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From the first uncertain moment a service member and their family arrive in the Kaiserslautern Military Community to the day they pack up their bags and head to their next duty station, the 86th Civil Engineer Group is hard at work ensuring their home, workplace and facilities are ready to support them.
By maintaining mission critical systems, building infrastructures, and providing emergency response services, the Airmen of the 86th CEG form the foundation of Ramstein’s readiness.
“Our mission is to prepare engineers to operate and maintain the Global Gateway to make it ready for whatever operations need to be staged out of here,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Paul Fredin, 86th CEG commander.
Laying the groundwork for mission success
The 86th CEG sustains a wide range of infrastructure that powers daily operations across base and multiple installations within the KMC.
Airmen maintain heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems during the hottest days of summer, as well as ensure on-base facilities, both new and old alike, are sustained.
Their diligent work keeps every part of the base functional and ready to respond when called upon.
Supporting Airmen and Families at Home
Quality of life starts with the place personnel and their families call home, which the 86th CEG plays a pivotal role in. For Airmen and their families arriving in Germany, it can take weeks before household goods are delivered. To bridge that gap, the furnishings management section provides 90-day loaned furniture sets for both on and off-base housing.
Photo by Senior Airman Jared Lovett
“Housing and furnishings management are always working with us, and it makes the transition here much easier for families,” said Senior Airman Gavin McCloud, 721st Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist.
Other appliances such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators, adapted to European voltage, are offered for the remainder of their stay, helping households feel complete from day one.
Dorm residents also benefit from ongoing quality-of-life upgrades, such as fan installations, maintenance support and open lines of communication with dorm Airmen. Together, these efforts allow Airmen to live comfortably and focus on the mission.
“Having the essentials ready when you arrive such as beds, washers and dryers removes so much stress,” said McCloud. “It really feels like a home away from home.”
When Airmen have their home lives in check, it leaves them responsive and reliable, ready to excel in their work and training, which is also a cornerstone of the 86th CEG’s impact.
Prepared to fight: Prime BEEF training
Ramstein’s Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force CE Airmen ensure their troops are in compliance through training and exercising for various emergency management, tactical maneuvering, expeditionary scenarios.
“Prime BEEF ensures Airmen are ready to deploy and execute wartime tasks,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Casey Cooper, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron section chief of expeditionary engineering. “We want them to take it seriously. You don’t want the first time you build a base or react under fire to be in combat. Training builds speed, confidence and readiness.”
Safeguarding the community through fire, emergency services
Behind the scenes, the 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department safeguards the community through prevention programs, emergency response and readiness training. With seven fire stations supporting 16 installations, their mission is to protect lives and property while educating residents on how to react under pressure.
“Most people aren’t prepared for emergencies,” said Kenneth Helgerson, KMC fire chief. “Our role is to give them training and confidence so they can respond effectively when it matters most.”
The fire department conducts fire inspections, ensures alarms work and verifies evacuation plans which gives residents confidence and certainty that where they live and work is safe. With this confidence, it enables them to make sure the mission can be accomplished both at the home base and abroad.
Readiness and the ability to rapidly deploy under any circumstance is a necessity for all Airmen. Being the “Global Gateway” means more than having an open and operational runway. Engineers work around the clock to create multi-capable experts that help power projection globally.
“Our philosophy is summed up in three pillars: construct anything, catch everything and train everyone,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan King, 435th Fire and Emergency Services noncommissioned officer in charge of contingency training. “That captures our total capabilities. Building bases, ensuring aircraft recovery and training the next generation of warfighters.”
86th CEG leaves a lasting Impact
From furnishings and fire responses to infrastructure and expeditionary training, the 86th CEG provides the foundation that allows Ramstein to live, work and operate every day.
Their efforts not only keep the KMC running smoothly, but also ensures U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa can deliver combat power whenever and wherever it is needed.
