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{{Refimprove|date=October 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2014}}
{{short description|American military community in Germany}}
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'''Kaiserslautern Military Community''' is a community of Americans living in and around [[Kaiserslautern]], [[Germany]] supporting [[United States Armed Forces]] and [[NATO]] installations, such as the [[Ramstein Air Base]], [[Landstuhl Regional Medical Center]], Kapaun Air Station, Vogelweh Housing Area, Pulaski Barracks, Kleber Kaserne, Daenner Kaserne, [[Panzer Kaserne]], [[Sembach Kaserne]], Miesau Army Depot, and Rhine Ordnance Barracks. With around 54,000 people, including military service members, [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] civilians and contractors as well as their families, the KMC is the largest U.S. military community outside of the United States.
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kaiserslautern Military Community
| settlement_type = American military community
| named_for = [[Kaiserslautern]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = {{Start date and age|1975|06|20|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}<!-- 86 AW History Office (23 June 2023). "History Corner". Kaiserslautern American. Vol. 47, no. 25. Kaiserslautern. p. 4. -->
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Germany}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
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| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Rhineland-Palatinate}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States of Germany|State]]
}}
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The '''Kaiserslautern Military Community''' ('''KMC''') is an American military community in and around [[Kaiserslautern]], [[Germany]], supporting [[United States Armed Forces]] and [[NATO]] installations, such as the [[Ramstein Air Base]], [[Landstuhl Regional Medical Center]], Kapaun Air Station, Vogelweh Housing Area, Pulaski Barracks, Kleber Kaserne, Daenner Kaserne, [[Sembach Kaserne]], Miesau Army Depot, and Rhine Ordnance Barracks. With around 54,000 people, including military service members, [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] civilians and contractors as well as their families, the KMC is the largest U.S. military community outside of the United States.


== Police and security ==
==Facilities==
{{Infobox military unit
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A combined Base Exchange (BX) and Post Exchange (PX) located on [[Ramstein Air Base]] makes it the largest [[Army and Air Force Exchange Service|AAFES]] shopping-facility in Europe - the [[Kaiserslautern Military Community Center|Kaiserslautern Military Community Center (KMCC)]]. This has become the biggest attraction for service members and their families.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} Several well-stocked libraries, several American restaurants (including a [[Chili's]] and [[Romano's Macaroni Grill]]), and other facilities provide services exclusively for holders of [[United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card|DOD ID]] cards.
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|unit_name=569th United States Forces Police Squadron
[[File:United States Air Forces in Europe.svg|center|60px]]
|image=Joint patrols tackles crime 150117-F-MF529-006.jpg
|image_size=290
|caption=A member of the 569th USFPS on joint patrol in Kaiserslautern with a German officer of the [[Rhineland-Palatinate Police]] in 2015
|dates=1 February 1952 – 7 April 1952<br/>15 October 1984 – present<ref name="569USFPSfacts">{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Tonia |date=2019-03-29 |title=569 US Forces Police Sq (USAFE) |url=https://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1249565/569-us-forces-police-sq-usafe/ |website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]]}}</ref>
|country={{USA}}
|branch={{air force|US}}
|type=[[Military police]]
|role=
|size=
|command_structure=[[United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa]]
* [[Third Air Force]]
**[[86th Airlift Wing]]
***86th Mission Support Group
|garrison=Vogelweh Military Complex, Germany
|nickname=Guardian Eagles<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mosness |first=Alexandria |date=2009-05-07 |title=569th Guardian Eagles watch over KMC |url=https://www.ramstein.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/306113/569th-guardian-eagles-watch-over-kmc/ |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=www.ramstein.af.mil |language=en-US}}</ref>
|motto=To Serve And Protect<ref name="569USFPSfacts"/>
|decorations = [[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]] (12x)
|identification_symbol=[[File:569 US Forces Police Sq emblem.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol_label=569th United States Forces Police Squadron emblem <small>(Approved 14 September 2005)</small><ref name="569USFPSfacts"/>
}}
The '''569th United States Forces Police Squadron''' (569 USFPS), based in Vogelweh Military Complex, Germany, is an [[United States Air Force Security Forces|Air Force Security Forces]] squadron. The mission of the 569th USFPS is to protect and serve all U.S. forces and Air Force power projection platforms throughout the KMC. The Guardian Eagles, as they are referred to, work hand-in-hand with the U.S. Army 92d Military Police Company, civilian police, and German “Polizei” to accomplish their mission.


