Hybrids debut at Spangdahlem AB Published Jan. 21, 2011 By Senior Airman Clay Murray 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The automobile has seen improvement after improvement since its early days with Henry Ford and the Model T. Some of the recent advances in automobile technology include taking advantage of what internal combustion and electronic engines can do when used together. The 52nd Fighter Wing received its first government owned vehicle that does exactly that - a Ford Fusion hybrid. Col. Christopher Weggeman, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, received the keys to the new piece of modern technology Jan. 21. "When our vehicle fleet is replaced, the hybrid is the way to go," said Colonel Weggeman. "Everywhere we go we not only showcase that we don't need big SUVs, we just need cars, and we're driving the hybrid cars. We're sending a message to everyone else that we're conscious about environmental stewardship. That way when we ask them to be environmentally conscious, it resonates - our car is an example of that." This transition to a hybrid vehicle fleet is just a small part of fulfilling one of the Saber goals: become U.S. Air Forces in Europe's most environmentally friendly wing. "One of the key values of the military institution is to lead by example," the Colonel said. "If you want to start enforcing environmental stewardship, then leadership needs to start." "It's not only a step toward a more green fighter wing, it's actually an order that puts the entire military on a track to a more environmentally friendly stance," explained Master Sgt. Kevin Meade, European Transportation Training Center instructor. This training center here provides training and certification for maintainers ranging from diesel engines to hybrids. "You're going to see (hybrid vehicles) popping up over the place, all over the command and the Air Force," Sergeant Meade said. "There was an executive order that mandated we eliminate our greenhouse gases over the next 20 years. The Department of Defense has set a goal of 34 percent reduction by 2020. We're going to do that by integrating more of these hybrid vehicles into the fleet." Rather than just obeying orders, the wing commander finds this transition to be an important step in the right direction. Specifically, he sees it as a way to connect neighboring cultures in Germany. "We always say that we're the U.S. ambassador abroad - I think the car itself is symbolically an ambassador representing the American who embraces their cultural value of environmental stewardship," said Colonel Weggeman. "As Airmen, we need to be culturally competent - that's how you can lead effectively and interact personally and professionally. You're more effective if you understand the cultures you're a part of and what each culture values, believes and takes for granted. "More importantly, the 52nd Fighter Wing isn't something that comes here and visits -we've been here between Bitburg and Spangdahlem for 50 years," he said. "This demonstrates we're culturally competent, and we're in step with our German host nation. They are a nation that is further along in terms of embracing environmental stewardship. When they see the wing leadership driving a hybrid car off-base and on-base, we've built that cultural connection, and that's important." The wing commander isn't the only Airman who sees the program as a fix to the problem and not the symptom. Sergeant Meade is the only authorized hybrid maintainer on the installation and is familiar with everything it offers. "The hybrid vehicle is designed to run on electric mode or gas mode or a combination of the two, which provides it the ability to get 41 mpg on this particular model," Sergeant Meade said. "We're reducing our emissions and at the same time reducing our petroleum use. It's a process of going green, and it's good for many different reasons. It's good for the environment because we're putting fewer emissions in the air and good for the budget because it costs less. It's good for us to show the European community what we're doing to follow suit with them as far as an environmentally friendly program, especially for us at USAFE and Spangdahlem." Col. Jodine Tooke, 52nd Mission Support Group commander, is scheduled to receive the next hybrid Jan. 24.