FEATURE
FEATURE
LIFESTYLES
HEALTH
Squadron Commander course at Ramstein, Page 8
Baumholder Housing improvements focus on Soldiers’, families’ needs, Page 10
Weilerbach Wine Village, Page 14
What is a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event?, Page 16
August 16, 2019 | Volume 43, Number 32
Read the KA online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
86 VRS rolls onto virtual highway
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Williams, 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron assistant noncommissioned officer in charge of equipment support, operates the 86th VRS’ new vehicle simulator at Ramstein Air Base, Aug 7. The simulator trains VRS Airmen on a variety of vehicles and situations.
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Kirby Turbak 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Every day the U.S. Air Force becomes more accurate and advanced to make sure the mission is accomplished. They do this by innovating, managing equipment, reducing manpower, and reducing cost. Members of the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, are doing exactly that by acquiring a new driving simulator to train Airmen that aren’t familiar with German roads and weather conditions. The simulator was purchased with funds from the 2019 Squadron Innovation Fund award. The 86th VRS is responsible for operating and maintaining a variety of government-owned vehicles such as military vehicles, pickup trucks, police cars, transport vehicles, and specialpurpose vehicles. “Before the simulator, whenever we got new Airmen, we’d take them out on the road and get them familiar with See HIGHWAY, Page 2
86 MSG, CEG team up to increase child care options in KMC Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Taylor Slater 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs The 86th Mission Support Group and Civil Engineer Group recently joined forces to create the Key and Essential Family Child Care Provider Initiative. The initiative alleviates the wait for base housing and increases the number of child care providers in the Kaiserslautern Military Community by offering prioritized base housing at Ramstein, Landstuhl and Vogelweh for members who agree to become a certified Family Child Care provider.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kathryn Kilker, commander of the 86th Civil Engineer Squadron, said this initiative is one of the first of its kind in the Air Force. There are currently 8 Key and Essential Family Child Care Provider homes off base, and this initiative will add at least 10 more homes on base. Lt. Col. Natosha Reed, 86th Force Support Squadron commander, said this initiative is another great way to take care of military families. Reed said one of the ways FCC providers offer an advantage over Child Development Center care is they can See CHILD CARE, Page 6
A child shares a hug with her mother at Ramstein Air Base, Aug. 9. To provide more options for parents, the Key and Essential Family Child Care Provider Initiative was created as part of a Kaiserslautern Military Community-wide effort to support military families.