It was a Tuesday, end of August 2010. Lt.Col. Murat Çetinkaya had just finished his first day in office as new FOB Commander in Konya when his cell phone rang. “We are coming,” was the short message he received from MOB Geilenkirchen. These few words meant that FOB Konya had to prepare everything for a major operation. And FOB Konya got prepared – immediately. When Operation Afghan Assist in support of ISAF began in January 2011, FOB Konya became the hub between Main Operating Base Geilenkirchen and Afghanistan. Konya has become a very busy place. Crews coming in, crews going out. Luggage, flak vests, helmets in front of the buildings. Storage containers in front of the MWA building. Aircraft have to be maintenanced. Many, many meals have to be prepared. It is a logistic challenge in many respects. But everything is running smoothly. FOB Konya supports the operation and the deployed personnel in every way – in a friendly manner. Many little details show how much the FOB personnel feel dedicated to the mission. The dominant facial expression all over the FOB is a smile. “In Turkey we say Sen is . e nasil bakarsan, is . de sana öyle bakar. This proverb means ‘The way you look at your work is the way the work looks at you’,” says FOB Commander Çetinkaya. “Of course the operation is a challenge to the whole FOB and to all deployed personnel. But we understand a challenge as something positive that opens up opportunities to show your capabilities”. “To understand the dimension of the support we are providing, you have to be aware that the Air Base at Konya is one of the busiest in Turkey,” explains Maj. Cahit Kiyak, logistics officer at FOB Konya. Amongst others, F-16 fighter aircraft of the Turkish Air Force are permanently stationed at Konya. However, when Operation Afghan Assist started, the host nation generously prioritized fuel trucks for the FOB. Aynasi istir kisinin lafa bakilmaz (actions speak louder than words), as the Turks say. FOB KONYA continues on page 3 Dedicated to operation What Operation Afghan Assist means for FOB Konya „We are coming“ – professionalism at FOB Konya. Always with a smile – FOB Commander Lt.Col. Murat Çetinkaya (center) together with Maj. Ridvan Erkul (right) and Maj. Cahit Kiyak.
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Page 1: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011Volume 27, No. 9

NATO E-3A COMPONENT

IN SUPPORT OFOPERATION UNIFIED PROTECTOR

NATO E-3A COMPONENT

IN SUPPORT OFOPERATION AFGHAN ASSIST

58 DAYS 126 DAYS

I N D I A

SRI LANKA

A F G H A N I S T A N

N E P A L

BHUTAN

BANGLADESH

B U R M A( M YA N M A R )

VIETNAM

CAMBODIA

T H A I L A N D

L A O S

C H I N A

PAKISTAN

INDIA

CHINA

TURKMENISTAN

UZBEKISTAN

IRAN

KYRGYZSTAN

K A Z A K H S T A NUZBEKISTAN

TAJIKISTAN

M O N G O L I A

Tongtian He

Ghagara

Yamuna

Sutlej

Narmada

Son

Indu

Krish

G o d a v a r i

Mahanadi

G a n g e s

Brahmaputra

Irra

wadd

y

H

uang He

Hwang Ho

Cha

ng Jiang

Mekong

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AN

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MERGUIARCHIP.

Bunguran

LACCADIVE IS.

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A R A B I A N

S E A

B A Y O F

B E N G A L

I N D I A N O C E A N

B o H a i

Y E L L O W

S E A

Gulf ofTongkin

Ten Degree Channel

G u l f o f

T h a i l a n d

S O U T H

C H I N A

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S e a

Gulf of Kachchh

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f

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AnnapurnaMt Everest

D E C C A N

C. Comorin

Dondra Head

Turfan Depress ion

G O B I

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BAYAN HAR SHAN

O R D O S

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R E DB A S I N

DA L O

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Mouths ofthe Mekong

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Mouths of the Ganges

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Yumen

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Beijing Dalian

Zhengzhou

Taiyuan

Shijiazhuang

Lanzhou

Baotou

New Delhi

Srinagar

Hotan

LhasaXigaze

Qamdo

Hangzhou

Wuhan

Chengdu

Tianjin

Xi'an

Mashhad

Herat

Bukhara

Farah

Karachi

Gwadar

Zahedan

Jamnagar

Bhavnagar

Mumbai (Bombay)

Tashkent

Mangalore

Kozhikode

Thiruvananthapuram

Tiruchchirappalli

Hubli-Dharwar

Coimbatore

Jaffna

Trincomalee

KandyColombo

Galle

Bassein

Tavoy

Georgetown

Phuket

Mergui

Sheberghan

Samarkand

Dushanbe

Qandahar

Kabul

Quetta

Bahawalpur

Lahore

Islamabad

Hyderabad

Sukkur

Jodhpur

Multan

Lucknow Thimphu

Chongqing

KatmanduJaipur

Ajmer

Ahmadabad

Udaipur

Surat

Vadodara

VaranasiAllahabad

Patna

Kanpur

Pune

Nagpur

Hyderabad

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Vishakhapatnam

Vijayawada

Raipur

Cuttack

Kolkata (Calcutta)

