Garrison ASAP wins DOD award

Based on the strength of the 2011 Red Ribbon Run, the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern Army Substance Abuse Program has been named the winner of the 22nd annual Department of Defense Communtiy Awareness Award.

In recognition of the honor, Maj. Gen. Aundre F. Piggee, commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, presented ASAP employees Crystal Malloy and Kathryn Arnette with commanders’ coins at his headquarters Sept. 11.

“It’s a Department of Defense-wide recognition for the great efforts that these two great ladies represent for the entire ASAP program,” said Lt. Col. Lars Zetterstrom, the garrison commander, during the coin presentation ceremony.

“The Red Ribbon Run represents the commitment of everyone in the Kaiserslautern Military Community to be drug free,” Zetterstrom wrote in the letter nominating ASAP for the DOD award.

In addition to the anti-drug programming, the officials making the selection appreciated the positively focused efforts of the organization, said Malloy, the ASAP clinical coordinator and employee assistance coordinator.

“They really liked the idea that we focused on health (and) on making healthy choices. Rather than looking at it as totally anti-substance abuse, we looked at it from a pro-health perspective,” Malloy said, adding that 250 volunteers contributed to the Red Ribbon Run.

Reflecting on the award, Malloy recounted the story of a community member who
recently stopped into the ASAP office for assistance, unannounced and unplanned, but in need.

“I think that comes with the strength of the program. People are coming to us off the street because they feel like it’s a place where they can come for help,” she said.

The 2012 Red Ribbon Run will take place at 9 a.m. Oct. 13 at the Special Events Center on Rhine Ordnance Barracks.