For the second time in three years, the Kitzingen, Germany-based 417th Base Support Battalion was named best in Europe by the Army Communities of Excellence program.
The 417th BSB was one of eight support battalions that applied for the award. It will next enter the Department of Army-wide competition, which it won in 2001. The winner will likely be announced in early spring, according to Anne Warren, the 417th BSB’s quality management specialist.
Among the duties of a base support battalion are:
• Supporting military communities during deployments, including providing programs for family members left behind.• Managing commercial and residential properties, including finding places for people to live.• Managing quality-of-life programs, such as outdoor recreation, libraries, fitness centers, and child and youth services.
“Everything it takes to run a community falls under us,” Warren said.
Warren said the eight competing battalions submitted reports to the Army Communities of Excellence judges. Four semifinalists were chosen and then judged by a group of civilian contractors from Canada.
Warren said areas judged included clear leadership direction, identifying and meeting customers’ needs, programs that help employees, tracking results and financial performance.
The 417th BSB serves the Kitzingen, Würzburg and Giebelstadt military communities. Its commander is Lt. Col. Thomas Fass.