Jamshedpur

DhakaImphal

Gauhati Kunming

Guiyang

Chennai (Madras)

Nellore

Kurnool

Bangalore

Mysore

Madurai

ChittagongMandalay

Prome

Yangon(Rangoon)

Henzada

Akyab

Moulmein

Louang Prabang

Vientiane

Bangkok

Phnom Penh

BattambangKampong Cham

Can Tho

Ho Chi Minh City

Nha Trang

HueDa Nang

Qui Nhon

Nakhon Si Thammarat

Songkhla

Kota Baharu

Haikou

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Nakhon Ratchasima

Haiphong

Hanoi

Zhanjiang

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Liuzhou Guangzhou

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L I B Y A

TUNISIA

ALGERIA

M O R O C C O

M A U R I T A N I AM A L I

GHANASIERRA LEONE

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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

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S‹o TomŽ

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Socotra

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CAN ARY I S LANDS

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Strait of Gibraltar

G U L F O F G U I N E A

Bight of Benin

Bight of BiafraA T L A N T I C O C E A N

Gulf of Sirte

Sicily

Sardinia

RE

D

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EA

G u l f o f A d e n

CASPIAN

SEA

I N D I A N O C E A N

Persian Gulf

Caseyr

ETHIOPIAN

PLATEAU

N u b i a n

D e s e r t

Ogaden

J A B A L M A R R A H

LakeNasser

Lake Tana

LakeAlbert

LakeTurkana

LakeEdward Lake

Victoria

Cap Blanc

Cape Palmas

Cap Lopez

S A H A R A

LakeVolta

Lake Chad

A T L A S MO U N T A I N S

Monrovia

Conakry

Bissau

Dakar

Nouakchott

Tombouctou

Tamanrasset

AgadirBŽchar

AdrarTindouf

In Salah

KaŽdi

Greenville

Libreville

Bangui

MbandakaKisangani

Port Harcourt

Ndjamena

Accra

BouakŽ

Abidjan

Kankan

SŽgou

Kayes

Man

Masuku

Lisala

Bozoum

AbŽchŽ

Garoua

Bangassou

OuagadougouBamako

Niamey

Tamale

RabatCasablanca

Algiers

ConstantineTunis

Trapani

Marrakech

Ifni

Tetouan

Malaga

Ghardaia

Oujda

Annaba

Ghadamis

Misurata

Oran

Sfax

Benghazi

Alexandria

Cairo

Asyut

Aswan

Ankara

Tripoli

Athens

Suez

Haifa

Zinder

Faya-Largeau

Qena

Adana

Derna

Izmir

Bata

YaoundŽ

Douala

MaiduguriKano

Ibadan

Kaduna

Kumasi

Onitsha

Zaria

LagosLomŽ

Yola

Benin City

Sakaka

Baghdad

Halab

Jiddah

Medina

Port Sudan

El Obeid

KhartoumOmdurman

Geneina

Beirut

Amman

Mecca

Merowe Atbara

Kassala

Kosti

Buraydah

Tehran

Esfahan

Ahraz

Abadan

Tabriz

Shiraz

Bandar Abbas

Mashhad

Kuwait

DohaMuscat

Rasht

Kerman

Dhahran

Riyadh

Al Hudaydah

Dubai

Asmera

Mukalla

Shibam

Aksum

Mogadishu

KismayuNairobi

Kisumu

Nimule

Kampala

Isha Baidoa

Gore

Debre Marc'os

Baraawe

Eyl

Aden

Addis Ababa

Djibouti

Hargeisa

Gonder

Berbera

Gibraltar

Las Palmas

Dakhla

Freetown

Malabo

Port Said

BoboDioulasso

Yamoussoukro

Porto-Novo

Ogbomosho

Abuja

Maradi

10¡

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Tropic ofCancer

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Tropic ofCancer

20¡

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50¡20¡10¡0¡10¡ 30¡ 40¡20¡ 60¡

0 500 1000 Miles

0 500 1000 1500 Kilometres

Text and photos Lt.Col. Antje Kalka

It was a Tuesday, end of August 2010. Lt.Col. Murat Çetinkaya had just finished his first day in office as new FOB Commander in Konya when his cell phone rang. “We are coming,” was the short message he received from MOB Geilenkirchen. These few words meant that FOB Konya had to prepare everything for a major operation. And FOB Konya got prepared – immediately.

When Operation Afghan Assist in support of ISAF began in January 2011, FOB Konya became the hub between Main Operating Base Geilenkirchen and Afghanistan. Konya has become a very busy place. Crews coming in, crews going out. Luggage, flak vests, helmets in front of the buildings. Storage containers in front of the MWA building. Aircraft have to be maintenanced. Many, many meals have to be prepared. It is a logistic challenge in many respects.

