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German and U.S. Air Forces in Europe leaders met Dec. 1 to sign an
agreement that continues the support arrangement between the two
nations on Ramstein.
The small gathering was officiated by German Air Force Lt. Gen. Horst
Martin, commander, Allied Component Command – Air Headquarters
Ramstein, and included an official signing by Brig. Gen. Michael
Snodgrass, USAFE Plans and Programs director, and President Wolfgang
Nowak, branch director of German Defense Administration West in
Düsseldorf.
The agreement covers logistical and administrative support offered to
the German support unit on Ramstein. Aspects of the agreement cover
services and support – to include housing and work space – that USAFE
supplies to their German partners. Moreover, the refinement of this
agreement establishes a model for other nations to follow.
“The refinement of this support agreement sets the tone and template for future support agreements,” said General Snodgrass.
“It allows newer NATO nations the opportunity to see how a support
agreement is arranged. The bottom line is that these nations are able
to work more effectively, faster, by having this agreement as an
example,” he added.
The previous agreement dated back to May 1988, and was updated because
significant changes were necessary, such as major organizational
alterations.
“It’s important to conclusively establish the status and scope of the
support,” said President Nowak. “With the number of organizational
changes in both the German and American structure, it was important to
refine the agreement to reflect these changes.”
President Nowak noted that the 1988 agreement included some limitations
and open areas that were not as conclusive as they should have been.
This new agreement refines those areas.
“This agreement is a great example of the spirit of friendship between our two
nations,” he said.
