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Kaiserslautern American
November 11, 2016
Pilot grounded, life rebuilt by Senior Airman Jimmie D. Pike 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs “I remember the ride up the mountain in the van,” he recollected with some effort. “I recall the room you get ready in. I had (my equipment), and I remember prior to putting on my boots. As far as I remember, I have never put on my ski boots in New Zealand.” Kevin Ormsby, former Air Force pilot, had seemingly lost everything after a life-changing ski accident in New Zealand that rendered him unable to fly. While stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, as an instructor pilot, Ormsby visited New Zealand to ski with members of the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Ski Team. After starting his second run on July 29, 2002, he was found unconscious. “No one there saw the accident. I’m not exactly sure what happened,” said Ormsby, who is currently stationed at Ramstein. “They just found
Photo by Senior Airman Jimmie D. Pike
Kevin Ormsby, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces in Africa long-term planner, poses for a photo Oct. 3 on Ramstein. Ormsby sustained multiple injuries, to include a severe brain injury, which grounded him from flying.
me lying in the snow.” With no witnesses to the accident and no recollection of it himself, he regained consciousness in the middle of September 2002 at a hospital in
Palo Alto, California, with a broken bone, torn ligaments and a severe brain injury. “I had shattered the bone and tore the medial collateral ligament in my
left knee, and tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus cartilage in both my knees,” Ormsby said. “The brain injury I had sustained was accompanied by double vision which still affects me today.” Due to the severity of his brain injury, he couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment he started making conscious decisions. “I don’t exactly remember when my first lucid thought was, because I was in and out for a while,” Ormsby said. “I remember sometime in October that year I told myself, as soon as everything is fixed physically, I’ll be good to get back into the jet.” Ormsby was released from the hospital in 2003. He felt he wasn’t the same person he had been prior to the ski trip. After losing close friends, his comfort zone and his job, in 2004 he had a brief encounter with suicidal thoughts. See rebuilt, Page 11
Human resources unit activates in Baumholder
Photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Wyatt
Photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Wyatt
The 569th Human Resources Company, the newest part of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's 16th Special Troops Battalion, unfurls its guidon during an activation ceremony held Oct. 25 at the Hall of Champions Fitness Center on Smith Barracks.
The 569th Human Resources Company, the newest part of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's 16th Special Troops Battalion, stand at parade rest before the start of the activation ceremony held Oct. 25 at the Hall of Champions Fitness Center on Smith Barracks.
Courtesy of the U.S. Army A new organization designed to provide superior expeditionary human resources support showed its true colors during an activation ceremony held Oct. 25 at the Hall of Champions Fitness Center on Smith Barracks. The 569th Human Resources Company, the newest part of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 16th Special Troops Battalion, will provide personnel accountability, casualty liaison, and postal support among other valuable services. “We can’t predict precisely how
or when we’ll call on the men and women of 569th to carry forward their mission in the months and years to come, but we know Capt. Hansen and 1st Sgt. Steele will lead this team with certainty, clarity and with our trust and confidence,” said Lt. Col. Brian Ketz, 16th STB Commander. “The Soldiers of 569th are ready to execute its vital responsibilities and will succeed.” The new unit’s command team, Capt. Katherine Hansen and 1st Sgt. Ronald Steele, unfurled its just-designated guidon during the ceremony. “Standing up a new company is a journey and sometimes unpredict-
able, as courses of action for upcoming missions change almost daily,” Steele said. “We are about to make history and set the stage for human resources companies Army-wide.” The new company is one of only 12 human resources companies in the Army, and the variety and prominence of missions in the European theater highlight its importance. “Having the first human resources company for Installation Management Command and Central Command, we’ll enhance those exercises and missions throughout Europe,” Hansen said. “Having new Soldiers as we stand up a new
company gives them an idea of how organizations are formed, and they’ll set high standards for future Soldiers.” The company will provide expeditionary human resources support, personnel accountability, casualty liaison, and postal support in Europe for the 16th Sustainment Brigade. Junior Soldiers seemed to appreciate the significance of the moment. “Activating the 569th is more than what everyone sees,” said Spc. Antonette Brown, a human resources specialist with the company. “The Soldiers will be remembered as the foundation of something great.”