Team 21 highlights readiness during Rheinland-Pfalz Tag

Story and photos by Brittany Jones
Public Affairs Specialist 21st Theater Sustainment Command

A Soldier from 5th Quartermaster Company helps young fair goers try on a T-11M parachute during a live demonstration at the 2018 Rheinland-Pfalz Tag state fair June 1 in Worms.

WORMS, Germany — With Humvees, parachutes, robots, and a simulated K-9 named Hero, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command had something for everyone at this year’s Rheinland-Pfalz Tag state fair in Worms, Germany, June 1-3.

The annual three-day event offered attendees traditional German cuisine, live music and entertainment, amusement rides, and military equipment demonstrations and displays by the Bundeswehr Landeskommando German Military and the United States Armed Forces based in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

Among the U.S. Military presence at this year’s fair was the 21st Theater Sustainment Command which highlighted their finest sustainment capabilities through four static presentations across the fairgrounds.

Soldiers from 16th Sustainment Brigade’s 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company offered fair goers the opportunity to feel like a true United States paratrooper with parachute packing and wearing demonstrations.

Martina Kartz, who traveled with her family from Bad Kreuznach, Germany, stated the highlight of her visit was trying on the parachutes. “I like the chute bags,” Kartz said, “one was heavy and one was not.”

Troops from 64th Medical Detachment Veterinary Support Services, 30th Medical Brigade, highlighted their ability to provide medical care to up to 300 military working dogs through technique training and practiced surgical procedures done on their life-like simulated military working K-9, HERO Jump Ready. 

The crowd gathered to watch a team from 773rd Civil Support Team, 7th Mission Support Command, demonstrate the functions of the Talon IV robot, nicknamed “Veronica.” Veronica’s lifesaving capabilities allow the robot to detect and safely remove hazardous material and chemicals during disaster relief missions.

Capt. Dino de la Hoya, 773rd CST, shared how it was important to be able to tell how his team serves the European theater in their own words to the local community during the fair.

For attendees interested in pursuing a career as a mechanical engineer, Theater Logistics Support Center-Europe’s presentation was right up their alley. TLSC-E discussed the highlights of their three-year master mechanic apprenticeship program where students work closely with Team 21 to become proficient in a combination of mechanical, electronic and computer engineering.

In addition to the local community viewing and asking questions about the displays, Soldiers of Team 21 were visited by Rheinland-Pfalz distinguished officials Minister President Malu Dryer and Minister of Interior Roger Lewentz.

“We are excited to share with our host nation our military capabilities in providing world-class sustainment through logistics, personnel services, health service support, military police and engineering,” said Col. William Galbraith, 21st TSC Deputy Commanding Officer, following Minister Presidents Dryer’s visit.

Team 21 has been an invited guest of the Rheinland-Pfalz Tag state fair dating back to the first fair in Koblenz, Germany, in 1984. Each year the event is hosted in a new location within the state and expected to entertain up to 300,000 visitors.

“We value the opportunity to share cultural experiences with our host nation. Our relationship with the state Rheinland-Pfalz dates as far back as 1965 and we take pride in the legacy we will continue to build together,” said Galbraith.

A German family stops to learn more about the 773rd Civil Support Team’ robot, “Veronica,” which is able to detect and safely remove hazardous material and chemicals during disaster relief missions, at the 2018 Rheinland-Pfalz Tag state fair June 1 in Worms.
Capt. LaToya Toler, 773rd Civil Support Team, explains how 773rd’s mobile fully functional laboratory is able to identify hazardous materials while on missions to a Rheinland-Pfalz Tag visitor June 1 in Worms.