New ACS facility welcomes community Families

KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, GERMANY

10.03.2016

Courtesy Story

21st Theater Sustainment Command

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Army Community Service officially opened its doors during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Oct.3 at the agency’s new home on Kleber Kaserne.

Col. Keith E. Igyarto, the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Edward J. Williams III presided over the early-afternoon ceremony. “Gold Star Mother” Mary Aguirre and “Gold Star Family Member” Inge Colton cut the honorary ribbon.

The new facility, located in Building 3210, is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays, and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays. Service and Family members can also reach ACS representatives at DSN 541-9000 or commercial 0611-143-541-9000.

ACS has helped service members and their families in the Rhineland-Pfalz area for over 51 years. The agency embraces all services, prominently including the large Air Force presence in the region.

“Many people do not know that our resources are not just for Army Families,” said Heather Robinson, the ACS director. “We are able to assist all U.S. service members and their Families in the Rhineland-Pfalz area.”

ACS-sponsored programs include Family Assistance during deployments, Relocation Readiness, Financial Readiness, Exceptional Family Member Program, Deployment/Mobilization Readiness and Family Action Plan as well as information, referral and other outreach programs.

Robinson, who has served as director for the last two years, noted the move allows the ACS facility to serve as a “One-Stop Shop” for providing service members and their Families valuable resources.

“The new location allows all of ACS’s programs to be located within steps from each other all on the same hallway,” she said. The agency, previously located on Palaski Barracks, split their functions and office space among three separate buildings.

Though ACS has not established any new programs, its move to a larger facility allows space to revamp signature community services like the Lending Closet, where service members and their Families turn to borrow household items during their military transitions. Close proximity to the regional Soldier in-processing facility is an added benefit. Soldiers and Family conducting processing business can easily access the extensive Lending Closet during their visit.

The building, which served formerly as Army barracks, has been completely renovated. The new location includes privacy frosted glass doors separating the facility from other co-located agencies like Family Advocacy and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention.

The larger facility brings ancillary benefits such as additional opportunity for employment. The new location has allowed ACS to expand its work force and post several new job listing on USAJobs.com.

“The current ACS team is excited about the all of the new changes that are to come with our new locations,” said Luisa Armendariz, an ACS administrative support assistant.

• Date Taken: 10.03.2016
• Date Posted: 10.06.2016 04:41
• Story ID: 211393
• Location: KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, DE