Kaiserslautern American, August 25, 2017

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HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?

August 25, 2017

Volume 41, number 34

CSAF returns to Ramstein roots Story and photo by Tech. Sgt. Sharida Jackson 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Beep. Beep. Beep. A cashier scans items and sends them down the conveyor belt to the bagger. ‘Baggers work for tips only’ are the words displayed on signs near the registers. Baggers can range anywhere from teenagers to retirees. They might even go on to become four-star generals. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein recently visited the Ramstein Commissary, but this was not his first time here. As a teenager, he worked as a bagger in the 1970s while his family

Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein listens to Charlie Searchwell, commissary head bagger, Aug. 21 on Ramstein. As a teenager, Gen. Goldfein worked with Searchwell as a bagger at the Ramstein Commissary. Searchwell has worked at the commissary for nearly 50 years and has known Goldfein for more than 40 years. The CSAF passed through Ramstein on his way back to the states after visiting Airmen at various locations throughout the Middle East.

was stationed at Ramstein. “I remember working here,”

said Goldfein. “This was one of my first jobs and I’m thankful

to have had the opportunity to work with such great people.” During his youth at Ramstein, Goldfein worked for head Bagger Charlie Searchwell, who has worked at the commissary for nearly 50 years. Searchwell described Goldfein as hard working, friendly, and appreciative. “A lot of chiefs, colonels, and leaders come back,” Searchwell said. “They don’t forget their first job.” Goldfein and Searchwell embraced and chatted briefly upon seeing each other, reminiscing on their time spent working together. “He was a great boss,” Goldfein said. “He had high standards and wouldn’t put

up with folks not showing up on time.” Goldfein passed through Ramstein on his way back to the states after visiting Airmen at various installations across the Middle East. During the Ramstein visit, Goldfein met with baggers, greeted shoppers, and bagged groceries for customers with his former boss. Chief Master Sergeant Jackie Harris, 24th Intelligence Squadron superintendent, was stunned that the Air Force Chief of Staff himself was returning to his Ramstein roots as a bagger. “He’s down here bagging groceries, you rarely see that,” said Harris. “This is servant leadership at its best.”

Revitalizing Ramstein: The road to readiness

Ramstein 20 DAYS Bazaar until the bazaar! come shopping around the world

14 -17 September

www.RamsteinBazaar.org

Hangars 1 & 2 and the Giant Tent

Ramstein Air Base

LIFESTYLES

See READINESS, Page 5

Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, 86th Maintenance Squadron superintendent (right), conducts a visitation of his Airmen Aug. 10 on Ramstein. Personnel at Ramstein recently participated in the Air Force’s squadron revitalization data collection program, which aimed to gather information from installations across the Air Force on how to revitalize Air Force squadrons.

NEWS

Airmen across Ramstein Air Base support a massive mission every day, and its leadership is working hard to bolster mission readiness from top to bottom. The installation is the headquarters of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, and serves as the main thoroughfare for operations across Europe, Africa, and Central Asia. Ramstein’s host unit is the 86th Airlift Wing, which boasts seven groups and more than 30 squadrons. The base also hosts the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and the 521st

Air Mobility Operations Wing. With a mission of such magnitude, it’s no surprise many Airmen may find themselves stressed out, said Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, 86th Maintenance Squadron superintendent. “We work on aircraft that get older and older and break over time,” he said. “Juggling the work, training, and operations tempo is very hard. To add to that, we as an Air Force have a huge administrative burden on our supervisors to make sure computerbased training, enlisted performance reports, and enlisted professional military education are all completed in a timely manner.

NEWS

Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Joshua Magbanua 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

AMC commander visits 521st AMOW, Page 3

65th ABG welcomes new commander at Lajes, Page 6

Rockenhausen offers garden, flower market, Page 16


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