Twitter
Facebook
The Global Gateway at Ramstein Air Base saw an increase in mission taskings, responsibilities, and support levied by our 86th Airlift Wing, mission partners, and allies throughout 2023. The 86th AW excelled in their mission to defend U.S. interests, project power, and enable the global gateway via operations, logistics, support, and morale. In the 86th AW, every function shines as their contribution directly impacts the 56,000 Americans Ramstein AB supports throughout the Kaiserslautern Military Community.
The 86th AW mission is carried out in four geographic locations spread across Europe – Ramstein AB in Germany, Lajes Field in the Azores, Portugal, Morón AB in Spain, and Chièvres AB in Belgium. The 86th AW continued, as host wing, to provide base operating support to over 100 mission partners, including NATO Allied Air Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, 3rd Air Force, the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, and the U.S. Space Force.
Operations and logistics
Throughout 2023, the 86th Operations Group made major advances in their training opportunities as they increased interoperability with joint and multinational partners in aeromedical evacuation training environments. The British Royal Air Force flew in their A400M aircraft to train with 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron personnel. The RAF’s aircraft’s ability to use established and remote civilian and military airfields, with short unprepared or semi-prepared landing strips, enabled training focused on Agile Combat Employment.
The 86th OG also participated in several Flying Training Deployments in 2023, like August’s Thracian Summer and February’s Chasing Sol. During Chasing Sol, the wing partnered with NATO Ally Spain and local U.S. Army partner the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, to increase readiness and responsiveness to test NATO capabilities. Additionally, for the first time in over a decade, U.S. C-130J Super Hercules and personnel trained at the tactical air wing in Zaragoza, Spain, providing a new environment to exercise tactical airlift, landing and drop zones, and dropping various equipment and personnel, all with ACE concepts and enhanced interoperability via comprehensive logistical support.
In April, after years of behind-the-scenes coordination with medical and flight operations approval, the 86th AES made Air Force history with their first-ever paramedic-led flight comprised of an all-enlisted crew. Up until this flight, aeromedical evacuation flight crews always contained at least one commissioned nurse; now, an all-enlisted crew allows for aeromedical evacuation squadrons to use the emergency medicine field paramedics to provide care in the air.
Exercise Radiant Falcon in March partnered the 86th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron and the 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to practice skills and gain proficiency in radiological contamination detection and decontamination safety techniques. The exercise was a first for USAFE-AFAFRICA as further training and additional events are planned to continue expanding capabilities.
The 10th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron and their E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System provided command and control and continuous airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support to combatant commanders. The 10th EACCS, aligned under the 86th OG since 2019, flew missions in support of U.S. Air Force, NATO, and U.S. European Command priorities. In June, the 10th EACCS conducted the last active duty JSTARS mission from Ramstein.
In March, the 37th Airlift Squadron hosted NATO allies Germany and the Netherlands for a series of training events during International Interfly Week. All three countries utilized their aircraft to practice tactical airlift while integrating with one another.
The 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron continued to operationalize the base’s logistics footprint by training and performing wet-wing defueling operations. During the operations, fuel was removed from a U.S. C-130J aircraft and transferred to an R-11 aircraft refueling truck – while the aircraft engines were still running. Supporting ACE efforts, the process cuts time and increases proficiency in specialized fuel operations in contested conditions.
Exercise Defender 23 in June saw 86th AW medical personnel partner with NATO allies and sister services for exercises in Romania. Over 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from 26 Allied and partner nations demonstrated the American ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Eastern Europe.
The 86th AW executed continuous logistics support for the Eastern Flank and for two combatant commands. The wing’s war readiness materials garnered the attention and support of the Air Force Sustainment Center. The 86th Materiel Maintenance Squadron maintained the largest supply of war readiness materials in the major command.
Real-world events
The 86th AW played an active role in three Ukraine Defense Contact Groups in January, April and September. U.S Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley consulted with Allies and partners to provide additional support to the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracy. NATO counterparts and over 50 other nations attended the discussions.
In February, Türkiye suffered from a massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. The 86th AW immediately responded to aid in earthquake recovery efforts, flying cargo with medical equipment, supplies, and personnel via Ramstein’s C-130J aircraft.