But everything is running smoothly. FOB Konya supports the operation and the deployed personnel in every

way – in a friendly manner. Many little details show how much the FOB personnel feel dedicated to the mission. The dominant facial expression all over the FOB is a smile. “In Turkey we say Sen is.e nasil bakarsan, is. de sana öyle bakar. This proverb means ‘The way you look at your work is the way the work looks at you’,” says FOB Commander Çetinkaya. “Of course the operation is a challenge to the whole FOB and to all deployed personnel. But we understand a challenge as something positive that opens up opportunities to show your capabilities”.

“To understand the dimension of the support we are providing, you have to be aware that the Air Base at Konya is one of the busiest in Turkey,” explains Maj. Cahit Kiyak, logistics officer at FOB Konya. Amongst others, F-16 fighter aircraft of the Turkish Air Force are permanently stationed at Konya. However, when Operation Afghan Assist started, the host nation generously prioritized fuel trucks for the FOB. Aynasi istir kisinin lafa bakilmaz (actions speak louder than words), as the Turks say.

FOB KOnyA continues on page 3

Dedicated to operationWhat Operation Afghan Assist means for FOB Konya

„We are coming“ – professionalism at FOB Konya.

Always with a smile – FOB Commander Lt.Col. Murat Çetinkaya (center) together with

Maj. Ridvan Erkul (right) and Maj. Cahit Kiyak.

Page 2: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

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Page 3: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

20 May 2011 NATO Skywatch 3

NATO Skywatch is an authorized, unofficial commercial enterprise newspaper published under exclusive written agreement with the NAEW&CF E-3A Component by HOUX DIGIPRINT, Arendstraat 3, 6135 KT Sittard, +31 (0)46 4582111. Opinions expressed by contributors are their

Volume 27, No. 9 20 May 2011

own and do not necessarily reflect the official views of, or endorsement by, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by NATO of the products or services advertised. Submissions are due seven days before publication and may be edited for style and space.Email articles and classified advertisements to [email protected].

For paid advertisements call Hub Durlinger Media at +31 (0) 46 452 9292, cellphone +31 (0)6 5472 6473 or [email protected].

Articles may be reproduced after permission has been obtained from the editor, provided mention is made of NATO Skywatch. To read the NATO Skywatch online visit www.e3a.nato.int

CommanderBrig. Gen. Burkhard Pototzky

Chief, Public AffairsLt.Col. Antje Kalka

EditorMrs. Janina Bien

FOB KOnyA Continued from front page

Another example: kitchen personnel. Since mid-January the kitchen at FOB Konya has to be run 24/7. It took some time until additional personnel could be hired.

In the meantime, the host nation Turkey supported the FOB. Host nation facilities were opened up for deployed personnel from Geilenkirchen, and the Air Base Commander supported this whenever needed with Turkish

personnel from his air base. The FOB itself implemented a shift system. “We managed this challenge,” says FOB Commander Çetinkaya and stresses, “It was a team effort of all FOB personnel. Everybody contributed as much as possible.”

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. FOB Konya is a strong chain link in Operation Afghan Assist. I ask a Turkish soldier how to translate this proverb into Turkish. “Ropes always break at their weakest, narrowest part - Ip inceldiğyerden kopar,” he answers. And while I write it down, he walks around the corner with a smile.

Missions are challenges in many respects.

Always fresh ingredients – you can taste that the chefs at FOB

Konya love their work.

International Civilian Consultants are civilians employed by ISAF in support of specialized mission requirements, which are normally performed by military personnel or by NATO International Civilians (NIC) in peacetime headquarters.

This category of civilians include nationals of NATO member countries or non-NATO member ISAF Troop Contributing Nations (TCNs), which can provide NATO recognized security clearances.

The duty location is Afghanistan. Salaries range from €3,877 up to €7,765. Monthly daily allowances amount to approximately €75.

For more details regarding vacancies such as journalist, interpreter/translator, Human Resources, theatre LAN/WAN manager, MS Office Sharepoint service engineer, radio editor, and general information, please visit http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-vacancies.

Vacancies of International Civilian Consultants (ICC) posts

Maintenance for the next mission flight.

Page 4: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

4 NATO Skywatch 20 May 2011

By Hans Voets

Earlier this year, to minimize absence due to sick leave, the reintegration assistance program was introduced to NATO International Civilian (NIC) staff. The idea of this program is that absence is reduced and reintegration is expedited through better absence management, in which supervisors and staff can coordinate more closely with the support of Personnel Division A1 and the Medical Squadron. In 2011 the first changes will become clear.

The program was established to facilitate and help supervisors and staff. It involves creating awareness and the provision of training, new procedures and forms, and ultimately support by specialized outsourced medical services.

After some delay due to the impact of the increased workload resulting from all the ongoing deployments, a pilot project recently started in the Electronics Maintenance Squadron (EMS).

Recently the program was boosted by the hiring of a specialist in (re-)designing these processes. On 1 March 2011 Mrs. Marike Groenen-dijk started to work part time at A1 Personnel Division. Her role is to support the reintegration assistance program working group by further developing this ambitious project.

