April 24, 2015
Kaiserslautern American
Page 1
HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?
April 24, 2015
Volume 39, number 16
US drops first CDS at Polish Air Base
A container delivery system lands at Powidz Air Base, Poland, April 15. Approximately 130 service members throughout Europe along with Airmen from the 302nd Airlift Wing, arrived at Powidz to train alongside their Polish counterparts as part of an aviation detachment rotation.
Story and photo by Senior Airman Jonathan Stefanko 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland — For the first time, a container delivery system was airdropped by the 37th
Airlift Squadron onto Powidz Air Base, Poland April 15 during an aviation detachment rotation. The CDS is a method to drop supplies from an aircraft to ground personnel. Supplies are loaded onto a delivery system, and then airdropped
from the aircraft onto specific landing zones with the help of a cargo parachute. “Being part of a team to be the first to drop this type of cargo at Powidz is truly amazing,” said Airman 1st Class Brandon Ravenell, 37th AS loadmaster. “I didn’t find
out until after the drop that we were the first, and to know we are setting the pace for future training is great.” The ability to airdrop supplies onto landing zones is a critical component to resupplying ground troops. Now able to incorporate the CDS training at Powidz, the 37th AS Airmen hope to hone this skill during future training. “We used to have to fly to an off-site location to airdrop CDS bundles and that could be a hassle for the guys driving long distances to collect and bring back,” Ravenell said. “Now it takes only minutes to reach the drop zone, making it easier on everyone involved and allowing more time to train.” While it is an invaluable capability for the 37th AS Airmen to practice, their Polish counterparts have a lot to gain here as well. “I love to see training done here more often,” said Polish air force St. Chor. Jarostaw
Koztowski, 33rd Air Base loading zone survey manager. “I have been working with the U.S. military for four years now during the rotations and every single year it has gotten better. The experience gained is greatly appreciated and since we can’t have an American team here full time, these flying training deployments are very valuable to us.” Though it took two years to accomplish, the allied nations look to the future of what can be done at Powidz. “I hope we will be able to start dropping heavy equipment like generators or vehicles,” Ravenell said. “The training here is already fantastic and is only improving as the years continue. I can’t wait to do it again.” As the training concluded April 17, the U.S. and Polish airmen take time together to reflect on the skills they gained, the milestones they completed and the friendships made.
Ramstein students dive into Earth Day Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Tryphena Mayhugh 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs The 86th Airlift Wing Flight Safety Office provided a Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard demonstration April 16 for Ramstein Middle School students. The show was one of several events for the sixth-grade students leading up to Earth Day, April 22. The demonstrations included education on how the peregrine falcon catches and eats
food and is used to prevent birds from interfering with aircraft as they take off and land on the flight line. Earth Day is celebrated each year around the world to spread awareness of the needs of the environment and to educate people on what they can do to help. The bird’s handler, an 86th AW Flight Safety Office falconer, presented two falcons for the demonstration, bringing each one around for the students to see
A peregrine falcon from the 86th Airlift Wing Flight Safety Office Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program eats a piece of meat he caught out of the air as a part of the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard demonstration presented for Earth Day April 16 on Ramstein. The show was performed for sixth-grade students from Ramstein Middle School.
See Earth Day, Page 2
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Ramstein spouses attend resilience training, Page 3
Man commemorates father, Operation Valkyrie, Page 10
Chris Lytle brings MMA to KMC, Page 28