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The 569th is the last "Security Police" squadron in the Air Force. All members are recognized by their Security Police ("SP") brassard. The 569 USFPS executes the Air Force's largest law enforcement mission, covering 1.1K square miles and providing police services to over 54,000 DoD personnel and their dependents, all while deploying and redeploying members to 15 different locations worldwide.
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== 569th United States Forces Police Squadron ==


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==Schools==
The '''569th United States Forces Police Squadron''', based in Vogelweh Military Complex, Germany, is an [[Air Force Security Forces]] squadron. The mission of the 569th USFPS is to provide airtight security for its Protection Level resources while delivering the highest degree of Air Provost (Law Enforcement & Police Services) duties and Force Protection integrity to the Kaiserslautern Military Community with approximately 157,000 people.
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Kaiserslautern Military Community includes [[Department of Defense Dependents Schools|DoDDS]] schools: Kaiserslautern Elementary, Middle, and [[Kaiserslautern High School|High School]], Vogelweh Elementary, Ramstein Elementary, Intermediate, Middle, and High School, Landstuhl Elementary Middle School, and Sembach Elementary School.


==Retail and residential==
History of the 569 USFPS:
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A combined Base Exchange (BX) and Post Exchange (PX) located on [[Ramstein Air Base]] makes it the largest [[Army & Air Force Exchange Service|AAFES]] shopping-facility in Europe - the [[Kaiserslautern Military Community Center]] (KMCC). This has become the biggest attraction for service members and their families.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} Several well-stocked libraries, several American restaurants (including a [[Chili's]] and [[Romano's Macaroni Grill]]), and other facilities provide services exclusively for holders of [[United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card|DOD ID]] cards.

"In 1972, the Ramstein wing commander found himself responsible for more than 750 sq miles of German country side, more than 1,000 military facilities, 1,100 military housing units, two elementary schools, a middle school and a large American high school all located "outside the wire." In addition, the Air Force wing commander also found himself playing host to a substantial Army garrison, which decided to remain in Kaiserslautern after the transfer. On August 1,1976, Lt Col Bob Sullivan assumed command of the Kaiserslautern Army military community MP station and because of its joint operation status it was renamed "U.S. Forces Police Station Kaiserslautern." It wasn't until a new wing commander, who recognized the grave responsibility to the community, arrived and things began to change. Ramstein reconstituted under the unlikely name of "Detachment 1, 86th Tactical Fighter Wing. This arrangement lasted for some years until "in-house" political considerations brought the unit back to Ramstein as part of the 86th Security
Police Group. Day-to-day operations at the police station consisted of a number of jointly operated sections including Operations, Investigations, Pass and ID, Traffic, and Vehicle Registration. The patrol section consisted of seven dedicated units who used the call sign "Metro." The name is still used today."

"In years before the fall of the Berlin wall, the lines of authority in Germany were considerably different than they are today. The 70s still were the time of the "Four Powers" and Germany was divided into sectors controlled by the governments of England,France, Russia, and the United States. The Kaiserslautern military community was smack in the middle of the French sector and many functions of the USFPS required coordination with and sometime approval of the French Gendarmerie whose Headquarters was located in Baden Baden. A particular requirement was the apprehension and disposition of Russian "observers" who tended to get too close to allied military installations. Russians had a
particular fondness for sending tractor-trailer trucks toward Paris on the autobahn, which paralleled Ramstein AB. The standing joke at the time was that the electrons being sucked off the base by the equipment on those trucks would make your hair stand on end. USFPS's job was to intercept the trucks and observe with them as they passed through our community. On occasion, diligent Russians would leave the autobahns to "get a better look" as a result, some interesting chases ensued." <ref>Tiger Flight, US Forces Police Station Kaiserslautern, Robert M. Sullivan, LtCol (Ret), April 2007</ref>

"When USFPS was formed, one of the first priorities was to design and have approved a distinctive emblem to signify the unique position of this one of kind organization in the Air Force. The design, finally approved by the Institute of Heraldry and the Air Force, was truly a one of a kind emblem. A six pointed "sheriff's star" signifying the station's community-wide responsibilities and heraldic beasts taken from the coats of arms of the German counties and cities located within Kaiserslautern military community." Nonetheless, the tradition carries on as they are supplemented in this mission by German civilian police called ZP's (Zivil Polizei),<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ramstein.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/305159/pumpkin-patrol-keeps-goblins-ghosts-safe/|title=Pumpkin Patrol keeps goblins, ghosts safe|last=June|first=Christine|date=28 October 2008|work=|access-date=30 September 2017|publisher=U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern|language=en-US}}</ref> and by the 92d Military Police Company.

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The 569th is the last "Security Police" squadron in the Air Force. All members are recognized by their Security Police ("SP") brassard. The 569 USFPS executes the Air Force’s largest law enforcement mission, covering 1.1K square miles and providing police services to over 57,000 DoD personnel and their dependents, all while deploying and redeploying members to 15 different locations worldwide.

