NEWS
NEWS
HEALTH
EDUCATION
Air Force liaison officer recognized as Airlifter of the Week, Page 3
21 TSC member recognized for 70 years of dedicated government service, Page 5
Electronic cigarettes: How are they affecting our youth?, Page 6
New school age center brings joy to students at Sembach Kaserne, Page 7
February 22, 2019 | Volume 43, Number 7
Read the KA also online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
Operation Varsity: Game on!
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Juan Rubio, 86th Airlift Wing Command Post controller, dons his chemical gear during an 86th Wing Staff Agencies pre-exercise training Feb. 13 at Ramstein Air Base. Members practiced donning and doffing their gear as part of the pre-exercise training. Photo by Airman 1st Class Milton Hamilton
by Senior Airman Devin M. Rumbaugh 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Exercise Operation Varsity 19-01 is set to begin on Ramstein Air Base, Germany Feb. 25, 2019, and is expected to cause delays. While the population at large may experience curtailed services and delays, exercises like this reinforce the 86th Airlift Wing commander’s priority of readiness. “Base exercises are not convenient, but they are necessary to ensure that we as a wing are not only able to provide allied support, but also deter adversaries,” said Brig. Gen. Mark A. August, 86th Airlift Wing commander. “To do this, we are asking personnel to be patient as we practice like it’s a realworld scenario.” Operation Varsity 19-01 is the first in a series of exercises planned for 2019. Exercises such as these enhance See VARSITY, Page2
NATO Air Chiefs discuss role in furthering readiness to bolster defence and deterrence by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office U.S. Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters, Allied Air Command commander, hosted the first NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium of 2019, Feb. 12-13, bringing commanders from NATO’s air forces and other Allied Command Operations headquarters together at Allied Air Command Ramstein to discuss Air and Space Power’s contribution to enhancing deterrence and defence. The event provided a venue for the senior representatives to exchange views and discuss opportunities to develop further cooperation in the air and space domains. “As we enter the year of NATO’s 70th anniversary, our Alliance is stronSee NATO, Page 2
On Feb. 12 and 13, Allied Air Command was the venue for the NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium, bringing together commanders from NATO’s air forces and other Allied Command Operations headquarters. Front row from left to right: Air Marshal Stu Evans, AIRCOM deputy commander; Gen. Tod D. Wolters, AIRCOM commander; Gen. Sir James Everard, Supreme Allied Command Europe deputy commander; and Maj. Gen. Claudio Gabellini, AIRCOM chief of staff. Photo by Sébastien Raffin