SAFETY
HOUSING
LIFESTYLES
SPORTS
Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape!, Page 3
Baumholder housing manager attends Army symposium, Page 8
Ramstein celebrates German Thanksgiving, Page 14
Ramstein stays unbeaten in golf, looking ahead to Euros, Page 17
October 4, 2019 | Volume 43, Number 39
Read the KA online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
Ramstein wraps up Operation Varsity 19-03 by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 86th Security Forces Squadron perform self aid and buddy care procedures during an Operation Varsity 19-03 scenario at Ramstein Air Base, Sept. 24.
Thracian Fall 2019 exercise kicks off in Bulgaria
A Bulgarian jumper performs a static-line jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft over Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Sept. 24. The military free-fall course is a central focus of Thracian Fall 2019.
The third iteration of exercise Operation Varsity wrapped up Sept. 27, after an event-filled week of training. Base agencies on Ramstein and Vogelweh Military Complex fired on all cylinders to push their Airmen throughout the week. Operation Varsity 19-03 extended beyond the KMC by including the 86th Airlift Wing’s geographically separated units in Spain, Portugal and Belgium. “The Airmen here and at Morón AB, Lajes Field, and Chièvres AB did a great job reacting to scenarios that test our abilities and readiness,” said Col. Matt Husemann, 86th Airlift Wing vice commander. “We’ll continue to get even better as we prepare See OPERATION VARSITY, Page 10
Story & photos by Staff Sgt. Kirsten Brandes 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PLOVDIV, BULGARIA Airmen and aircraft from the 37th Airlift Squadron arrived at Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Sept. 23, to kick off exercise Thracian Fall 2019. Thracian Fall is a recurring flying training deployment conducted between the U.S. Air Force and the Bulgarian air force, and is meant to develop and maintain interoperability with Bulgarian partner forces. This iteration is set to include a military free-fall course, including both static-line and high altitude, low opening (HALO) jumps. The 37th AS will be providing primary airlift support for Bulgarian special forces personnel completing the course. See THRACIAN FALL, Page 2