FEATURE
86 MXS, 86 AMXS repair broken wings, Page 6
FEATURE
786 CES unsung heroes help KMC, Page 7
NEWS
B-1 lands in Poland for first time, Page 10
March 19, 2021 | Volume 45, Number 11
NEWS
2 ASOS hosts exercise Agile Fury 21, Pages 12-13
LIFESTYLE
Virtual Explorer: 7 great sites in Spain, Pages 24-25
Read the KA online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
Ramstein conducts large-scale ACE exercise Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Kirby Turbak 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Members of the 86th Airlift Wing participated in an Agile Combat Employment exercise across Europe, March 12. ACE prepares the U.S. Air Force and its partners for potential short-notice contingencies by posturing Airmen from a variety of career fields at multiple locations to respond to a wide array of military operations. “ACE exercises are designed to challenge our well-known warfighting paradigm in the name of a lighter, leaner, more agile force,” said Maj. Brad Breedlove, 86th AW ACE team lead. “For Team Ramstein, this exercise aimed to include more than just launching aircraft.” Breedlove explained the rapid mobilization capabilities that See ACE EXERCISE, Page 2
Ramstein Airmen participate in an Agile Combat Employment exercise at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium, March 12. ACE prepares the U.S. Air Force and its partners for potential short-notice contingencies by posturing Airmen and aircrew at multiple locations to respond to the spectrum of military operations.
Women in watercolor: Paintings honor, represent women in uniform by 1st Lt. Shelby Chapman 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Cary Smith, local artist and military spouse, perfectly captures the power of female Airmen and Soldiers in her recent watercolor collection. The display, which honors women in uniform, is available for viewing in the lobby of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa headquarters building until the end of March. Photo by Master Sgt. Nicholas Filip, 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
A collection of 17 watercolor portraits of women in uniform and their stories of courage, perseverance, success and triumph are on display in honor of Women’s History Month. After two weeks of impressing visitors in the 86th Airlift Wing headquarters building, the collection will spend March 16-31 in the lobby of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa headquarters building. Cary Smith, an artist and military spouse, created the Women
Service Members Paintings collection as a way to honor the many contributions women have made to the armed forces throughout the decades. “I’ve been inspired by many women who serve in the Air Force over the years,” Smith said. “Their drive and commitment to something greater than themselves has always made me think of them as fierce and courageous. I wanted to use my talents to tell their story — one that has never been easy.” Smith intends to educate and inspire younger generations to follow their career aspirations,
no matter their gender. “Historically speaking, there aren’t many portraits of women in uniform to inspire current and future generations of females,” Smith said. “Young girls should be able to see themselves serving in the armed forces as a viable career choice without hesitation or intimidation.” The watercolor collection, a project she began in December 2020, features a mix of 17 enlisted and officer females from 15 different career fields representing different services. See PAINTINGS, Page 3
