Story and photos by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs March 15, 2024
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman D’Andre Goodson, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, prepares an ANDROS F6 robot to inspect a training unexploded ordnance at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 6, 2024. A cordon was established by the 86th Security Forces Squadron while the 786th CES EOD inspected UXO as part of Operation Varsity 24-1, a quarterly base readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain)
Team Ramstein completed its first iteration of Operation Varsity, OV 24-1, for the year after a busy week of training at Ramstein Air Base, March 8.
This iteration was a continuation of OV 23-2 from May, 2023, focusing on testing the base’s readiness to operate in dispersed locations as well as our emergency response on base.
“OV 24-1 is a combined effort from the 86th Airlift Wing Inspector General office and wing inspection teams to evaluate our wing’s ability to survive and operate in a contested environment,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kai Gose, 86th AW IG readiness planner.
The 86th Airlift Wing’s first responders participate in a simulated mass casualty scenario during Operation Varsity 24-1, a readiness exercise at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 5, 2024. The scenario simulated a chemical missile attack to see how well first responders could provide assistance while wearing mission-oriented protective posture gear. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain)
Agencies from around base fired on all cylinders to push their Airmen throughout a week of simulated conventional air, ground, chemical and cyber attacks meanwhile the 86th AW’s airlift operations continued its mission in various locations, after dispersing its C-130J Super Hercules fleet around U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
“We made a lot of strides in practicing Agile Combat Employment and learned what it’s going to look like for the future of the mobility community,” said Capt. Dave Carruth, 86th AW IG, director of inspections. “We focused on what command and control looks like between our dispersed assets and home station. We learned how we need to communicate with our geographically separated units while Ramstein AB is under emergency situations.”
While OV 24-1 was held primarily to meet annual readiness training requirements for the 86th AW, there was also an active shooter scenario that incorporated the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and 521st Air Mobility Wing, making this multi-wing exercise a unique combination between readiness and emergency management procedures.
A U.S. Air Force 86th Medical Group medic, right, provides first aid to a simulated mass casualty scenario victim, left, during Operation Varsity 24-1, a readiness exercise at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 5, 2024. Agencies across Ramstein AB engaged in multiple exercise scenarios throughout a week of simulated conventional air, ground, chemical and cyber attacks to test the 86th Airlift Wings readiness capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain)
“The main takeaway from the exercise is that the 86th AW and our mission partners are postured for success,” said Gose. “We’re more focused than ever on improving readiness and our ACE tactics in the future.”
OV 24-2 is scheduled for later this summer and will focus on testing emergency management capabilities.
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 86th Security Forces Squadron respond to an active shooter drill during Operation Varsity 24-1, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 7, 2024. An actor from the 86th SFS shot blank rounds inside the 435th Contingency Response Group building to test the 86th SFS, 86th Medical Group and 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department’s emergency response and recovery capabilities during an active shooter scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain)
A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 86th Security Forces Squadron rushes to clear the building during an active shooter drill during Operation Varsity 24-1, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 7, 2024. After an actor shot blank rounds, the 86th SFS was tasked with neutralizing the shooter, clearing the building, and providing first aid to the victims until the 86th Medical Group and 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Dept arrived to continue providing care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jennifer Campos, top, and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tamara Bass, bottom, 86th Security Forces Squadron members, respond to an active shooter drill during Operation Varsity 24-1, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 7, 2024. Campos and Bass were part of a group of 86th SFS members surrounding the 435th Contingency Response Group building while other members were inside nuetralizing the threat and finding survivors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain)
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 86th Security Forces Squadron, 86th Medical Group and 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department provide first aid while responing to an active shooter drill during Operation Varsity 24-1, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 7, 2024. The active shooter drill is a semi-annual codification that the 86th Airlift Wing must complete to assess emergency management and response readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Zarcariaous Presha, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron post-attack reconnaissance sweep team member, inspects a simulated chemical agent detection paper during Operation Varsity 24-1 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 5, 2024. On day one of OV 24-1, Ramtein AB experienced simulated chemical and missile attacks to test agencies on their emergency response readiness and agile combat employment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Bertain)
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