Twitter
Facebook
***image1***Whether it’s asking permission to walk or talk, or having to march everywhere they go, Airmen in the Ramstein Area Motivational Program are getting a second chance to become productive members in the Air Force.
RAMP had its one-year anniversary Jan. 15 and the program’s success rate is at 84 percent.
This means 84 percent of the Airmen were never in trouble again once evaluated at the three-, six- and 12-month mark after graduation.
RAMP is located on Ramstein and is a basic training environment troubled Airmen are sent to, usually after receiving an Article 15.
The program lasts 30 days and is designed to return Airmen to their units re-motivated.
While in RAMP, Airmen are required to wear web belts, keep their wall locker in inspection order, including folding clothes in six-inch squares.
They participate in physical training and academics, covering topics such as Air Force history and the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.
“It’s back to basic training,” said Staff Sgt. Joe Gallina, RAMP NCOIC. “The goal is to re-instill the basic core values that these Airmen are lacking.”
Besides going to the chow hall three times a day, Airmen are usually scheduled to do base beautification work and other manual labor around the base.
Then lights out is at 9 p.m. every night.
RAMP is not completely like basic training. The cadres hold weekly counseling and mentoring sessions.
“An Article 15 might get their attention, but if we can get their attention not only do we save the Air Force money but we produce a motivated Airman,” said Tech. Sgt. Jeff Urbanski, RAMP superintendent.
RAMP had 62 candidates in 2004, including 11 outside the KMC.
With the 84 percent success rate, RAMP saved the Air Force an estimated $1.1 million by not having to send new Airmen through (Military Entrance Processing Station), basic training and technical school, to replace the troubled Airmen.
“RAMP is a win-win situation – either you get rid of a bad apple, or turn them around,” said Sergeant Urbanski.
