GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — They help keep our schools, clinics and mission-essential operations running. And they do it on their own time, with an openness to make a difference and shape change into action. Well over 400 volunteers served the Grafenwoehr and Vilseck communities in the last year. They logged 9,842 days of work, a contribution which would amount to $1,615,735.59 of paid labor time.

 

On Wednesday, May 10, the garrison recognized these community members as leaders and vital contributors at a ceremony at the Netzaberg Chapel.

 

Volunteer coordinator Porché Leonard and Army Community Service staff organized the event, but the annual ceremony drew people from all walks of government service and organizations — big and small — that rely heavily on volunteer support.

 

“We really are an all-volunteer Army,” said Annette Evans, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria deputy to the garrison commander. Members of our communities here are “offering some gift of themselves regardless of the uniform they wear.”

 

Volunteers here don’t fit into one mold, Evans added. They’re family members, active-duty Soldiers, retirees, youths, civilians and local nationals. And they support services from resilient-building USO and Red Cross events to fundamental garrison programs at the housing office and emergency management.

 

“We can attach a dollar amount,” said Evans, referring to the incredible financial value the volunteer force provided the community in just twelve months. “But your efforts are priceless.”

 

From March 1, 2016 to Feb. 28, 2017, Grafenwoehr and Vilseck’s 407 registered volunteers recorded 78,736 hours of labor, roughly 10,000 days or 38 years of committed service.

 

Photos of the event are available on the U.S. Army Garrison Flickr page.

 

The volunteer program at USAG Bavaria, which spans all five of the garrison’s communities — Garmisch, Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels, Vilseck and the rotational units in the training areas — remains in the bedrock of community operations.

 

The Army Volunteer Corps, managed by Army Community Service, is a program which people use to find volunteer opportunities, log service hours and receive support and guidance.

 

Want to join the volunteer force here at USAG Bavaria? Learn how at 5 steps to become a volunteer at USAG Bavaria.

 

Volunteer of the Year Winners
Category	Winner
Active Duty Military Member	1st Lt. Christopher Brown
Family Member	Elisabeth K. Stone
Civilian	Meagan Elam
Host Nation	Norbert Fiedler

 

1,000 Plus Volunteer Hours
Lorenna Browning	Tatjana Brady	Ahen Campillo
Michelle Cardoza	Kim-Nathalie Estrada Angeles	Michiyo Hannaford
Melissa Sample	Elisabeth Stone	Wendy Trackey
Christy Whitaker	Erin Wiegers

 

700 Plus Volunteer Hours
Claudia Cortes	Jaclyn Pennoyer	Preston Portee
Constanze Waterbury

 

250 Plus Volunteer Hours
Irina Ajaero	Rebecca Avergas	Teresa Bartlett
Chelsea Battle	Bobby Benn	Anna Berry
David Breeden	Anni Brunner	Walter Brunner
Leeann Butcher	Rebecca Cameron	Donald Cannon
Nataliya Clark	Rabia Coombs	Kamili Edwards
Staci Ellett	Justina Emmanuel	John Fabry
Norbert Fiedler	Kelsey Fleegel	Cindy Fragoso
Sherleana Fuentes	Melody Gersper	Lothar Gogolka
Darion Heenan	Meghan Huff	Madison Irving
Misrah Johnson	Birgit Joyce	James Joyce
Olivia Julian	Traci Kaintz	Sonya Kelly
Evette Kesler	Monika Kneidl	Richard Kneidl
Kathryn Koziol	Jasmine Lee	Helga Lettau
Christina Lindner	Kurt Loh	Cecilia Mariaca
Jan Meert	Julie Montero	Lenka Morgan
Kayla Nunn	Jasmin Owsley	Jannifer Pasquale
Richard Pierce	Aryanna Pope	Maureen Ragle
Guenter Rammelmeier	Melissa Robinson	Suzanne Robinson
Natalia Rodriguez	Briana Saul	Nancy Schamburek
Monika Schoen	Werner Schoen	Annmarie Schultz
Megan Scribner	April Shirley	Kelsea Spence
Kurt Spohr	Robin Stouffer	Terrell Summers
Sarah Theres	Elizabeth Thometz	Robert Thompson
Victoria Thompson	Stormie Tippit	Stephanie Utter
Robin Vinci	Rainer Waldmann	Benjamin Weber
Harald Weber	Tanja White	Ken Worm
Johanna Yeoman	Manuela Zeller-Meyer	Sara Ziegler

 

 

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