September 18, 2015
Kaiserslautern American
Page 1
HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?
September 18, 2015
Volume 39, number 37
AF celebrates 68 years, calls for continued innovation by Gen. Frank Gorenc U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander This year marks the Air Force’s 68th birthday, and I wanted to send out greetings and a hearty thank you to all U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Airmen for your successes over the past year; it’s been an incredibly busy time! One of the strongest attributes of our command is that we support everyone. Our team delivered precise combat power for U.S. European Command, Africa Command and Central Command while simultaneously enabling U.S. Strategic Command, Transportation Command and Special Operations Command missions. We completed our European Infrastructure Consolidation review and executed European Reassurance Initiatives. We also supported Headquarters Air Force programs including improvements to quality of life, feedback, performance reports and myriad force support efforts. The important part is that we accomplished all of this together! Of course, a birthday celebrates not just past year accomplishments, but lifetime achievements as well. What
Air Force graphic
an impressive 68 years it has been as we celebrate the world’s greatest air force, a force capable of global vigilance, global reach and global power with the outright ability to deter or
defeat any adversary. From our beginnings 68 years ago, we always counted on innovation to help us meet our aspirations. Innovation is in our DNA and is nec-
essary due to the many changes in the geopolitical, domestic and fiscal environments. As an Air Force, we transitioned from World War II to the Cold War and then to the Global War on Terror. During the Cold War, we developed and operated two legs of the Nuclear Triad, intercontinental ballistic missiles and bombers, supporting the policies of containment and deterrence. Inside the Cold War, we fought proxy wars: Korea, Vietnam and Central America. After the Cold War, following Desert Shield and Desert Storm, we flew continuously in the Southern and Northern no-fly zones in Iraq. In the ongoing global war on terror, we find ourselves operating in all parts of the world. Throughout this ever-changing landscape, Air Force Airmen count on innovation to ensure success. Airmen use existing and emerging technology to better find, fix, track, target, engage and assess the enemy. Our aircraft went from slow to fast, to faster. Our bombsights, guidance and navigation systems made dumb weapons “smart,” thereby increasing our accuracy. Stealth and electronic warfare made our airSee BIRTHDAY, Page 2
President reflects on 9/11 at Worldwide Troop Talk
WHEN: Today to Sept. 20 WHERE: Ramstein’s hangars 1 & 2 VISIT: www.ramsteinbazaar.org
Forces train on airborne medevac, Page 6
See PRESIDENT, Page 2
LIFESTYLES
THE BAZAAR IS HERE!
Courtesy photo of the Department of Defense
about all the members of the armed services all around the world who serve — this represents America,” Obama said. “You’ve got people of every race, religion, faith, every region of the country, but what we share is a common creed, a common commitment to freedom … a common belief that America
President Barack Obama holds a Worldwide Troop Talk Sept. 11 from Fort Meade, Md.
NEWS
FORT MEADE, Md. — On the 14th anniversary of 9/11, President Barack Obama, in gratitude for military members who’ve served after the nation’s darkest day, hosted a global, multimedia, Worldwide Troop Talk live from Defense Media Activity
studios in Fort Meade, Md. The first sitting president in history to conduct a troop talk of this scope, Obama told service members who attended the event and those who asked questions via Facebook, Twitter, Skype and satellite that this specific day was “particularly appropriate” to address them directly. “When I look out in this audience, and when I think
NEWS
by Amaani Lyle Department of Defense News
RAB pays tribute to 9/11 victims, Page 10
Celebrate 20th old town children's fest, Page 16