In order to introduce our new colleague to you, we present a short interview with her, carried out by Hans Voets, Head NATO Civilian Human Resources Section.

HV: How did you get in contact with the E-3A Component?

MG: One of my former colleagues and team member at KLM Health Services in the Netherlands, where I worked in the past, recommended me to the reintegration assistance program working group. Such a recommendation is always the best compliment you can get.

HV: What is your experience and background?

MG: Since 1995 I have been working in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS). I started my career as a consultant with Arbo Unie, one of the biggest occupational health companies in the Netherlands. Later I was employed as a manager at KLM Health Services. With a team of company doctors, psychologists and OHS consultants, we managed to reduce absence and the frequency of sick leaves. In some branches of KLM Ground Services we gained an overall reduction of

more than 50% of absences. Our key factors for success were attention and communication, which meant taking care of staff members who need extra support, and being firm with those who were abusing the system. Also all supervisors were trained in absence management. The way we communicate with each other is a key factor for success: pay attention to people who are doing well and isolate those who are cheating. Communication is a two way street and it demands the personal and social skills of all involved.

HV: What is your first impression of our base in Geilenkirchen?

MG: In addition to the specific military approach to managing such a multinational organization, all the different nationalities of the E-3A Component bring many different cultural beliefs to this field of expertise, also concerning sick leave. Actually it is better to refer to absenteeism instead of sick leave. This is because absenteeism refers to any unscheduled absence. Many causes of absenteeism are of course legitimate and although the NATO Component’s regulations enable many different kinds of leave.

However, the system offers some loopholes to a few who want to save their annual leave or avoid unpaid leave for personal reasons. I have the impression that this behavior is not properly tackled and therefore has an effect on the morale of all the others.

On the other hand, staff members who are genuinely sick but want to return to work as soon as possible do not receive proper attention from the organization and also their direct supervisors to expedite this process.

Although it is very difficult to compare this organization with any other organization, the fact is that the average annual sick leave rate in Europe is between about 3% and 6%. With an annual sick leave rate of more than 8%, the E-3A Component is clearly above this average.

HV: How were you able to contribute to this program so far?

MG: In this early stage of the program, we first need to understand the factors contributing to Component staff absenteeism and how we can tackle these. To demonstrate this, a reintegration assistance program pilot project has just started in Logistics Wing EMS, and I am participating in this. At the kickoff meeting on 11 April 2011 we worked with an ‘attendance motivation balance scale’ on a whiteboard. All participating supervisors and staff members

discussed what their motivators and de-motivators were in the decision-making process of ‘whether to go to work or not to go’. Also the influence of the social environment was mapped out. We made a start by developing and agreeing on a common vision on absenteeism. Furthermore, the participants are to be complimented for the constructive solutions they successfully presented that day with regard to previously identified related problems.

As I expected, the focus was not solely on health problems causing absence. Even the aging work force seemed not to be the biggest issue creating absenteeism. We all agreed that job-related motivators, de-motivators and the social environment had the biggest influence on the question of whether to attend the workplace or not.

HV: What are your plans for the near future?

MG: Successful absence management always depends on good management data. However, until now this data has been lacking. The reintegration assistance program, as part of absence management, needs to be supported by data that is reliably collected and practically presented. I will focus on having this data available for the EMS management soon. In the future we will need this data at Component level as well. If all supervisors received reliable data every month, they could set realistic goals and take action on agreed trigger points to manage absenteeism.

HV: In the past you helped other organizations to improve their sick leave absence processes. Did you notice a difference within these organizations?

MG: Every organization is different

and needs a different approach. The E-3A Component has its own challenges, cultural differences and beliefs, as well as the mix of military and civilian personnel. But this issue is all about human beings, with human behavior and universal feelings about what is fair and what is not fair. Like other international organizations, NATO has a good reputation and of course we all would like to keep this at the highest level possible. Behavior that can reasonably be expected from all involved has also been described in the Code of Conduct campaign that was already introduced on base last year. That can be a useful building block.

HV: According to your expertise, where do you think improvements are possible?

MG: A necessary starting point is a clear and unambiguous vision and policy on absenteeism. That should be well communicated and understood by both staff and supervision. Part of the high absence rate is due to poor communication and a lack of interest and understanding between management, supervisors, the personnel department, staff and the Medical Squadron. All these actors involved need a pro-active attitude in this process. This starts with prevention and early intervention to avoid long-term or frequent absence. During my last visits and the interviews I had with staff and supervisors, I noticed that we can gain quick results by using best practices in EMS, and these have already been implemented in some shops.

Start-up of the reintegration assistance program on base

Mrs. Marike Groenendijk working on an attendance motivation scale on a whiteboard at EMS with (from left to right) Mr. Wilfried Jansen, MSgt. Oliver Armbrust, Mr. Hans Voets and Mr. Noel Konings. Photo Andrea Hohenforst

Page 5: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

Rumpenerstraat 49 6443 CC Brunssum Phone +31 (0)45 564 01 58 www.elcomal.nl

Call 02451 2983

Culpeck Insurance Broker GmbH

Haihoverstrasse 11 D- 52511 Geilenkirchen

Email: [email protected]: www. culpeck.com

We proudly introduce and welcome ALL NATIONALITIES.

