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As the U.S. Air Force began its campaign and education on “Reoptimization for Great Power Competition” and the accompanying changes, Ramstein Air Base and the 86th Airlift Wing remained a steady presence and force in a geographic theater surrounded by conflict. The 86th AW was postured the entire year, supporting multiple mid-East conflicts.
Operationally, the wing hosted the Royal Australian Air Force for their first deployment to Europe since World War II, flying operational missions for six months until their departure in April. The 37th Airlift Squadron continued to upgrade the Block 6 C-130J Super Hercules to the Block 8.1 model, with only one aircraft remaining, currently at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. In February, the 86th Maintenance Squadron partnered with installation partner the 435th Contingency Response Support Squadron and the Slovakian Air Force to host a comprehensive Crash Damaged and Disabled Aircraft Recovery training course. Morón AB, Spain, hosted Bomber Task Force 24-2 in March, as B-1B Lancers from Dyess AFB partnered with the Spanish military to increase operational effectiveness and logistical readiness.
During Exercise AFRICAN LION 2024, on May 4, the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron conducted the first-ever medevac of a U.S. service member on a Tunisian C-130. Morón AB’s 496th Air Base Squadron hosted and supported Bomber Task Forces to integrate Spanish and American militaries in their training for theater operations. Chièvres AB’s 424th Air Base Squadron hosted the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 1st Combat Communications Squadron, as they held the inaugural Landing Zone Safety Officer Certification course in February that awarded a special experience identifier allowing graduates to serve as LZSOs in all environments as multi-capable Airmen and enhancing Agile Combat Employment. The 86th AW hosted and facilitated U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s first basic fighter maneuvers exercises dubbed “Ramstein 1v1” on June 6. The exercise for pilots and maintainers included 37 fighter aircraft from nine NATO countries.
On May 17, the 86th AW bid farewell to Brig. Gen. Otis C. Jones and welcomed Brig. Gen. Adrienne L. Williams as the new wing commander. Williams is the first female commander of the 86th AW. In September, Williams rolled out her updated mission, vision, and priorities with focus areas. The 86th AW’s mission is to “Project Power & Create Community;” the wing’s vision is “Victory;” and our priorities are “Readiness, Airmen & Relationships.”
The 86th AW continued and expanded their role as Base Operating Support – Integrator to Ramstein and the Kaiserslautern Military Community as host wing to the largest concentration of American citizens outside of the Continental United States. Issues around elevators and escalators in public areas, military construction, and contracted projects affected daily quality of life services and overall environment for all KMC personnel and their families. The aging infrastructure on Ramstein and surrounding KMC also complicated expansion and modernization plans, as more units, services, and organizations requested physical work and living space throughout the KMC. But the 86th Civil Engineer Group and the 86th Logistics Readiness Group continued to expand, establish, organize, and outfit multiple theater War Reserve Materiel sites throughout Europe and around the KMC. The new KMC Housing Facility office on Vogelweh opened in April, relocating to a location much easier to access. Vehicle Registration was a hot topic during the summer, as the Sembach station closed in May unexpectedly, forcing all newcomers to the KMC to utilize the Kapaun station. The process led to a Vehicle Registration substation to open in the KMCC on Aug. 15, where the old satellite pharmacy operated from.
Various improvements in 2024 led to improvements in work and home life; in February, the Large Vehicle Inspection Gate reopened, a new Communication Data Center opened, and electronic promotion testing began. The new Foundations Courses — the first in USAFE-AFAFRICA — rolled out in May. At Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, the 65th Air Base Group fostered continued relationships with their Portuguese air force partners and the U.S. Navy, as the strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean.
With many operational and support “firsts,” the 86th AW also celebrated heritage throughout 2024. The wing marked 50 years of NATO Allied Air Command on Ramstein in June, 76 years as a wing in July, and 30 years of air mobility in October. June also brought celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift and the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of Fortress Europe. The 86th AW served as the air operations lead in Normandy and executed 74 flyovers and supported 121 ceremonies via 21 aircraft and 301 personnel. In September, the wing participated in events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Market Garden in Holland.
The uniqueness of the 86th AW, their structure, organization, and functions, also kept “Big Logistics, Everywhere” in the operations realm, as the 86th Munitions Squadron received, processed, and transported munitions for Eastern Flank operations, transported by the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron. As “set the theater” requirements increased throughout the year, the 86th Materiel Maintenance Squadron organized, inventoried, and supplied requirements of WRM. Finally, the 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron ensured personnel, cargo, and equipment were processed and loaded for world-wide support.
Ramstein provided transportation and processing services for Operation ENDURING WELCOME, with two flights in and out each week bringing Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas to Germany. People flew in and out of Ramstein and billeted on Rhine Ordnance Barracks while working with embassy officials in Frankfurt. Concurrently, the 86th AW continuously supported the Niger Withdrawal process through a rapid beddown and evacuation plan, repositioned munitions and cargo, and received servicemembers and aircraft. Additionally, the 86th AW hosted two Ukraine Defense Contact Groups, in March and September, with Ukraine President Zelenskyy attending September’s meeting in person.
Most recently, the Secretary of the Air Force awarded the Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award to the 86th AW for exceptionally meritorious service from Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2023. Finally, as the wing welcomes 2025, recent unmanned aerial systems activity around the KMC will continue to be a challenge and priority as we continue moving forward as THE Global Gateway.
