Jan 25, 2013 - Kaiserslautern American

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HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?

January 25, 2013

Volume 37, number 3

Team Ramstein helps Spangdahlem replace antenna Story and photo by Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany — Airmen from the 1st Communications Maintenance Squadron traveled north to Spangdahlem Air Base during icy road conditions to assist the 52nd Communications Squadron with replacing a malfunctioning Tactical Air Navigation system Jan. 16. The TACAN antenna is a beacon for fighters and heavy aircraft that provides navigation and direction for pilots during approach. “The old antenna was faulty,” said Staff Sgt. Shawn Arnett, 1st CMXS craftsman. “It would randomly shut off.” The $180,000 faulty antenna sat atop a 65-foot tower. The 1st CMXS, the 52nd CS and local contractors from Trier worked together through the cold weather for about 10 hours to ensure the mission would continue unhitched. The six-man team from U.S. Air Forces See ANTENNA, Page 2

Senior Airman Pedro Escamilla, 52nd Communications Squadron airfield system technician, ascends the Tactical Air Navigation antenna Jan. 18 on Spangdahlem Air Base. The $180,000 faulty antenna that sat atop a 65-foot tower was replaced. Together, the 1st CMXS from Ramstein, the 52nd CS and local contractors from Trier worked through the cold weather for long hours to ensure the mission continued unhitched.

Flu season in sight, but it’s 21st TSC off-loads helicopters in Belgium not too late for flu vaccine Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Warren W. Wright Jr. 21st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs

by Capt. Venita Ramirez and Chuck Roberts 86th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Public Affairs Got a flu shot? If not, the bad news is that the flu season in the U.S. started early and activity remains high, according to the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention. More than 28,000 cases have been reported in the U.S. since Sept. 30, including 20 pediatric deaths. The good news is twofold: Flu activity has been relatively low to medium throughout Europe, and it’s not too late to get a flu See VACCINE, Page 7

ANTWERP, Belgium — Elements of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command assisted the 838th Transportation Battalion out of Kleber Kaserne in Kaiserslautern with the offload of nearly 50 Army helicopters and associated components from a cargo ship at the port here, Jan. 17. The AH-64 Apache helicopters and CH-47 Chinook helicopters began their journey in Beaumont, Texas, where they spent 12 days traveling across the Atlantic Ocean before being off-loaded and stored at the port of Antwerp.

NEWS

Make sure to have a cold weather kit in your car during winter time.

SPORTS

Tip of the Week Personnel cuts highlight at assembly, Page 5

PTLs work it out, Page 25

An AH-64 Apache helicopter gets off-loaded from an ocean cargo vessel Jan. 17 at a port in Belgium.

Various U.S. and partner nation agencies are involved in the movement with the final destination set for Coleman Barracks, Germany, where the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade will See HELICOPTER, Page 3

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