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Ramstein leadership held all-calls across the 86th Airlift Wing this week reviewing the accomplishments of 2019 and presenting mission objectives moving forward into the new year.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark R. August, 86th AW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Ernesto J. Rendon, 86th AW command chief, spoke to Airmen of the 65th Air Base Group at Lajes Field, Portugal, Jan. 21, and Airmen on Ramstein, Jan. 23, to highlight mission priorities and commander’s intent.
“This is my favorite commander’s call of the year,” August said. “This is the one time the chief and I get an opportunity to talk to all of you and say, ‘This is what you do that leads to the bigger mission: the mission of the base, the mission of the wing, the mission of the command, and the air power options we offer to the United States Air Force.’”
The all-calls allowed August and Rendon to discuss professional airlift operations and the capabilities Ramstein and its geographically separated units provide based on their strategic locations.
“Just about any mission that needs to be done happens either at, through or with the support of the 86th Airlift Wing,” Rendon said. “It’s Airmen like you, experts in everything you do, that enable us to provide professional airlift support here at the ‘Gateway to the World.’ GSUs – including Lajes, which is one of the largest platforms we’ve got in the middle of the Atlantic – create the North Atlantic Air Bridge, giving us the ability to flow 30-day surge operations without fuel resupply.”
Leadership also detailed the need and benefit of joint and coalition partner engagement.
The 86th AW demonstrates engagement with operations such as exercises to show allies, friends and partners that the wing is able to provide support through aeromedical evacuation capabilities, August said. We have an alert, responsive critical care team that can fly individuals anywhere in the world to get them the definitive care needed.
Ready, resilient Airmen bring the skills necessary to execute these critical missions.
“One of the top priorities General August arrived here with was increasing and improving our readiness posture,” Rendon said. “Peace is taken for granted by many people, but it’s something you and I work for every day. It’s the fact that we’re trained, ready and prepared … that make this installation resilient and able to continue operations, regardless of an adversary’s intent.”
During their trip to Lajes, August and Rendon met with key personnel at several base facilities and received hands-on demonstrations of the installation’s mission capabilities. They were able to engage with Airmen and recognize the hard work they put in every day.
“The chief and I love visiting organizations across the 86th Airlift Wing because we get out to Airmen and their mission,” August said. “We hear their concerns, share their stories and participate in their mission. And it’s just as important for the Airmen to see us, the command team responsible for their morale, discipline, well-being and resourcing. We can’t command from our offices – we need to be there.”
This year, the focus will be to build upon and continue support for contingency operations, maintaining the highest state of readiness to help allies and deter adversaries, further develop leadership, and take care of Airmen and their families.
“2020 has already presented so many incredible opportunities for all of us to exercise our abilities as United States Air Force Airmen,” August said. “It’s an honor to lead an organization like the ‘World’s Best Wing,’ for as long as the chief and I have had the opportunity to do so. We look forward to seeing you all doing these amazing things.”