DAY C A R E

Animal Hotel AbdissenboschFor 30 years the address where your pet feels at home

New cat-place where your cat can move freely. Roomy outside place, playgrounds, central heated. Grooming salon,

also Do-It-Yourself wash salon for pets.

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 08:00-12:00 and 16:00-19:00 hrs.Sundays and holidays closed for bringing in or picking-up.

Vogelzankweg 230 • NL-6374 AN Landgraaf • phone +31 (0)45 5317217www.dierenhotelabdissenbosch.nl (also in English)

AH

Heating oillow price

top service

Berliner Ring 15-17 52511 Geilenkirchen +49 (0)2451 68001

SHELLMARKENPARTNER

Bischoff, Vliex & Schöngen, Pfennings GmbH & Co. KG

Come, Look, Discover.Your local Audi specialists.

Our offer (including financing)

Jacobs automobile sales team looks forward to your visit:(l. to r.w) Achim Käfferlein, Marcel Oellers, Gerd Caron, Lothar Herfs, Matthias Schroers, Michael Wittwer, Martin Deffur, Alfred Deffur, Konstantin Bach.

Audi A3 1.6 Attraction gasoline75 kW engine, 5-speed gearbox, brilliant black paint finish, alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning system, Chorus radio, head airbags, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, electronic stability program (ESP), electrically operated front windows, central locking system with remote control, etc.

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Audi A3 1.6 Attraction75 kW, 5 Gang, Brillantschwarz, Alu-Gussräder, Komfortklimaautomatik, Radio Chorus, Kopfairbags, elektr. Außenspiegel, ESP, el. FH., ZV mit FFB u.v.m.

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Ein Unternehmen der Jacobs Gruppe

Kommen. Sehen. Und entdecken.Die Audi Spezialisten in Ihrer Region.

Ihr Jacobs automobile Verkaufs-Team freut sich auf Ihren Besuch: v.l.n.r. Konstantin Bach, Marcel Oellers, Lothar Herfs, Jürgen Wings, Gerd Caron, Achim Käfferlein, Alfred Deffur

An Fürthenrode 58-60 · Geilenkirchen Telefon: 02451-987011

JACOBS automobile

Zweigstelle Audi Zentrum AachenJacobs automobile GmbH & Co. KG

Kraftstoffverbrauch l/100 km: innerorts 9,6; außerorts 5,6; kombiniert 7,1; CO2-Emissionen g/km: kombiniert 169

An Fürthenrode 58-60 • GeilenkirchenPhone: +49 (0)2451 - 987011

[email protected] | www.houxdigiprint.nl

DIGITAL PRINT &OFFSET CENTREXL

DIGITAL PRINT & OFFSET CENTREXL

Prints - offset and digital Design / DTPBirth- / WeddingcardsPersonalized mailingsMobile presentation systemsCorporate designXL printsBanners (with frames)ManualsPrice listsPlastic bagsPrinted binders

Arendstraat 36135 KT SittardPhone +31 (0)46 4582111

Brusselsestraat 1346211 PJ MaastrichtPhone +31 (0)43 3256505

For reservations please call: +49 (0)2454 1414, or fax: +49 (0)2454 939301All-Day Dining as of 1100 hrs • Reservations highly recommended

Phone +49 (0)24 54 - 14 14Fax +49 (0)24 54 - 93 9301 www. Haus-Hamacher.de

Café Restaurant Partyservice

52538 Gangelt • Am Freibad 10

We are your start and finish-point for all your trips in the nature park of the “Rodebach”.

WHITE AspARAgus DAILY FREsH until the end of June

English spoken

Page 6: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

6 NATO Skywatch 20 May 2011

VIP visits on base

Lt.Gen. Volodymyr Khyzhyi (second from left) and Brig.Gen. Burkhard Pototzky during their walkthrough in Hangar I.

next nATO Skywatch:10 June

Submissions due by:1 June

Another important group with 40 representatives of the Manfred Wörner Lecture was visiting the base on that day, too. This memorial lecture is annually organized by the Streitkräfteamt of the German Federal Armed Forces, bringing together young academics to foster mutual understanding and transatlantic relations. After receiving a lunch at

the E-3A Club, the participants were warmly welcomed by Brig.Gen. Burkhard Pototzky, who presented a mission overview briefing on the Component to them. The group was highly impressed by the opportunity to visit the E-3A aircraft and that they could raise any question about the aircraft with the experts from the Squadrons.

On 9 May, 35 members of a Ukrainian delegation including general staff officers and admirals visited the E-3A Component. After being welcomed by Lt.Col. Jan Schraudy at the main gate, the Ukrainian delegation was officially welcomed by Brig.Gen. Burkhard Pototzky. The guests received an overview briefing about the Component by the Commander, followed by an E-3A walkthrough on the flight line.

