KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany –
As a German girl growing up in her hometown of Pirmasens, Germany, in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s where the U.S. Army installations and facilities there were still active and the gates were still wide open, the German-American lifestyle was quite the norm. Her best friend’s father was a Soldier, and at 18 she married one, herself. In addition, she worked for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service on base for more than 13 years as a young adult.
So it was of little surprise that when Nicole Anderson was offered a job with Logistics Readiness Center Rheinland-Pfalz she left the German corporate world she was employed with for seven years and came back to what she missed most.
And now, with over 18 months working at LRC Rheinland-Pfalz as an administrative support assistant, the 44-year-old local national Army employee said she’s very happy with her decision.
“I like the people here the most,” said Anderson. “When I first started working here I was a little hesitant and afraid, but everyone was so welcoming and helpful. If I didn’t understand something, they were quick to help me out. I can honestly say I have never experienced this level of teamwork anywhere else before – not to this extent.”
As an administrative support professional, Anderson is responsible for more than a few day-to-day tasks and duties. She handles the morning personnel status and accountability reports and updates the manning documents. She also updates the director’s briefing slides on SharePoint and MS Teams, and she assists with the deep dive briefings. In addition, she handles overseas extensions and other personnel action requests, drafts memos and other messages, and completes a ton of other administrative paperwork.
One of her duties – which is extremely important to LRC Rheinland-Pfalz, 405th Army Field Support Brigade and U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz – is hiring actions. Anderson has administratively assisted with hiring about 25 people, thus far. And with a constant flow of personnel leaving and new ones arriving, it’s critically important that the LRC Rheinland-Pfalz workforce in the Kaiserslautern and Baumholder military communities remains fully mission capable and ready at all times.
“All the hiring actions and paperwork must be 100 percent accurate, and the whole process takes a lot of time,” said Anderson. “But I like a challenge. There’s always something new, and we have a great support system.”
And it’s nice to meet the new employees when they arrive and start working, said Anderson.
“Their supervisors usually bring them by so we can meet them, or I see them at various functions we have, which is nice. Before meeting them, they’re just names on documents, so it’s really nice to put faces to the names,” she said.
Working for the Army and LRC Rheinland-Pfalz just feels right for Anderson, she said.
“I’ve been around the U.S. Army for so long it’s now part of who I am,” said Anderson. “I grew up with the Army and have been connected to the Army in one way or another my whole life.”
LRC Rheinland-Pfalz is one of seven LRCs under the command and control of the 405th AFSB. LRCs execute installation logistics support and services to include supply, maintenance, transportation and food service management as well as clothing issue facility operations, hazardous material management, personal property and household goods, passenger travel, property book operations, and non-tactical vehicle and garrison equipment management. When it comes to providing day-to-day installation services, LRC Rheinland-Pfalz directs, manages and coordinates a variety of operations and activities in support of USAG Rheinland-Pfalz
LRC Rheinland-Pfalz reports to the 405th AFSB, which is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and under the operational control of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The brigade is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. Forces throughout Europe and Africa – providing theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging U.S. Army Materiel Command’s materiel enterprise to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official website at www.afsbeurope.army.mil and the official Facebook site at www.facebook.com/405thAFSB.