Commander praises support battalion’s dedication, success

Christine June
415th Base Support Battalion


***image1***What the 415th Base Support Battalion’s Commander Lt. Col. David Hall is most proud of since taking command in August 2002 are the employees who run it.
“Let there be no doubt that it takes competent, professional, selfless and dedicated people to provide community services for the largest American community outside of the continental United States,” said the native of Philadelphia, Pa. “Our 800 employees make me a proud commander every day.”
Based at Pulaski Barracks, the battalion provides command and control, base operations support, force protection, reception, staging and onward movement in support of contingency operations. It also acts as a power-projection platform, deploying and redeploying Army units, which they have done steadily for the past 15 months.
“I’m also proud of our role in assisting in deployment and redeployment of so many warriors sent to operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom over the past year,” said Colonel Hall. “We have mobilized more than 7,500 pieces of equipment and 1,500 personnel without safety mishaps and have assisted in community reintegration of our nation’s heroes without missing a beat in our daily customer service to the rest of the community.”
Customer service is the most visible part of the battalion’s mission, which enhances the readiness and quality of life within the KMC.
This translates to the battalion’s three child development centers, three chapels and chaplain programs, three libraries, Army Community Service’s classes and support groups, four Army clubs, four gyms and fitness centers and Sports and Fitness programs and many other community services open to the entire KMC.
Under Colonel Hall’s leadership, the battalion has initiated several new community services such as the playground, picnic area and running track on Pulaski Barracks built in 2003, KMC Onstage on Kleber Kaserne, a live theater that opened its doors in December 2003, and a Kaiserslautern-Landstuhl Spouses’ Association’s Community Room, which will be a meeting room available to private organizations and Family Readiness groups this summer.
The battalion also maintains building and grounds upkeep, and access control points for 10 Army kasernes: Pulaski Barracks, Kirchberg Kaserne, Husterhoeh Kaserne, Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Kleber Kaserne, Daenner Kaserne, Panzer Kaserne, General Support Center Europe, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Miesau Army Depot.
“Because the KMC is the logistics hub for all of Germany and because we have Ramstein Air Base on the west side, our mission is incredibly relevant to our geography,” said Colonel Hall, who graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1984.
Colonel Hall has served in joint, multi-national, ranger and airborne assignments throughout the world, and two things have remained constant in his more than 20-year career.
“The love for my family, and the philosophy that treating people the way you would like to be treated is the only philosophy,” he said. “My leadership philosophy has two pillars: lead by example; and, treat people with dignity.
“This remains my philosophy, one I have stuck to for 20 years and it applies equally to this BSB as it does in any other unit I have been in,” said Colonel Hall. “Treat employees with dignity while setting and maintaining the standard, and they will do the same for you.”