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==Schools==
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Kaiserslautern Military Community includes [[Department of Defense Dependents Schools|DoDDS]] schools: Kaiserslautern [http://www.kais-es.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Elementary], [http://www.kais-ms.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Middle], and [[Kaiserslautern High School|High School]], Vogelweh [http://www.voge-es.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Elementary], Ramstein [http://www.rams-es.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Elementary], [http://www.rams-is.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Intermediate], [http://www.rams-ms.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Middle], and [http://www.rams-hs.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm High School], Landstuhl [http://www.lans-ems.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Elementary Middle School], and Sembach [http://www.semb-es.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Elementary], and [http://www.semb-ms.eu.dodea.edu/index.htm Middle] School.


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
<!--
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*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/kaiserslautern.htm globalsecurity.org KMC entry]
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*[http://www.kaiserslauternamerican.com/ Kaiserslautern American Military Newspaper]
WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF LINKS. Only a limited number of new links
*[http://www12.kaiserslautern.de/Anwendung/webgate/GACO/GACO.nsf/rahmen?OpenFrameSet Kaiserslautern German-American Community Office]
should be added to this article. PLEASE DO NOT ADD external links to sites with
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*[http://www.ramstein.af.mil/ Ramstein AB]
information already in the article or in its sources.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111117001238/http://www.kaiserslautern.army.mil/ U.S. Army Kaiserslautern Homepage]

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{{coord missing|Rhineland-Palatinate}}
See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for further details
===============================================================================
-->
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*[http://www.kaiserslauternamerican.com/ ''Kaiserslautern American'']
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*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/kaiserslautern.htm Kaiserslautern Military Community] at [[GlobalSecurity.org]]
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*[http://www.ramstein.af.mil/ Ramstein Air Base]
*[https://home.army.mil/rheinland-pfalz U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz]
<!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please follow the [[WP:EL]] guideline where possible and consider discussing on the talk page. Thank you. -->

{{Portal bar|1970s|Germany|United States}}
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{{Coord missing|Rhineland-Palatinate}}


[[Category:Military installations of the United States in Germany]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:American diaspora in Europe]]
[[Category:Kaiserslautern]]
[[Category:Kaiserslautern]]
[[Category:Planned communities in Germany]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1975]]

Latest revision as of 16:01, 28 July 2023

Kaiserslautern Military Community
American military community
Country Germany
State Rhineland-Palatinate
Established20 June 1975
(48 years ago) (1975-06-20)
Named forKaiserslautern

The Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) is an American military community in and around Kaiserslautern, Germany, supporting United States Armed Forces and NATO installations, such as the Ramstein Air Base, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Kapaun Air Station, Vogelweh Housing Area, Pulaski Barracks, Kleber Kaserne, Daenner Kaserne, Sembach Kaserne, Miesau Army Depot, and Rhine Ordnance Barracks. With around 54,000 people, including military service members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors as well as their families, the KMC is the largest U.S. military community outside of the United States.

Police and security[edit]

569th United States Forces Police Squadron
A member of the 569th USFPS on joint patrol in Kaiserslautern with a German officer of the Rhineland-Palatinate Police in 2015
Active1 February 1952 – 7 April 1952
15 October 1984 – present[1]
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeMilitary police
Part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
Garrison/HQVogelweh Military Complex, Germany
Nickname(s)Guardian Eagles[2]
Motto(s)To Serve And Protect[1]
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award (12x)
Insignia
569th United States Forces Police Squadron emblem (Approved 14 September 2005)[1]

The 569th United States Forces Police Squadron (569 USFPS), based in Vogelweh Military Complex, Germany, is an Air Force Security Forces squadron. The mission of the 569th USFPS is to protect and serve all U.S. forces and Air Force power projection platforms throughout the KMC. The Guardian Eagles, as they are referred to, work hand-in-hand with the U.S. Army 92d Military Police Company, civilian police, and German “Polizei” to accomplish their mission.

The 569th is the last "Security Police" squadron in the Air Force. All members are recognized by their Security Police ("SP") brassard. The 569 USFPS executes the Air Force's largest law enforcement mission, covering 1.1K square miles and providing police services to over 54,000 DoD personnel and their dependents, all while deploying and redeploying members to 15 different locations worldwide.

Schools[edit]

Kaiserslautern Military Community includes DoDDS schools: Kaiserslautern Elementary, Middle, and High School, Vogelweh Elementary, Ramstein Elementary, Intermediate, Middle, and High School, Landstuhl Elementary Middle School, and Sembach Elementary School.

Retail and residential[edit]

A combined Base Exchange (BX) and Post Exchange (PX) located on Ramstein Air Base makes it the largest AAFES shopping-facility in Europe - the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center (KMCC). This has become the biggest attraction for service members and their families.[citation needed] Several well-stocked libraries, several American restaurants (including a Chili's and Romano's Macaroni Grill), and other facilities provide services exclusively for holders of DOD ID cards.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Stephens, Tonia (29 March 2019). "569 US Forces Police Sq (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  2. ^ Mosness, Alexandria (7 May 2009). "569th Guardian Eagles watch over KMC". www.ramstein.af.mil. Retrieved 4 July 2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaiserslautern_Military_Community&oldid=1167575999"