Wing hosts local leaders during information forum
By Senior Airman Dylan Nuckolls, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
/ Published February 27, 2015
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The 52nd Fighter Wing hosted an information forum for local community leaders Feb. 20, 2015, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
U.S. Air Force Col. Joe McFall, 52nd FW commander, welcomed civic and business representatives from throughout the Eifel region to the event twice a year to discuss the state of relations between the base and the community.
"For more than six decades, the partnership between the U.S. and German communities in the Eifel region has remained strong," McFall said. "This is in part due to the open flow of communication between us, but also to the willingness of our hosts and their heartfelt efforts to make us feel like part of their family."
Topics discussed included future construction on the installation, the European Reassurance Initiative carried out by U.S. Air Forces Europe, the quality of local drinking water and the current theater security package.
"The impression here has been focused," said Gregor Eibes, Wittlich County commissioner. "There is an open information exchange, and, where open exchanges take place, I think that any problems can also be solved."
Eibes also remarked on how future investments to the air base reflected the strength of the relationship between the U.S. and German communities.
"I told Colonel McFall what impressed me during his assumption of command was when General Roberson said the development in Spangdahlem was strongly based on the good relations we have here in this region," Eibes said. "The future of the base is secure because the base is accepted within the region."
In addition to the forum, the wing and communities interact on a regular basis, including the recent Fasching events in Bitburg and Wittlich and soon again for the upcoming 11th annual Explore the Eifel fair at Spangdahlem in April 2015.
"This forum is just another indicator of the success of that continuing partnership," McFall said. "One of my primary goals as commander is to leave this base better than I found it, and I'm confident that all Sabers will continue to partner with our friends in the community to build our collective future together."