Shortly after, in April the diplomatic situation in Sudan deteriorated to the point where U.S. forces conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation and brought U.S. personnel in Sudan to Ramstein before heading to the U.S for final resettling.
In the summer, Niger experienced a coup. During this time, their leadership was disposed, the U.S. presence in country was questioned and logistics reimagined. The disrupted supply chain and increased security measured challenged 86th AW operations but did not deter mission execution.
Entertainment
The 1. Football Club Kaiserslautern visited Ramstein AB to meet with leadership and fans. The visit fostered a closer partnership and future opportunities between the team and on-base organizations. The team’s visit was the first visit to the base since the 1970s.
The Harlem Globetrotters, a professional travelling basketball team, visited Ramstein to perform and play for the base community.
Additionally, Ramstein hosted the NATO AIRCOM basketball championship at the Southside Fitness Center, where military personnel from Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, and United States competed over four days with 3-on-3 matches.
In more basketball news, Ramstein hosted the Europe Military Basketball Association tournament, open to U.S. military basketball teams across Europe to compete for a spot to play at the championship in Colorado. A total of 12 teams from bases across Europe participated in the event.
Ramstein’s annual 59th Bazaar, an 86th Force Support Squadron event, was held in September. The largest DOD bazaar in the world took the proceeds generated roughly $250,000 and gave it back to the community in grants.
American football took center stage in the fall, starting with NFL cheerleaders and players from the Kansas City Chiefs. Then, for the first time, a two-game NFL series in Germany brought U.S. service members to American sports overseas. Finally, for Veterans Day, Ramstein hosted a tailgate party in a hangar for meet-and-greets with NFL players.
Allies, partners, community, and relationships
In February, Jones was coined, on behalf of Ramstein, by Thomas Hitschler, the parliamentary state secretary for the German Ministry of Defense. Hitschler expressed gratitude to Ramstein AB for continued support to host nation leaders as the Global Gateway.
In April, the 86th Medical Squadron celebrated 30 years of partnership with the U.S. Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
Another recognition of community support and collaboration, the German American Community Office celebrated 20 years of serving the KMC in May. The office provides support and services for the integration of American service members and their families into local German communities.
The enlisted community saw the opening of The Den, a multi-room space for Airmen near the dorms and dining facility on Ramstein. The focus on quality of life provides free access for sports, art, games and media, in addition to gathering spaces for personal and professional development. The Den was created by Airmen, for Airmen.
KMC transitions to MHS GENESIS
In September, the KMC formally transitioned to the new Military Health Systems GENESIS, an electronic health record system that serves as a single point of access to service members’ medical records. The 86th Medical Group worked tirelessly in the months leading up to the transition, offering public education and information about the transition.
Force generation developments
As the 86th AW continued to posture its mission and forces to adapt and implement Air Force Force Generation requirements, they exercised ACE concepts and Multi-Capable Airmen were developed at Ramstein. The wing’s Cross Functional Airlift Support Personnel Program incorporated various career fields to train airmen who can execute their mission in any deployed environment with minimal personnel and resources.
Wing milestones
The Deployment Transition Center celebrated helping more than 25,000 redeployers get home, readjust and get ready to reintegrate back home. Since their inception 13 years ago, the DTC provides a neutral area, physically and mentally, to adapt leaving their deployed environment and shifting their focus back to their home environment.
In June, a new wing was activated at Ramstein, the 406th Air Expeditionary. In December, the new U.S. Space Forces in Europe – Space Forces Africa was activated as a new component at Ramstein. SPACEFOREUR-AF will collaborate with EUCOM, U.S. Africa Command, NATO allies and partners, to integrate space efforts into shared operations, activities, and investments.
The 86th AW celebrated their 75th birthday this year. Additionally, the 76th Airlift Squadron celebrated their 80th anniversary.
Geographically separated units
At Lajes Field, Azores, their geographic location as the Atlantic’s premier strategic platform saw continued partnerships with our sister services and regular deployments from the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.
At Morón AB, airfield construction and routine Bomber Task Force deployments ensured mobility support continued.
Partnerships with local, service and multi-national allies ensured high-visibility missions continued at Chièvres AB, Belgium.
