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Luftwaffe officer exchanges ideas with American hosts

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mary Hinson and Cadet 1st Lt. Tony Clark
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  It's been more than 60 years since Germans and Americans shot at each other in Europe. Today, instead of trading bullets in combat, they are exchanging ideas.

Capt. Frauke Keller of the German air force reserve, or Luftwaffe, spent two weeks learning the ways of the 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs here as part of the Reserve Foreign Officer Exchange Program.

"This exchange is a way of keeping up the flow of information, as well as the friendship between the countries," said Captain Keller. "This year 21 reservists from all of our forces (army, air force and navy), all ranked captain to lieutenant colonel, came over to the States. In September there will be 21 American reservists going over to Germany for exchange."

Captain Keller, along with her fellow German officers, first travelled to Washington, D.C. for a tour of the nation's capital. After visiting some of the country's most historic sites, they were scattered across the United States to their host units.

"Since all those reservists are specialized in something, the responsible person at the Pentagon and at the Streitkraefteamt (those who planned the whole trip) had figured out which place would be of the highest benefit to both the German reservist and the American counterpart," said the captain.

For Captain Keller, the right place was the 315th AW, according to Capt. Wayne Capps, 315th AW public affairs officer, who volunteered to host a foreign exchange officer.

Captain Keller works in the Presse-und Informationszentrum def Luftwaffe (Germany's version of public affairs). She got an in-depth look at the wing's public affairs programs - from media events to television and radio interviews to base tours. She also learned about the wing's mission.

"I just wanted her to leave with a sense of understanding of what we do and how we do it," said Captain Capps.

Captain Keller joined her country's air force reserve in 2004. She had to overcome challenges because women have only been allowed to serve in the German armed forces since 2001.

"Not many women have made it in there yet," she said. "And there are even fewer ranked officers. Women join voluntarily since there is no draft for women as it is for men."

These obstacles didn't stop the determined journalist from doing her duty.

"I thought that was a very interesting opportunity to learn something new and serve my country - so I gladly accepted," she said. "I've never regretted it and look where it took me."

Captain Capps said he has learned as much from Captain Keller as she has learned from her American hosts.

"I learned how different the German air force is compared to ours and how their public affairs programs differ," he said. "This joint exchange of ideas is mutually beneficial for both countries. The more we do programs like this the more it will help each organization grow." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)