Cities supporting US bases in Europe formalize friendship

Story and photos by Barbara Coe
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The mayors of Rota, Spain, and Ramstein-Miesenbach signed a city partnership agreement at Ramstein-Miesenbach City Hall on April 8.
U.S. Air Force Col. George Granholm, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing vice commander, said: “The 521st AMOW works with joint partners to achieve national defense requirements as part of the global en route supply chain.” The cities host the 521st AMOW, a tenant wing located on Ramstein Air Base, and their subordinate units, the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group and the 725th Air Mobility Squadron, at Naval Station Rota, Spain.
“It is only fitting that these two cities form a strong partnership because they have been such good partners to the U.S. and to NATO,” said Granholm. “As one of our strongest allies, Germany and Spain are both very important to the United States in their roles within NATO and as well as support for our military missions worldwide.”
Mayor José Javier Ruiz Arana from the city of Rota and Mayor Ralf Hechler of Ramstein-Miesenbach signed the agreement during an official ceremony at Ramstein-Miesenbach City Hall.

“Rota is in a similar situation as Ramstein-Miesenbach. One third of the area is used for military purposes, the Americans are there and we recognize that we have a lot in common. I think we complement each other over all generations, institutions, schools, preschools, clubs, and, of course, politically in Europe,” says Hechler.
The partnership between Ramstein-Miesenbach and Rota gradually developed since 2013. Both communities shared similar progress as hosts to U.S. military installations for more than
60 years.