European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 03, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday november 3, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 3new uniforms get a dressing Down airmen wonder Why name tag is missing by Chuck Roberts and Amy Geizler Jones staff writers the new look of the air Force service uniform is getting mixed reviews from airmen in Europe. Most agree that it was time for a change but they done to seem too excited about the new simplified version of the service uniform. A i think its a move in the right direction but maybe too far a said capt. Tim Perry a member of the 67th special operations so from Raf Woodbridge England. Perry said he mind wearing his rank on his sleeves like a Navy officer but he does no to approve of the absence of a name tag on the future uniform for both officers and enlisted. A i done to like that a Perry said. A in too Many situations you need that to know who you Are talking staff sgt. Demetrius Gil Liard said the prototype Isnit perfect but it is better than the service dress uniform he wears. A i think its a much needed improvement a said Gilliard who is assigned to the 435th aircraft generation so at Rhein main a Germany. A the old uniform was kind of outdated. It had the nickname a bus Gilliard Driver but it. Col. Gary p. Jensen said he believes the uniform change is being made simply for the Sake of change. A it seems like every half dozen years or so a change comes into effect whether they need to or not and this is just another one of those cases a said Jensen who is assigned to the 39th special operations Wing at Rhein main. A i done to think its been coordinated Down to the mail in the but the airmen in England who were asked for their opinion seemed to accept the new uniform. A i Welcome the change. In a not sure if this is the change i Welcome but this is what we re getting so Well have to try it a said master sgt. Walter Magda chief of operations training with the 6988th electronic Security so at Raf Mildenhall England. Magda said that he did no to like the similarity the new uniform bore to those worn by commercial airline pilots. I Welcome the change. I m not sure if this is the change i Welcome but this is what we re getting so Well have to try it a master sgt. Walter Magda a this definitely looks like an airline Pilot a Magda said while pointing to a photograph of the officers uniform. A with the Way this looks Here the sleeve insignia would have said he works for Twa a but i guess they wont say we look like bus Drivers anymore a the Michigan native said. A strictly because of the rank on the sleeves and the Cut it reminds me of a Navy uniform a said 1st it. Kari Mostert of Mildenhall a 513th services so. A it looks Good. The Navy uniform does look Sharp but if they re looking for a specific air Force look this Isnit Mostert thinks the a a Ike jacket which was Short Cut at the Waist with a sort of belted Waist look would be a More distinctive look for the service member in Blue a but it probably also would be less formal than what they re looking both Mostert and capt. Crystal Deas said they would rather Wear a name tag. A i prefer to know who in a talking to and to jog my memory with a nameplate a said Mostert who a been in the service for 3v years. A no name tags demilitarized it a Little. Personally i think the new uniform looks More civilian a said Deas the Deputy chief of systems management division at 3rd air Force in England. But sgt. Stephanie Simms an intelligence operations specialist with Mildenhall a 306th strategic Wing thinks the uniform without the name tag is an improvement primarily because it is difficult to line up the name tag on a woman a uniform. Men use the breast pocket on their uniform As a guide for placing their name tag while the current women a uniform does no to have such a pocket. Others like master sgt. Greg Hegarty just take it All in stride. Quot it Macht Nicht to me a said Hegarty stating the German phrase for it does no to matter to me. A a in la look Good in either one a the sergeant said with a laugh. Hegarty said he also Hegarty does no to like the absence of a name tag but that he docs like the larger stripes used to show the rank for enlisted . Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Kufahl said the uniform looks Nice but that she does no to care for the stripes. A when you change the stripes you re Messing with tradition and you mess with that a said Kufahl who is assigned to the 39th special operations Wing at Rhein main. A a there a enough changes going a demo plans appliance sales the defense re utilization and marketing office has announced upcoming a Cash and carry appliance sales in Germany the Public is invited to the Sale in Goppinger on monday from 9 . Until noon in building 119-e on Cooke Barracks. The Sale includes ranges Large and Small refrigerators washers dryers and other appliances. All Are 220-Volt, 50-Cycle. Large refrigerators and european made appliances will Cost $20 Small refrigerators and appliances other than refrigerators will Cost $10. All purchases must be paid for in Cash . Dollar Only and must be removed by noon on the Day of the Sale. A Sale in building 250 at Giessen depot in Giessen is open from 9 . Until noon wednesday. The Sale is open to id card holders Only from 9 . To 10 ., and to the general Public from 10 . Until noon. Items for Sale include Large and Small refrigerators american and european electric and Gas ranges washers dryers and dishwashers. All appliances Are 220-Volt and Are priced from $10 to $20. All items Are sold a was is a for Cash . Dollars Only. Purchases must be removed by 1 . On the Day of the Sale. European Region defense re utilization and marketing office employees and their family members Are not permitted to make purchases at these events. German French unit trying hard to develop taste for cooperation Bobingen Germany a Christoph Kochert a French Anny private accustomed to finer ii sine uses his mess Hall Fork to poke dubiously at Gravy covered chunks or German pork. Ltd a it a edible a grumbles Kochert As he examines his plate. A but i wish we could have something besides sausage or pork for a such is life in the German French brigade a 2-year-old military Experiment that was created to further rapprochement Between two nations that have fought each other three times since 1870. Germany and France have proposed the brigade As the nucleus for an All european Independent of nato. Even if that happens it is unlikely the brigade would see action unless Germany strips away constitutional limits on the use of its military. But the brigades leaders say the outfit is a no nonsense fighting machine. A this is not a toy brigade a German maj. Eberhard Weber the chief of staff said at brigade Headquarters in Bobingen near Stuttgart. A we Are a Good brigade and ready to fulfil our Mission whenever we Are asked to fulfil it a said German Gen. Helmut Neubauer commander of the brigade. Nonetheless the brigades soldiers Ait times seem like the builders of the Tower of Babel eternally trying to comprehend each other. The brigade is based in five garrisons strewn around Germany a Baden Wirt Temberg state which Borders France. Command is rotated every two years Between the two nations. Of 4,200 soldiers Only about 600 belong to a mixed units in which5 French and German troops live work and eat together and use standardized weapons and gear. The remainder use their own National gear if a French Soldier were to try firing a German Bullet from his Rifle the weapon could blow up in his face. Basic communication is a problem. We Are a Good brigade and ready to fulfil our Mission whenever we Are asked to fulfil Gen Helmut Neubauer commander of the brigade officers Are usually bilingual. But Many German enlisted soldiers speak no French. And if a French Soldier knows German it is probably because he comes from Alsace a Region that was once part of Germany. Laurent Ledru a 22-Ycar-old French private works at the Bobingen motor Pool with German pvt. Holger Rocker. A a there a Good cooperation. If i done to have a certain tool sometimes my French compatriot will a said Rocker. Ledru does no to speak German and seems to have no idea what Rocker just said. Rocker tries to explain himself to Ledru in English. Some French German relationships have flowered within the brigade. But Ledru said a there is an automatic separation. For example i work just on French vehicles and German soldiers work on German off duty fraternization appears to be a rarity. A Many German soldiers Are from this area Ana live with their families. They go Home while the French soldiers remain Here a said Ledru. While the germans Are enjoying the comforts of Home French soldiers try to entertain themselves with French television chess or trips into Bobingen for a night out. Food is another sore Point. At the Headquarters mess Hall three French soldiers were sitting apart from German soldiers during lunchtime. Kochert one of the French soldiers said that adjusting to German cuisine can be a trial. Kochert is from Alsace so he is not a stranger to germans love for Wurst or sausage. A but this can be a Shock for a Soldier coming from Paris a said the 23-Ycar-old private. Even French officers have to forgo their dinner time wine. Despite his grumbling Kochert said there Are definite advantages to serving with the brigade. Because it was created under the directive of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and French president Francois Mitterrand being a part of the brigade carries prestige. In addition French soldiers chosen for the outfit Are paid More than those not assigned to the unit
