October 5, 2012
HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?
Volume 36, number 40
86th CPTS closes out fiscal year by 2nd Lt. Kay Nissen 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
T
he 86th Comptroller Squadron closed out fiscal year 2012 at midnight Sept. 30 on Ramstein. The budget office found this year’s closeout was troublefree while funding the largest wing budget in U.S. Air Forces in Europe. “The closeout was pretty quiet for us,” said 1st Lt. Lyka
Olsen, 86th CPTS Financial Analysis flight commander. “This is a good thing because we didn’t have any surprises — our team leads were aware of all the projects and were able to execute. Teaming with 700th CONS, resource advisers, commanders, cost center managers and government purchase cardholders, it made the end-of-year closeout a great success.” See BUDGET, Page 8
Airmen from the 100th Security Forces Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, perform post roadside bomb attack security during Creek Defender training Sept. 25 in Baumholder. An average of 800 to 900 security forces Airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and bases in the U.S. participate in this pre-deployment training.
Security forces host Creek Defender course Story and photo by Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Photo by Markus Rauchenberger
Staff Sgt. Devin Allred from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 18th Engineer Brigade, 15th Engineer Battalion treats a simulated casualty during the combat lane at U.S. Army Europe’s Expert Field Medical Badge Competition.
21st TSC Soldiers earn EFMB badge
See CREEK DEFENDER, Page 8
See BADGE, Page 12
TIP OF THE WEEK Be a good wingman; don’t let your friends drink and drive. No ARIs, no excuses. Drink responsibly.
FEATURES
All seven 21st Theater Sustainment Command Soldiers who attended the Expert Field Medical Badge qualification course Sept. 10 to 21 earned the honor of wear-
ing the Army special skill award at the testing, hosted by the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Grafenwöhr, Germany. “The Expert Field Medical Badge is one of the toughest badges a Soldier can earn,” said Capt. Paolo Briones, force
NEWS
by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Taylor 21st TSC Public Affairs
BAUMHOLDER, Germany — Defenders with the 435th Security Forces Squadron hosted a 17-day pre-deployment training course, which began at Sembach Kaserne and ended at U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder. The 435th Regional Training Center hosted security forces Airmen from around U.S. Air Forces in Europe, seven or eight classes a year and a maximum of 104 students at one time. Training consists of dismounted and mounted patrols, land navigation, range estimation, firing weapons, and tactical firing under stress. “Most of the students who come through are young, haven’t deployed yet and got most of their training in tech school, but once they leave here you can tell they’re more confident,” said Staff Sgt. Craig Stott, 435th Security Forces Creek Defender course instructor. “It’s difficult not to have a
successful course with the best cadre in the Air Force doing the training.” Throughout training, members are critiqued by technical orders to ensure each person is following the regulations and does the job that security forces does, he said. “We practice mounted patrols to ensure everyone knows what they’re looking for when it comes to identifying improvised explosive devices, (and) suspicious individuals. We also do mounted patrols for counter-intelligence operations,” Stott said. “For dismounted patrols, members go outside the wire on foot, going on a presence patrol, where security forces members show villagers that they’re there to help. Normally, these aren’t violent, but we prepare just in case things don’t go well.” The training provides younger Airmen a chance to hone their skills before deployment, making sure they’re ready for what’s to come. “I feel ready to deploy. The cadre taught
NATO Brigade uncases colors in Sembach, Page 8
Ramstein Rabbits push Airmen to succeed, Page 19
483
As of Oct. 2
737