Spc. Jeremiah Prine, with the 19th Support Center, 13th Corps Support Command, helps with the Outdoor Recreation booth during the Expo Wednesday. Prine was recently named the 221st Base Support Battalion volunteer of the quarter by Outdoor Tec. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
Spc. Jeremiah Prine, with the 19th Support Center, 13th Corps Support Command, helps with the Outdoor Recreation booth during the Expo Wednesday. Prine was recently named the 221st Base Support Battalion volunteer of the quarter by Outdoor Tec. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
Ed Kolbe, Dexheim fire inspector, offers residents tips for fire prevention in homes. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
Mary C. Williams, sitting at the Defense Commissary Agency booth at the Dexheim Community Expo, offers residents gift bags and explains the latest news. She said beginning Nov. 28 the Dexheim commissary will be closed on Mondays. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
DEXHEIM, Germany — Troops and family members got an earful of the latest happenings in Dexheim on Wednesday.
A community expo, held in a large warehouse connected to the fitness center, offered informational booklets on community services and gave away gifts.
The one-stop-shop expo brought together 33 organization representatives from the 221st Base Support Battalion to the small Army installation, said Donna Dean, spokeswoman for the 221st BSB.
The expo offered everything from single soldier benefits to family services.
Though many of the booths showcased services that are available on post, the expo was about bringing more services or highlighting program news in the community.
For instance, the School Age Services currently has no waiting list and is actively recruiting teens and looking for volunteers; the health clinic is offering suggestions on how to stay clear of the influenza virus without taking the flu shot; and the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers is just starting up after a long deployment and would like to hear what single troops have to say.
Also, the School Liaison Services is making a push to get families who qualify for the reduced or free lunches program to receive the benefit.
Peter Witmer, school liaison officer, said that’s pretty much any single-income, E-6 or below family.
“Many people qualify, but are reluctant to take advantage of the benefit,” Witmer said. “There was a GS-12 who almost qualified, and I have E-7s and an E-8 who have qualified for the program.”
In addition to the services already available on Dexheim, representatives from the provost marshal’s office and vehicle registration office, which are normally about a half-hour away in Wiesbaden, were at the expo.
It wasn’t all just serious business, though.
Staff Sgt. Shane Fosher, with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 123rd Main Support Battalion on Dexheim, said his favorite was the Outdoor Recreation booth.
“There’s information on paragliding and many other extreme sports,” Fosher said while holding pamphlets from the ODR table.
“Soldiers thrive on an opportunity to do stuff like this.”
Sgt. Charles Garland, of the same unit, said he liked the booth offering financial advice with programs on how to save money.
“Having an expo like this here is really great because there are a lot of young soldiers here who don’t know all what’s being offered through the community,” he said.
“Many just drink their way through Germany, and this expo is giving them the opportunity to put a little away for the future.”
