FEATURE
COMMUNITY
FEATURE
LIFESTYLES
Trust between nations strengthened by international camaraderie, Page 5
GACO a tie binding local GermanAmerican relations, Page 8
Operation Allied Force, Shining Hope, Page 10
Kaiserslautern swings during Barbarossa Fest, Page 14
August 30, 2019 | Volume 43, Number 34
Read the KA online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
New commander takes lead at Lajes Field Story and photos by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, PORTUGAL Col. Beth Graboritz assumed command of the 65th Air Base Group from Col. Travis Leighton, at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, on Aug. 22. Brig. Gen. Mark R. August, 86th Airlift Wing commander, presided over the ceremony. “There’s a new commander ready to grab the guidon, to show Lajes can go in new directions and new avenues,” said August. Graboritz received her commission upon graduation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1995. August said Graboritz brings a different perspective to the command, as well as new energy and was the most qualified person to do the job. Prior to Graboritz’s current position she led the Directorate of Operations Cyber Division for United States Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. After the change of command, Airmen from the 65th ABG, host nation civilians and Portuguese military members welcomed Graboritz U.S. Air Force Col. Beth Graboritz, 65th Air Base Group commander, receives a guidon from U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark R. August, 86th Airlift Wing commander, See COMMANDER, Page 2
during a change of command ceremony at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, on Aug. 22. Graboritz accepted her new position in front of 65th ABG Airmen and host nation personnel.
ASECAF for Manpower, Reserve Affairs seeks input at Ramstein Story & photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Bass 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs The Honorable Shon J. Manasco, Headquarters Air Force Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, visited Ramstein Air Base, Aug. 21-22. Manasco spoke to Airmen about
the new officer promotion system and learned about how Ramstein Airmen accomplish the mission. Manasco hosted a town hall where he explained the new Officer Development Categories and answered company and field grade officers’ questions about how the new promotion system will affect their careers.
“We have been engaging with the leaders at CORONA about how it is we maximize officer development going forward,” Manasco said. “We’ve done a lot of really good work in the Air Force of laying out the Air Force we need, to deliver what the National Defense Strategy asks of us.” The new system streamlines line
officer promotions by segregating officer AFSCs into similar promotion categories. In these brackets, officers compete for promotion. The new system aligns officer AFSCs into one of six categories: Air Operations and Special Warfare, Space Operations, Nuclear See MANPOWER, Page 6