Become the Director of Public Works for a Day: Step 2

By Walter Christian Mattil, USAG Ansbach Director of Public Works

ANSBACH, Germany (Dec. 17, 2015) — Agreed: Step 1 was a little laborious, but hopefully you have a feel for the enormity of the responsibilities of the Directorate of Public Works.

Now that you’ve got your foundation, let’s proceed to the other steps. I hope you find this fun and interesting.

Step 2: Meet Frau Waltraut Steinbauer

Steinbauer is a native Ansbacher, and she has worked for the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach and the Directorate of Public Works for 33 years! She worked on Hindenburg Kaserne until it closed and the DPW moved to Bismarck Kaserne. (By the way, Hindenburg Kaserne was demolished in the mid-1990s. The Brücken-Center shopping mall was built on the land where the Kaserne once stood — and DPW’s offices were where Saturn (the electronics store) now resides.

Waltraut remembers coming to Barton Kaserne when she was 12 years old. The kaserne was having a fest that day. She remembers that is the first time she ever had a sno-cone!

So, you may ask: Why in Step 2 is it important that you meet Frau Steinbauer?

Two very salient reasons:

Number 1: If the Directorate of Public works could be compared to a machine, it would be an incredibly complex apparatus consisting of a cacophony of moving parts. As the support services supervisor for the Directorate of Public Works, Waltraut is the “lubricant” that oils the machine. As the DPW, you’ll work closely with her as she works administrative actions, suspenses, meetings and requirements.

Number 2: When you are ready to turn in your submission for the competition, you’ll need to visit Steinbauer. When you give her your submission, she’ll take receipt, annotate your submission was received, and give every applicant a gift for their time and efforts. You’ll receive two items at this time: A gift from our self-help store and a coupon for use at the Ansbach Spouses & Civilians Club Thrift Store. Her office adjoins mine at Bismarck Kaserne, Bldg. 5843-A, at the end of the hall.

The formal deadline for submission of your proposal application packets will be addressed in additional steps … to be published in the very near future.

Are you still interested? Step 3 is coming … in the heart of the matter.

Editor’s note: Read the initial write-up HERE and Step 1 HERE.