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Women’s Equality Day: Why it matters, Page 3
Ramstein Airmen share knowledge with Algerian airmen, Page 8
Troop Command welcomes new commander, Page 10
Sembach holds annual fair this weekend, Page 14
August 23, 2019 | Volume 43, Number 33
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Exercise Carpathian Fall 2019 strengthens allied partnership by Senior Airman Kristof J. Rixmann 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
OTOPENI AIR BASE, ROMANIA U.S. military personnel from the 86th Airlift Wing, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and U.S. Army 5th Quartermaster began an approximately two-weeklong exercise with Romanian forces in Otopeni, Romania, Aug. 19. Enhancing U.S. military readiness and strengthening the relationship with Romania, a NATO partner, are the focal points throughout exercise Carpathian Fall 2019. “Throughout the exercise, we’ll be accomplishing a few different things,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Ian Hall, Carpathian Fall project officer. “We’ll be increasing our interoperability between our Air Force and the Romanian Air Force. We’ll be discussing and exchanging ideas about tactics; we’ll see how they operate, demonstrate how we operate and then see
what we can learn from each other.” In addition, Hall said Carpathian Fall serves as an excellent opportunity to attain certifications and training that isn’t otherwise possible in Germany. “We’ll be engaging in a lot of lowlevel (altitude) and night-time training that we can’t do in Germany due to quiet hours restrictions,” said Hall. “As a result, we’ll be getting many certifications for approximately 20 U.S. personnel.” Carpathian Fall also provides numerous training opportunities for the Romanian Air Force. “The Romanian Air Force will partake in larger flying formations than they typically do,” said Hall. “In addition, Romanian paratroopers will be dropping from our aircraft so that gives them the chance to accomplish training they require.” In terms of readiness, Hall said Carpathian Fall is a necessary component in maintaining and strengthening
435th AGOW, AEW welcomes new commander
U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel C. Clayton, right, assumes command of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, from Maj. Gen. John M. Wood, Third Air Force commander, at Ramstein Air Base, Aug. 16. The two wings provide battlefield and expeditionary Airmen to combatant commanders. Photos by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton
Romanian and U.S. Air Force members look out the windshield of a C-130J Super Hercules while flying over Romania, Aug. 21. U.S. military members enhanced readiness and strengthened their relationship with Romania throughout exercise Carpathian Fall 2019. Photo by Staff Sgt. Kirby Turbak
the relationship with Romania. “Overall, to effectively carry out our mission at USAFE (United States Air Forces in Europe), we need to depend upon our partner nations because we’re guests in this area,” said Hall. “We need to be able to count on Romania just
as much as they need to count on us. Maintaining these kinds of relationships is important because if the time ever comes where we need to rely on each other, then we’ll already be prepared to work and communicate together in an efficient way.”
by 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
are forward deployed to Europe, they are forward deployed to Africa, and in most cases, we take them from their garrison and forward deploy them again.” Wood said. “I’ve seen him deliver perfection working high-level projects for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He can get the mission done, and he cares about people first and foremost.” Clayton presented his vision for the future of the 435th AGOW. “My vision for the wing is lean forward,” he said. “By lean forward, I mean be proactive. By lean forward, I mean recognize changes in your operating environment and have a bias for action. By lean forward, I mean strive to get incrementally better every day,
Members from the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and 435th Air Expeditionary Wing welcomed their new commander during an assumption of command ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Aug. 16. Col. Daniel C. Clayton assumed command of the two wings during a ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. John M. Wood, Third Air Force commander. Wood welcomed Clayton, highlighted the units’ legacy, and described the reason he felt the former A-10 pilot, forward air controller, joint terminal attack controller and weapons school instructor is the right fit for the future of the mission. “The men and women in front of us
See COMMAND, Page 2