At this point, thank you to the Component members involved for supporting these special visits and for your great effort and cooperation.

Photos Andrea Hohenforst

Page 7: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

20 May 2011 NATO Skywatch 7

During Operation Unified Protector the focus is on FOB Trapani in Italy. As we are all aware of the additional workload and the impressive work the FOB personnel perform,

we would like to show you some photo impressions. Thank you to the FOB personnel for your great effort and cooperation!

Page 8: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

8 NATO Skywatch 20 May 2011

By Maj. Ilker Kurt 7 May was a colorful day for the

Component as hundreds of children and their parents came together to celebrate the traditional children’s festival. This year the event was celebrated for the 23rd time and as in previous years it was hosted by the Turkish National Support Unit (NSU TUR). The bright sun and the warm temperature, in addition to a variety of events planned for the children, made it a memorable event for all visitors.

The festival started with an official ceremony, during which Col. Gregory Clark made the first speech. Next on stage was Lt.Col. Veysel Kavak. He pointed out that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, dedicated this day particularly to children, as they

represent and guarantee the future of the country. Last to make a speech was Mustafa Kemal Basa, the Turkish Consulate General in Cologne. The speeches were followed by the prize ceremony during which the winners of the drawing contest received their gift certificates. The International Youth Activities Club (IYA Club) on base organized a number of enjoyable dance shows for the very attentive audience. The last event inside the Astra Theatre was the Portuguese folk dance performance. What made it even more interesting was that the group told the story behind each dance before they performed it.

The remainder of the festival took place outside. The little girls and boys of the Turkish folk dance group greatly impressed all of the guests

as they performed their shows like real professionals. The multitude of activities meant that children could spend hours without getting bored.

The reward for the volunteers, who took part in the planning and execution of the festival, was the pleasant exhaustion on the faces of children and their parents that came to this successful event.

International Children’s Festival 2011

By Gert Koelstra

During the weekend of Palm Sunday on 15-17 April the famous Panama Canal was sprinkled with approximately 100 teams from all over the world in their 7-meter-long cayucos, or canoes, competing to become the fastest team racing from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Some of the teams had prepared for this race throughout the year to meet the constant challenges of distance, temperature and humidity.

For several weeks in the last few months five girls from the AFNORTH International School in

Brunssum conducted their daily routines in the Brunssum snow or school fitness room without any practice in real water. It was the first time in history of this race that a team from the Netherlands (Limburg) registered to compete. Taylor and Hope Bonenclark, Trudy Koelstra as well as Stephanie and Sarah Seitz (alternate) competed in the category juvenil feminina for contestants younger than 21 years.

Upon arrival in Gamboa, Panama, a week prior to the race, the team finally started their first practice runs in a cayuco on a jungle river. Wobbly at first but then surprisingly quick, they were able to pick up

the necessary skills before the race commenced. Over a period of three days they completed five stretches in their cayuco, named ‘Sudden Impact’, the longest being almost 40 kilometers. In total, they covered this world famous 67 kilometer stretch of water in just under six and a half hours (6:24.44 hours).

The result was an honorable 4th position in their category. Needless to state that father David Seitz, who trained and coached the girls and who had already competed three times, was very proud of ‘his’ girls.

The original idea to canoe from ocean to ocean originated in 1954

when a worker of the Panama Canal Company, Wesley Townsend, had the idea to visit local Indians along the banks of the Chagres River with a group of explorer scouts. In order to do so, they had to be able to make and handle a ‘cayuco’ (canoe). The Nissan-sponsored event is organized by the Balbao Paddle Club and attracts hundreds of young people from all over the world.

At this point the girls would also like to thank the sports outfitters Gielkens Sport Brunssum, who supported and sponsored them with appropriate clothing. For more information about this event, please go to www.cayucorace.org

Ocean to Ocean in a ‘Cayuco’

The girls of the AFNORTH team in their cayuco ‘Sudden Impact’.

Photo Charlene Johnson

JFC HQ Alliance Theatre presents

The theatre is located in Building #406, JFC HQ Brunssum, the Netherlands.

Doors open 30 minutes prior to film start.

The Adjustment Bureau 21 May 2011, 1600

The Rite 21 May 2011, 1900

The Eagle 28 May 2011, 1600

The Roommate 28 May 2011, 1900

The girls and boys of the Turkish folk dance group performing during the festival on base. Photos Janina Bien

Page 9: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

Children (up to 12 years) & OAP Adults

Summer cards Ski card Gear card Ski card Gear card

Month card1 € 55,00 € 20,00 € 75,00 € 25,00

Holiday card2 € 75,00 € 35,00 n.a. n.a.

