FEATURE
NEWS
NEWS
FEATURE
76th Airlift Squadron flight attendant earns Airlifter of the Week, Page 5
New commander serves as face of DLA support to EUCOM, AFRICOM, Page 10
Battalion Chaplain wins $5,000 Exchange shopping spree, Page 12
435th AGOW, 16th SB parachute over Ramstein, Page 13
July 12, 2019 | Volume 43, Number 27
Read the KA online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
Every minute counts; 86 MDG & CEG initiate 24/7 ambulance services by Staff Sgt. Kirby Turbak 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs On June 15, the 86th Medical Operations Squadron commenced 24/7 ambulance services on Ramstein Air Base. In the past, base ambulances were only available weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., not including American holidays. “If medics weren’t on duty, we’d
have to call a downtown ambulance to come in,” said John Thompson, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief. “Their average response time to get to the base and through the gate is 12 to 20 minutes. If you broke your ankle at the gym, 12-20 minutes is one thing, but if you’re having heart issues or trouble breathing, a quick response time means everything.” While base firefighters learn basic
life support skills, they lack any transport capability for those having a medical emergency. Recognizing these needs, 86th Medical Group leadership began sourcing additional ambulance services staff members. Those efforts were approved in early 2019 and additional ambulance members began to arrive at Ramstein. The MDG started their training
program and reached out to the 86th CES Fire Protection Flight to see if they would be interested in striking a long-term arrangement that would house the ambulance service in one of the Ramstein fire stations. “In February, medical group ambulance staff and the fire protection flight started talking, but they needed See AMBULANCE SERVICES, Page 5
KMC celebrates Independence Day by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Gonzales 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
See INDEPENDENCE DAY, Page 2 Miles Zuniga, a guitarist and vocalist for the American rock band, Fastball, plays an electric guitar on stage during a live concert for Freedom Fest on Ramstein Air Base, July 3. Fastball played a variety of songs for members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community at the festival.