HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?
October 23, 2015
Volume 39, number 42
Retirees celebrate service with Team Ramstein Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Lane Plummer 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs The 86th Airlift Wing Retiree Activities Office hosted the annual Retiree Appreciation Day event Oct. 13 to 17 on Ramstein as part of a week-long celebration for retirees. The event’s goal was to thank more than 3,000 military retirees in the KMC and celebrate their service with a variety of activities and provided information. As soon as retirees entered Ramstein’s Officers’ Club, they were greeted by Soldiers, Airmen and Junior ROTC cadets at the front door waiting to escort them in. It was an extra touch of class, according to Luis de Andrade, 86th AW RAO director. “These same volunteers also had breakfast with the retirees to share their time and some conversation with them,” de Andrade said. “The KMC truly showed that they care for our retiree community.” Brig. Gen. Jon T. Thomas, 86th AW commander, was also present to share his gratitude for retirees. “I recognize your contributions to See retireeS, Page 2
James Montgomery waves for the camera during the Retiree Appreciation Day event Oct. 13 on Ramstein. The event provided retirees an opportunity to connect with other veterans and current service members as they learn more about how the Air Force functions today.
721st APS Port dawgs move cargo, reach milestone Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Leslie Keopka 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Cheers of happiness and celebration filled the 721st Aerial Port Squadron when one of their aerial porters reached a significant milestone in his career Oct. 16 on Ramstein. Kasper Chevalier, 721st Aerial Port Squadron aerial porter and native of the Netherlands, reached his 2,000th aerial port expeditor, or APEX, cargo load.
In 2010, after working for the Air Force for only two years, he reached his 500th APEX milestone and only a year later reached 1,000. “When you talk to Kasper, you get the ‘Excellence in All We Do’ feel from him,” said 1st Lt. Denver Barrows, 721st APS ramp services officer in charge. “He definitely loves the mission, loves the Airmen and is always striving for process improvements for the mission and personnel.” The APEX mission is one of Air Mobility Command’s velocity initiatives, created as a way
to expedite cargo loading without the presence of loadmasters. APEX is unique in the sense that the cargo loaders are not traditional loadmasters; they are aerial transporters that are hand-picked to attend a three-week course to learn the APEX mission. Chevalier is one of the few APEX personnel who are qualified on both the C-17 Globemaster III and the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. His dual training and the APS personnel have helped him reach this significant See cargo, Page 3
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Remember to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday, Oct.25! Also, please note that most locations in the U.S. do not set their clocks back until Nov. 1.
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AF Expeditionary Center commander visits Ramstein, Page 6
Ramstein speaks out against domestic violence, Page 10
'Superheroes' celebrate Red Ribbon event, Pages 20 and 21