Summer card3 € 139,00 € 100,00 € 199,00 € 125,00

1) Month card: valid for 1 month in between the 1st of May and the 30th of September, from Monday to Sunday, in Landgraaf and Zoetermeer.2) Holiday card: (up to 16 years): valid from the 1st of July until 31st of August, from Monday to Sunday, in Landgraaf and Zoetermeer.3) Summer card: valid from the 1st of May until the 30th of September, from Monday to Sunday, in Landgraaf and Zoetermeer.

Page 10: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

10 NATO Skywatch 20 May 2011

skywatchcLassIFIEDSkywatch Classifieds are free to all nATO personnel.

Advertisements must be typed, including name, office symbol and duty extension. Advertisements for services that generate a regular income will not be accepted. Submissions are due to PAO, mail Stop 33, e-mail: [email protected], by noon Thursday, 1 June.

For sale

Sailboat, steel, complete equipped.

Volvo Diesel engine 27 hp. Price to be discussed. Ext 3558 or cell phone 0174 9736505.

From

Salma’s perspective

By Janina Bien Photo Andrea Hohenforst

Hello everybody. Here I am and I would like to tell you my story. First of all, my name is Salma and I am a one year and five months old Beauceron mixture. I’m female and already 50 centimeters high and hopefully I’ll grow a bit more in future.

When I was born I was first living with a family in the beautiful surroundings of Andalusia in Spain, but unfortunately the family did not treat me like a family member and I felt that they didn’t even to want me to live with them. They then put me in very cruel and dark accommodation, where many, many other dogs were also living. I heard that the humans we saw there from time to time named this accommodation ‘perrera’. The time there was really hard – my friends and I had only little place to live, and food and drink were also not possible for us to have regularly.

But now everything is fine with me. I now live with my new family and my new animal friends at their beautiful farm in Germany. You can’t imagine how happy I am. Although everything is new for me there, it is absolutely fantastic to live with these nice humans. However, in the beginning it was tough for me. Everything was new, I didn’t know where to find anything, and there was this strange machine called TV with all these different noises. I still sometimes think that this machine is strange as there are people’s voices and then I am confused, because they are talking but I can’t find them in the living room. So I try to cope with that challenge. Actually it is more of a

challenge to cope with these other huge family members and I think you humans call them ‘horses’, but as I’m also a very curious dog, we also try now to get to know to each other and every day this works better. But they are really, really tall, which still frightens me from time to time. I like playing with a football, especially when my family comes back from work.

Although I couldn’t sleep during the first nights in my new lovely decorated home and despite the fact that I got up three times or more per night, I now feel like I have really arrived in my new place to live, my real first home. I am getting accustomed to my new family and home a bit more every day. Everyone is trying their best to give a home to me and I also have this absolutely fantastic dog basket just for me. Meanwhile I also like watching the

news on TV

and I am not scared

anymore by the noises that come from

these huge aircraft for which, by the way, one of my family members also works. I now sleep more than seven hours and if I could I would even sleep longer, but one of my family members needs to get up very early in the morning.

And there is some more good news I need to share with you. I also go to a special school with my humans, where we also meet with other dogs and their families. There I receive a special training and a diploma so that I am even better at taking orders from my family. This is really fun and it makes me proud when I’m offered a reward for good behavior and excellent participation.

I’m greatly looking forward to new adventures and maybe I will report

them to you in future. Until then I send you many, many dog kisses.

And if you would like more information about the European society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or to find more about their activities, please go to the following website: www.tierschutzverein-europa.eu

Tierschutzverein Europa e.V.

The Tierschutzverein Europa e.V. has assigned itself the task of transporting dogs, cats and other animals from several European countries to Germany, Austria and France, and then mediating these to new families. The association displays the animals on its official website, mediates them to new families, transports them to Germany, and performs pre- and post-inspections of the animals’ new homes. Additionally, the association organizes animal shelters for special cases. Since its foundation in 2006, it has mediated more than 581 animals to new families and homes. This success is not only based on the excellent cooperation with the different animal protection organizations in Europe, but also on the good reputation of the Tierschutzverein Europa e.V. and therefore the many recommendations of happy new animal owners. If you would like to find out more about the voluntary work of Tierschutzverein Europa e.V., please use the contact form on their website. Source www.tierschutzverein-europa.eu

Play handball in Übach-Palenberg

By Koos Brongers

We are looking for some handball players for our handball club in Übach-Palenberg. We have three men’s teams playing in different categories. The first team is playing in the Oberliga, they have training on Tuesday and Thursday from 1930-2200. The second team is playing in the Kreisliga, also on Tuesday and Thursday from 1930-2200. The third team is playing in the 2. Kreisklasse, training on Friday 2000-2200. We also have one ladies’ team in the Kreisliga, their training is on Wednesday 2000-2200. And we also have youth training at various times. If you are interested please call Mr. Koos Brongers, ext. 4666 or 0176 96634297.

