Aug 17, 2012 - Kaiserslautern American

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HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?

August 17, 2012

Volume 36, number 33

Team Ramstein hosts international jump week by Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Six countries provided more than 150 paratroopers to participate in International Jump Week hosted by the 435th Contingency Response Group from Sunday to today near Ramstein. The paratroopers came from the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.S. Air Force and Army and jumped from two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and one C-17 provided from the Heavy Airlift Wing from Papa Air Base, Hungary. “International Jump Week is an opportunity for U.S. and partner forces to get together for five or six days here,” said Col. Mark Visconi, 435th Contingency Response Group commander. “We practiced jumps into Alzey, Germany, to trade tactics, techniques and procedures as well as build partnerships between multiple forces.” The 435th CRG hosts the event with help from members of various Air Force and Army units in the area. “The Contingency Response Group hosts this event, but we have members from all across the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing. There is a significant amount of planning between aircrews, and personnel,” Visconi said. “The 37th Airlift Squadron and the Heavy Airlift Wing brought the aircraft here. There’s also coordination with our See JUMP, Page 7

Photo by Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes

A German paratrooper attempts to pull his chute in after landing in a field during International Jump Week 2012 Wednesday in Alzey, Germany. Members of six NATO countries came together to trade jump tactics and techniques and got the opportunity to earn the other nation’s jump wings.

New USAFE commander shares priorities, gets personal

Ramstein Welfare Bazaar

Sept. 13 to 16 in hangars 1 & 2, giant tent

27 DAYS Hosted by the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses Club

Visit www.ramsteinbazaar.org

ing mission requirements and dwindling resources. Breedlove comes to USAFE from Washington, D.C., where he served as vice chief of staff of the Air Force and was responsible for a broad set of requirements and responsibilities. He managed major acquisition programs, such as Joint Strike Fighter and the LongRange Strike Bomber. No matter the project, his focus remained on accomplishing

the Air Force mission in a constrained fiscal environment with limited resources. “I think my past assignment will help me make decisions here at USAFE and also help me interact with our NATO partners” he said. “I have a good understanding of the priorities of the chief and secretary of the Air Force.” The general said there will be no immediate changes in USAFE, but said his priorities

LIFESTYLES

Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, new U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, outlined his priorities, vision, challenges and personal experiences during an interview Aug. 8 on Ramstein. “I am so proud of this command — our Airmen have accomplished so much in these past three years,” said

Breedlove who left Ramstein in 2009 after serving as 3rd Air Force commander. “We have an incredibly huge mission here, taking care of two vastly different combatant commands in EUCOM and AFRICOM, on two huge continents spanning over 100 countries.” As fiscal constraints continue to be a concern throughout the Air Force, USAFE leadership is faced with balanc-

FEATURES

by 1st Lt. Christine Guthrie U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs

Fence removal symbolic of joint unity, Page 12

Kaiserslautern Classics, Page 17

fall into three areas: mission, Airmen and families. “Mission is first. Secondly, I truly believe the Airmen are our primary weapon system. Many nations in the world have great air forces; many nations in our world may rival us as our Air Force gets smaller, but no nation in the world has the Airmen that we have,” Breedlove said.

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See COMMANDER, Page 3

As of Aug. 14

561


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