Parliament tour encourages cross-nation partnership

MAINZ, Germany – Michael Billen, left, Rheinland-Pfalz Parliament representative of the Bitburg-Pruem district; Bernhard Schaefer, center, 52nd Fighter Wing community relations advisor; Herbert Schneiders, Rheinland-Pfalz Parliament representative of the Vulkaneifel district; and U.S. Air Force Col. David Julazadeh, 52nd FW commander, talk Oct. 10, 2012, about the functions of the German state parliament here. Wing leadership toured the city of Mainz and discussed how Spangdahlem Air Base works with the neighboring communities to solve shared problems or issues.

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October 12, 2012
Staff Sgt. Daryl Knee 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Leadership from the 52nd Fighter Wing toured the Rheinland-Pfalz parliament in Mainz Oct. 10, 2012.

The visit included a walking tour of the historic sections of Mainz and a crash course on German government procedures and how the United States and Germany interact with each other.

"A partnership is built between people," said Bitburg-Pruem representative Michael Billen about the importance of active communication. "Governments cannot simply form a partnership -- it takes time and face-to-face contact to establish that partnership between the peoples of the two countries."

The citizens of Germany and U.S. residents stationed here share some of the same burdens: both groups have a direct responsibility for protecting the environment, suffer through the noise of aircraft operations and live under the constraints of a fluctuating worldwide economy. Wing and local leadership minimize the impact of these issues when both understand each others' priorities, vision and points of view.

"It's important to understand (the representatives') perspective," said U.S. Air Force Col. David Julazadeh, 52nd FW commander. "We, as U.S. military members in their community, have to understand what drives them, because each district or region may have a different priority. Every base-level decision in one way or another affects the local area, and the representatives are the voice of their community members."

State parliament members have two main tasks, said Herbert Schneiders, Rheinland-Pfalz parliament representative of the Vulkaneifel district. They work with legislation and are the direct political representatives for their assigned district. As the spokespeople for the areas surrounding Spangdahlem AB, he and Billen aim to understand military operations so they can answer or field any concerns brought forth from their constituents. Familiarization tours like this help the base and local community build those strong ties, enabling faster and easier communication.

"We know each other now," Schneiders continued. "Now, we can get on the phone and have a face to put to the name."

The familiarity between U.S. senior officers and German officials is also developed from other directions, Schneiders said. Wing leadership often socializes with local civic leaders off duty, and the base often opens its gates for meetings or tours.

"The key is just having the relationships in the first place," Julazadeh said. "It's all about the people and personalities."