Exercise readies Ramstein

Capt. Jenny Lovett
Kaiserslautern American


***image1***Team Ramstein participated in an Operational Readiness Exercise this
week – the first of many exercises to prepare Ramstein for the first
Phase II Operational Readiness Inspection in almost a decade.

Nearly 300 Airmen from the 435th Air Base Wing and the 86th Airlift
Wing deployed for “Wing Lightning” to tent city on the southside of the
runway, and approximately 100 Airmen from the 86th Contingency Response
Group and the 86th Air and Space Communications Group performed
operations at an old Air Force airfield at Zweibrücken.

“These exercises are about learning the trade and building a foundation
for valuable skills that folks need when they deploy,” said Col. Rob
Kane, 86th Airlift Wing and KMC commander. “The overall goal is an
“Outstanding” performance during the spring ORI but this week, we were
concentrating on establishing the individual expectations.”

The ORE scenario, borrowed from the real world U.S. African Missions in
Sudan, required the wings to move peacekeeping troops into a hostile
environment and restore operations after enemy attacks.

Ramstein underwent a no-notice Phase I ORI in July, one week prior to a
U.S. Air Forces in Europe Unit Compliance Inspection, and are planning
monthly OREs in preparation for the April ORI.