Kaiserslautern American, April 11, 2014

Page 1

HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?

April 11, 2014

Volume 38, number 14

435th CRG: melting pot of Airmen Story and photo by Senior Airman Hailey Haux 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

W

ith three squadrons and 45 separate Air Force Specialty Codes dedicated to expeditionary operations, being ready to deploy within a moment’s notice means the 435th Contingency Response Group has an uncommon mission in the Air Force. Airmen from the 435th CRG play an important role as U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa’s premier “forward, ready, now” force that opens expe-

ditionary airfields and bridges the gap to air expeditionary forces. “The CRG executes shortterm, combat-ready and flexible missions, providing force protection, airborne airfield assessment, and expeditionary airfield operations and much more,” said Tech. Sgt. Lindy Mehaffy, 435th Air Mobility Squadron loadmaster. One of the core capabilities of the CRG is the ability to go to a bare-bone site and create a smooth, operating airfield for the Air Force to conduct its missions. By utilizing Airmen from the 435th See 435TH CRG, Page 3

Airmen from the 435th Construction and Training Squadron show Lithuanian and Bosnian military members how to rescue a victim from a tall building during the Firefighters Fundamentals Course. With three squadrons, 45 separate Air Force Specialty Codes, 40 Building Partnership Capacity missions a year and being ready within a moment’s notice to forward deploy, the 435th Contingency Response Group has an uncommon mission in the Air Force.

Housing flight builds foundation of excellence Soldiers, polizei train on convoy operations Story and photo by Airman Dymekre Allen 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

T

See EXCELLENCE, Page 9

See TRAINING, Page 6

Andreas Schmal (left), 86th Civil Engineer Squadron housing inspector, and Diana Keener, 86th CES facilities chief of housing, work together to help service members gather housing information April 3 on Vogelweh.

SPORTS

Spring is here, and that means more bicycles and motorcycles will be on the road. Stay focused while driving, and keep our fellow travelers safe.

tional customer support at any Air Force installation. “We try to provide the best housing we can by ensuring we maintain our living facilities,” said Diana Keener, 86th CES facilities chief

American and German soldiers teamed up on Baumholder’s Military Training Area March 24 to 27 to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures associated with convoy operations. With a German SWAT team providing all the explosions and smoke, members of the 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 30th Medical Brigade and the 950th Bundeswehr Tactical Psychological Operations unit ran the gauntlet of force protection procedures in a convoy environment. For four days, both armies faced and reacted to everything from simulated improvised explosive device explosions to sniper fire as they conducted convoys on Baumholder’s MTA. “We were working alongside the German forces, learning their tactics as far as reacting to IEDs or incoming fire, indirect and direct,” said Pfc. Noah Speers, health care specialist assigned to

HEALTH

Tip of the Week

by Ignacio “Iggy” Rubalcava U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder Public Affairs

FEATURES

he 86th Civil Engineer Squadron housing flight was awarded the 2013 Brig. Gen. Michael A. McAuliffe Award for housing excellence. This award recognizes the best housing flight in the Air Force for the fiscal year. “It’s great to be honored,” said Debbie Perez, 86th CES housing flight chief. “It’s a validation to me and my team that we do outstanding work in the KMC.” The annual award is in remembrance of McAuliffe, retired Tactical Air Command and Air Combat Command civil engineer, who devoted 30 years of service to civil engineering. In order to receive this prestigious award, a housing unit must display ideal housing services, excellent management and excep-

Fire department burns through competition, Page 8

HAWC makes healthy lifestyles easy, Page 21

95th MP Bn. builds resiliency with tourney, Page 26


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.