3rd AF commander tours Ramstein units

The 3rd Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Timothy M. Ray, toured the 86th Airlift Wing, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing Aug. 4 and 6 on Ramstein.

Ray recently took command and received immersion tours from a variety of wings to see how they support and conduct operations in and around Europe and Africa.

“The Airmen under the 86th (AW) truly generate airpower,” said Brig. Gen. Jon T. Thomas, 86th AW commander. “We have combat airlift and aeromedical evacuation forces, but just as big, if not bigger, is being able to generate airpower.”

Ray toured facilities from the 86th AW including the air traffic control tower and the munitions facility and then the Kapaun Air Station dining facility for lunch. He also had the opportunity to witness the 435th AGOW and 435th AEW’s capability to provide on-demand expeditionary airfield and was briefed on current NATO partnership training.

“It’s important to familiarize our (commander) with our unique mission,” said Maj. Craig Towlson, 435th AGOW plans and programs chief and event organizer. “We have a ton of capabilities and are spread out across the U.S. Air Force in Europe and Air Forces Africa area of operations … to borrow the wing historian’s analogy, we are kind of a multitool. We have a ton of different capabilities that span across five different mission sets.”

During his visits to the 86th AW squadrons, Ray coined six Airmen in recognition of their individual impact to go above and beyond.

“To be a good wingman, you have to be a good Airman and care for yourself before you can care for others,” Thomas said. “That’s something we’re all focusing on here.”

While speaking with group commanders and Airmen, Ray stressed the importance of remembering why what they do is important.

“When you’re driving home every day, remember the reason we come to work — to produce air power,” Ray said. “Being in this location, we influence everything important. What the Airmen do every day is so valuable to the mission and isn’t lost on me, but I need your help making sure when they come to work every day, they remember the power comes from here.”