Kaiserslautern American
October 22, 2021 and living areas for evacuees during the operation. The unit often sends materiels to other bases, but this was the first time the 86th MMS had been largely hands-on with cargo of this scale. “I think it was really validating to be able to see it in person,” said 1st Lt. Rachel Hammes, 86th MMS assistant director of operations. “We were able to understand WSA’s hard work and see the physical result of it.” For the first time in 10 years, both the 86th MMS and WSA moved into 24-hour operations to support the Afghanistan evacuation. This proved to be a challenging task for some members of the WSA, who mainly deployed
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cargo requested by the 86th MMS, but the agency recognized the importance of the operation and volunteered to work extra hours. “They went so far above and beyond what they were required to do,” Hammes said. “They didn’t have to extend their shifts or work weekends, but they volunteered because they saw it as their mission.” A successful operation may necessitate enormous amounts of cargo, and together the 86th MMS and WSA have risen up to the task, deploying millions of materials to Ramstein to ensure Airmen and volunteers are equipped with enough materials to take care of evacuees.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Leslie Glandon, 86th Material Maintenance Squadron Civil Engineering Flight section chief, explains the interior of a unit type code at the Central Region Storage Facility in Sanem, Luxembourg, Oct. 12. Some of the supplies deployed to support operations during the Afghanistan evacuation efforts include beddown, power and heat capabilities, vehicles and other support equipment.
Michael Melone, Warehouses Service Agency carpenter, poses for a photo at the Central Region Storage Facility in Sanem, Luxembourg, Oct. 12. The Warehouses Service Agency is a Luxembourg government-established service organization that inspected and repaired 44 unit type codes during operations in support of the Afghanistan evacuation. The WSA’s in-house carpentry shop allows the 86th MMS to deploy equipment for airlift contingency taskers, complete with custom-built shoring.
Members of the Warehouses Service Agency operate a forklift to deliver a generator to its holding area at the Central Region Storage Facility in Sanem, Luxembourg, Oct. 12. During Afghanistan evacuation operations, the CRSF and Warehouses Services Agency volunteered to go into 24/7 operations for the first time in 10 years to support Operation Allies Welcome.
Extended til Nov. 1
