European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                1 o monday december 20, 1993 the stars and stripes Page 3 support facilities in Baum older also Are affected by Jon Connor stall writer Baum older Germany for Debra Baker word of the closing of the 1st army div noncommissioned officers Academy in Baum older was sobering news. After three years As a civilian Cook at the dining facility the closure Means she will be looking for work elsewhere. Quot we wont have a Job a Baker said of the civilian Cooks. Quot in a Job Hunting  the dining facility employs about 25 people of which six Are soldiers. Quot we had a lot of Good times Here a Baker added. Quot we be tried to give the students our Best. Cooking Isnit an easy  the reality of the last class graduating from the Academy is starting to set in. The meaning of its closure Friday varied among those organizations that have supported it through the years. The Baum older Academy was selected of closure stemming from draw Down plans announced in july said command sgt. Maj. Miguel v. Montoya the Academy a commandant. There were eight academies in Europe before the draw Down. One will remain in Grafen Wuhr. But the Impact on the Baum older military Community of 18,000 will be Quot very minor a according to command sgt. Maj. Hugh Grace of the 222nd base support in which has its Headquarters in Baum older. Academy officials say they Are not aware of any final decisions regarding the  amps John Bomor sgt Bruce Frank and Debra Baker prepare lunch at the 1st army div no Academy in Baum older Germany. The Academy graduated its last class Friday. That decision they say probably will be made in March 1994. Some Community members speculate is pc that the buildings left vacant by the acad Emy will be taken Over by another army unit the department of defense dependents schools or even an air Force unit. About the Only effect of the closing for 1st army div soldiers is that they now must travel a Grafe Wohr for the primary leadership development course Grace said. The Grafen Wuhr Academy about 65 Miles Northeast of Niernberg is one of several facilities at the 56,615-acre training area., until two months ago the Basic non commissioned officers course a taught there. That course was terminated to make room for the extra students in the primary leadership course. According to the Grafen Wuhr Academy commandant command sgt. Maj. Willie p. Faison jr., no changes arc necessary to accommodate the combined student school Load. Quot we re not doing anything differently a he said. The Grafen Wuhr Academy normally had 304 students in each class and will continue that number. One Baum older facility affected by the Academy a closure is a shop Pette that opened in 1982.Quot we thought we might close because that a most of. Our business Quot said he id Schmitt a supervisor. Quot it was a major source of patronage a said Peter a. Gergay general manager of the Baum older consolidated Exchange. However there Are no plans to curtail. Hours or Cut the staff of six he said. Gergay estimated that the Academy provided 30 percent of the  a customer base and brought in $10,000 monthly in revenues. Schmitt said she had heard that another military unit will come to fill the void in Baum older but added Quot they re still talking about  Michaela Hoffman and Hilco worker Andrea a rutnam have been coming to the Academy twice a week from 5-7 . To Cut hair under cafes for several years. On a Good night Hoffman said she Cut the hair of 18 to 20 people per hour. Hoffman expected last tuesday to be the last night of haircutting at the Academy but Gergay said there were no plans to trim the Barber service there at least until  Page 1 Sel of the 47th support in in Baum older said of the Academy a closure Quot we All should be proud of it. Something to  a the closure Means that the Only place where soldiers in Europe can attend the primary leadership course is at the no Academy in Grafen Wuhr. The Baum older Academy which has provided leadership instruction since 1958, was selected for closure stemming from draw Down plans announced in july officials said. For the 47 instructors and support staff members attention is now being focused on closing Wessel the Academy and getting new assignments. The satisfaction As an instructor comes from knowing that students now possess knowledge to make them better cos said staff sgt. Willie Powell a Baum Hoider instructor. A the course is a 30-Day program required for promo. Tion to sergeant. The live in course Sharpens soldiering skills and provides leadership instruction considered vital to the development of noncommissioned officers. Quot we do the Best we can a train to standards. We teach them by regulation not unit standards a said Powell an administrative no. For those coming from combat units the course is often the first time they work with a female Soldier pointed out instructor Susan Kyle a sergeant. Kyle is one of Only three female instructors at the Academy. Quot they learn right away in the first week to adapt very quickly agreed master sgt. Dennis Giles Academy training chief who said he usually can spot male students who have not worked with a female Soldier. The closure Means Kyle can now apply for Drill sergeant school or someday teach at a Basic noncommissioned officers Academy. "1 think More women should do this a sgt. 1st class Susie Colterelli said. Her two year tour of instruction has been rewarding she said but its Quot time to move  Quot everybody has a special Case and interest a said command sgt. Maj Miguel v. Montoya Academy commandant. A lot of paperwork equipment turn ins and award recommendations All must be completed by june before the final Light is turned off the commandant said. The Road to completing the course looked Long and cold on the first Day of the last class nov. 17, when Montoya predicted upcoming weather conditions that would affect the 30-Day course. A a it a going to be cold. Its going to be bitter cold a he said. And it was True. The wind blew so hard accompanied with the rain Snow and cold that Montoya decided to bus the students Back to the Academy a Barracks during the night portion of the four Day Field training exercise to prevent cold weather injuries. A some students were disappointed they weren to allowed to survive in it a said Giles. And As for other milestones the students Sang for the first a and Only a time at. A graduation there. The song fittingly enough was the army song. Another Milestone was a speech by Montoya who normally does no to speak at graduations and allows that Honor to be bestowed on a guest speaker. Graduates took Pride in the graduation rate of 96 percent for fiscal 1993. With this class Only four students out of 237 did not Complete the course. The last distinguished Honor graduate was spec. David Fuller of the 165th military intelligence in of Darmstadt and the Honor graduate was spec. Martha Downer v corps aviation of Frankfurt. Both had a s4s John Bohnow a Soldier at the 1st army div no Academy inspects the trigger housing of his m-16 Rifle. T a 98.33 academic average with Fuller scoring Only one More Point on the physical training test. A it does no to matter As Long As you graduate a Downer proudly said. Quot i earned my Money this month a but despite the Pride some students were sad that they were the Academy a last a i think its a shame they re closing the Academy a said spec. Robin Valentine of the 40th engr in in Baum older. Quot they re breaking up a Good