ADL: more than just a dorm leader

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Holly Mansfield
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Getting to a duty station fresh out of technical school, a young Airman might not know where to begin when it comes to moving in the dorms.

This is where the Dorm Reception Center steps in. Providing new Airmen with all the essential information for dorm life, Airmen Dorm Leaders help make the transition a little easier.

"We cover dorms on Ramstein and Kapaun," said Randi Stine, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron ADL. "We have 16 buildings with a total of 1,250 Airmen."

The 12 ADLs are responsible for helping these Airmen with their dorm needs. Along with this, the DRC offers different services to dorm residents.

"As far as services are concerned, we loan out carpet cleaners, vacuums, do a one for one exchange on lights just in case one goes out so they don't have to purchase them," said Stine. "They have work orders if they need anything fixed in their rooms."

The ADLs of the DRC also offer something any new Airmen could need; mentorship.

"I love working with Airmen," said Stine. "All of our ADLs are NCOs so we have a mentorship role we play. Giving the Airmen any information they need to have a successful career."

Being able to assist an Airman in need of help is something the ADLs enjoy doing. Seeing an Airmen come in with a problem and leave with a solution is gratifying to NCOs such as Stine.

"I enjoy when Airmen come to the DRC even when they just would like to talk," said Stine. "It gives them a safe place to talk outside of their unit and their supervisory chain, for them to just be able to learn and talk about their career. We help them with whatever questions they have."

By mentoring young Airmen so they can do better, the ADLs also teach the power of being a leader amongst their peers. The DRC has established leadership roles in each dorm.

"We have a bay chief program where there are one or two Airmen in each hallway of the dorms to make sure things are running smoothly," said Sine. "We also have our dorm council where each building has its own group and also an installation council. Airmen are able to run for presidency within those councils to help work one on one with ADLs to establish better ways to provide an improved living space for dorm residents."

The different councils are able to come up with different events like morale events and getting guest speakers or other services around the base to talk to members of the dorms to help build a better foundation for other Airmen.

Along with mentorship, ADLs and dorms councils are here to provide information that members of an Airman's unit might not know.

"We are here to make sure Airmen are getting the correct information so they can succeed while living in the dorms," said Master Sgt. Jerry Speraw, 86th CES unaccompanied housing superintendent.

To receive the correct information, an Airman can call the DRC at DSN: 480-3676 or stop by during their new operation hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. With new times for Airmen to stop by, dorm residents are able to get more of their issues solved.

Dorm life to mentorship, the ADLs of the Ramstein DRC are here to help giving new Airmen a better chance for success.