Kaiserslautern American, January 11, 2019

Page 1

FEATURE

FEATURE

NEWS

SPORTS

President Trump visits Ramstein Air Base, Page 5

‘Tis the season to be safe on the road, Page 6

Big turnout for KMC Winter Special Olympics, Page 10

Kingfish swim to top honors in sixteam meet, Page 14

January 11, 2019 | Volume 43, Number 1

Read the KA also online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com

‘OPS’ never stops: Ramstein mission–ready by Senior Airman Joshua Magbanua 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs The holidays are usually a time when many people take a week or two away from work and enjoy the season with family and friends. But there are those out there who do not care for “peace and goodwill.” These people intend to create terror and drive away the festive cheer. That’s why this past holiday season, members of the U.S. military kept watch — ready to respond to anything, anytime, and anywhere. “The enemy doesn’t take the day off — and neither do we,” said Master Sgt. Gregory Flores, 37th Airlift Squadron operations superintendent. “This is why we are ready to act on a moment’s notice to respond to any threat regardless of the time of the year. The mission never stops even during the holidays.” As a member of the 37th AS, Flores and fellow Airmen conduct a massive mission. His squadron is located See OPS NEVER STOPS, Page 8

A C-130J Super Hercules aircraft assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, lands on a runway during exercise Contested Forge on Grostenquin Air Base, France, Dec. 4, 2018. Contested Forge is an annual exercise that tests the 435th Contingency Response Group’s ability to build a forward operating base and conduct airfield operations in an austere environment, friendly or hostile. Photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore

Turning a mess into a message by Senior Airman Joshua Magbanua 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Tech. Sgt. Reuben McClendon had everything going for him when he began his Air Force career in the security forces field. As a young Airman many years ago, he excelled in his duties, gained a wealth of experience from deployments, won awards left and right, and received accolades from his colleagues. McClendon felt even more unstoppable when he first became a non-

commissioned officer at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. “When I graduated from Airman Leadership School, I won the Academic Achievement and Commandant Awards,” he said. “My head started bloating up: I was young and invincible, I deployed several times, I gained all this recognition from my leadership, and they offered me a job in a staff sergeant position.” The freshly-promoted NCO wasted no time excelling in his new job. One day however, something hap-

pened that changed the course of McClendon’s life and career: he was caught in an unprofessional relationship and promptly apprehended. Before McClendon knew it, he was standing before his commander who dished out his punishment. “He demoted me right there on the spot,” McClendon said. “Everything I worked for in my life was gone … and it destroyed me on the inside. So I did what many people would do;

See MESS INTO MESSAGE, Page 3

Tech. Sgt. Reuben McClendon, 86th Security Forces Assistant non-commissioned officer in charge of training, teaches a resiliency class at the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, New Jersey. McClendon regularly gives talks about how to overcome adversity and maintain resiliency. Courtesy photo


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