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German officers visit Scott

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Karoline Scott
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
10/26/2006 --  A group of German Youth Information Officers, or Bundeswehr, arrived at Scott Air Force Base Oct. 18 to learn first hand about the U.S. Air Force. 

The 36 visiting officers, all first lieutenant or captain equivalents in the German Air Force, Army or Navy, serve a key public affairs role for their military. 

"Our job is to go to schools and universities in Germany and teach the youth about national and international military affairs," said Navy Lt. Senior Grade Mathias Willerscheidt. "Many young people don't know much about international security policies. We help them better understand what is going on in the world." 

Becoming part of the Bundeswehr is very selective. Of the nearly 250,000 people in the German military, only 94 are German Youth Information Officers. Since 1982, these officers have taken an annual trip to the U.S. during their first year on the job. 

"An annual trip to the United States is a big part of their training," said Lt. Col. Klaus Ehlers, key official in the German Army's public relations branch and the senior ranking official on the groups' U.S. trip. "The United States is one of our critical North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies, so it is important for these men to understand U.S. military and security policies. They bring what they learn back to Germany."
 
One new Bundeswehr officer, Army Capt. Christian Schmitz said, "In Germany, many students ask us about the U.S. military. We can now say that we've heard about the U.S. military straight from the source." 

Before their visit to Scott, this year's two-week U.S. tour began in Washington D.C. and New York. Stops included the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, dinner with the American Jewish Committee, tours of the Pentagon and United Nations headquarters and much more. 

While at Scott, the officers toured a KC-135 Stratotanker, visited the Heritage Hall museum at Air Mobility Command headquarters, received AMC and Tanker Airlift Control Center briefings and had lunch at the Scott Club with Brig. Gen. Fred Roggero, deputy director of Air, Space and Information Operations at AMC headquarters, and more than 20 of Scott's own company grade officers. 

"Thank all of you so much for coming and sharing your culture with us," said General Roggero to the visiting officers. "It is an honor to have you here." 

After their time at Scott, the group left to visit an ROTC detachment at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and then headed to Chicago. 

"It is wonderful that we were able to visit the Midwest this year," said 1st Lt. Daniel Burmeister, Army Germany Youth Information Officer. "When most of us visit the U.S., we to go to the coasts. Coming to Illinois certainly gives us a different perspective about the United States. Our trip has been great. Everyone here is so friendly and welcoming." 

When a new group of Bundeswehr officers comes to the U.S. next year, they plan a return trip to Scott.