Kaiserslautern American - March 5, 2021

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FEATURE

ACE Academy creates flexible Airmen, Page 8

NEWS

Air Force uniform updates, Page 10

FEATURE

NEWS

RHCE chief of staff reflects on 30 years of service, Page 17

Fresh face in Rheinland-Pfalz housing office, Page 18

March 5, 2021 | Volume 45, Number 9 by United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Public Affairs

LIFESTYLE

Virtual Explorer: 5 great sites in France, Pages 24-25

Read the KA online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com

USAFE completes CJADC2 demonstration

U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, in conjunction with the Department of the Air Force’s Chief Architect’s Office, conducted a Combined, Joint All-Domain Command and Control demonstration this past week in international waters and airspace in and around the Baltic Sea. Participation included assets from U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, U.S. Army Europe – Africa, U.S. Strategic Command, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Polish Air Force. This demonstration was designed to test and observe the ability of the joint force, our allies and partners to integrate and provide command and control across multiple networks to multiple force capabilities. “Conducting a complex and real-world focused CJADC2 demonstration allowed our joint and allied team to find areas where we can innovate with systems we already have and also to identify

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, is refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, during a mission over the Black Sea, Jan. 14. U.S. military operations in the Black Sea enhance regional stability, combined readiness and capability with our NATO allies and partners. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez

See CJADC2, Page 3

Air Force Assistance Fund campaign starts soon by 2nd Lt Ridge Miller 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs The annual Air Force Assistance Fund campaign officially kicked off Monday. Locally, Ramstein Air Base plans to run their giving campaign from March 15 to April 23. The AFAF raises money for four charities that take care of Airmen, Guardians, and their families. The Air Force Enlisted Village, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, the Air Force Villages Charitable

Foundation, and the Air Force Aid Society. “Though there are thousands of worthy charities to give to, this is the only official Department of the Air Force campaign that is ‘for us, by us’.” said Bill D’Avanzo, Air Force fundraising chief. “This year’s theme is “For Airmen and Guardians, by Airmen and Guardians.” The AFAF supports active-duty, eligible Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen, as well as retirees, spouses, immediate family members and surviving family

members of deceased retirees. Airmen and Guardians may make donations by visiting the AFAF website and clicking the donate button. Members may contribute via e-check, debit or credit card. To donate with a paper check, a donation form is available on the site, which can be filled out, printed, and mailed in along with the check. If the donor is a retiree, a payroll deduction plan is also available. D’Avanzo said key workers in every squadron will contact members eligible to give, but if you

have not been contacted, reach out to your Airman & Family Readiness Center’s Air Force Aid Society Officer. They will also be able to get you in touch with the Installation Project Officer if you haven’t been contacted. He added because the AFAF is a “for us, by us” campaign, key workers and unit project officers are limited to soliciting donations from uniformed Department of the Air Force and retired members; however, civilians and contractors who would like to donate may do so by cash

or check where accepted, or by using the e-Giving platform. Last year’s campaign raised $2.13 million toward the charities, even as the pandemic shutdowns were just starting the week after the campaign began. This year’s goal is to raise a collective $4.5 million. “It’s difficult for our campaign workers to go desk-todesk with so many members teleworking, and it’s just not safe to do so in this COVID See ASSISTANCE FUND, Page 2


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