Geilenkirchen looks at Europe: Danish event on 28 May 2011

Wine Tasting Partycommencing on 27 May at 1900 at the E-3A Club

The program at Geilenkirchen market place will unfold as follows:1200 Opening addresses by Mr. Gort

Houben, Leader of the Culture Department Geilenkirchen, and Mr. Paul Baker, member of the NATO E-3A Component

1215 Tattoo of the Royal Danish Navy Band

1235 Welcoming speeches by Mr. Thomas Fiedler, Mayor of Geilenkirchen, and representatives of Europa Union Geilenkirchen, as well as Lt.Col. Mikael Nielsen, Senior National Representative Royal Danish Air Force

1305 Performance by the Kindergarten 1320 National anthems Denmark /

Germany 1330 Opening speech by Col. (GS) Claus

Wessel–Tolvig, patron military attaché

1345 Gemeinschaftsgrundschule Geilenkirchen

1415 Parade Royal Danish Navy Band1500 Lecture about Denmark by Lt.Col.

Mikael Nielsen, Senior National Representative Royal Danish Air Force

1530 Parade with old military vehicles 1610 Concert of the Royal Danish Navy

Band 1700 Welcoming speeches by Mrs.

Dr. Rita Freches-Heinrichs, chairwoman of the Aktionskreis Geilenkirchen, Mr. Helmuth Maarmann, New Energie AG, and Mr. Thomas Pennartz, chairman of the board of the bank KSK Heinsberg

1715 Poster signing by Mr. Nicolai Jörgensen, Danish international, with a goal wall shooting event

1745 Musical hits 1800 Concert SSB Big Band

Geilenkirchen2030 Public viewing of the Champion’s

League Finals

Page 11: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

TAIFUNTAI-683

Movement:ASKANIA 4062 automatic 25 rubies, reserve 45 hours

Functions:hours, minutes, secondsdate, turning bezel

Case:62 HRC hardened steel 43 mm, inner case with anti-magnetic protection 10 bar

Strap:high quality natural rubber band

For information: Dexxer Design [email protected] Phone +31 (0)46 400 73 60

HistoryIn 1871, Carl Bamberg – the son of a horologist and a pupil of Carl Zeiss – established a factory in Berlin, producing pioneering precision instruments. Thanks to a high level of in-novation and reliable technology, ASKANIA is becoming one of the most important German companies for aviation instruments. In the early days of aviation, hardly a single aircraft was not equipped with ASKANIA onboard instruments, which proved to be reliable in every situation and at any time, day or night. The onboard and pilot watches helped the pioneers of aviation to achieve their record flights and safely bring the first civilian passengers to their destinations. And now, since January 2006, it’s back – ASKANIA Werke in Berlin.

www.askania-berlin.de

‘Taifun’ was the nickname Elly Beinhorn gave to her Messerschmitt Me 108. This airplane became legendary for several world records flying non-stop from Rio de Janeiro to New York in 1938, followed by altitude records in 1939. Of course the planes were equipped with ASKANIA instruments which were used to conceive the design for the ‘Taifun’ collec-tion. Built on this tradition ASKANIA proudly presents the ‘Taifun’ watch line.

Page 12: NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 20 May 2011 Dedicated to operation

Pentagon Car Sales

RamsteinKindsbacher Str. 4766877 Ramstein-MiesenbachTel: 06371 61 39 90

GermanyKaiserslauternKaiserstrasse 167661 KaiserslauternTel: 0631 351 90 40

HeidelbergHebelstrasse 369115 HeidelbergTel: 06221 144 90

Mainz/WiesbadenLudwig-Wolker-Str. 1455252 Mainz-KastelTel: 06134 567 80

SpangdahlemIm Kreuzgarten 1 A54529 SpangdahlemTel: 06565 93 69 90

AvianoVia Pordenone 48D33081 Aviano (PN)Tel: 0434 676 61-2/3/4

Italy SpainNaplesTel: 0434 676 61-2/3/4Email: [email protected]

SigonellaTel: 0434 676 61-2/3/4Email: [email protected]

VicenzaViale Della Pace 25436100 Vicenza (VI)Tel: 0444 91 09 38

RotaPlaza Del Triunfo 611520 Rota (Cadiz)Tel: 956 840 201

• www.PentagonCarSales.com

Joy wantS you to have it all.Behind the wheel of the all-new BMW X3 lay sophisticated elegance and endless possibility, inside and out. With so many standard features, like Steptronic Transmission and an array of power-operated comfort features including 8–way power seats, you may be surprised to learn that U.S. service members can still select from a wide choice of colors, options and packages to create a custom-built X3 to suit every individual preference and driving style. To experience the new X3 for yourself, drop by a PCS facility in your area. Or, to request more information about the many exclusive benefits offered through BMW Military Sales, visit us at www.pentagoncarsales.com

DRive a new BMw X3 FRoM $35,300*.

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*2011 BMW X3xDrive28i, $35,300 (ex-factory) inc. Power Windows, Power Mirrors, Anti-Theft System, Auto Climate Control, Cruise, 8sp Steptronic, Alloy Wheels, On-Board Computer, Rear Privacy Glass, Bluetooth. Price subject to change without notice.

25 mpg (Hwy) 240 hpX3 xDrive28i