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Lt. Gen. Timothy M. Ray, 3rd Air Force commander, welcomes the first group of Air Force families to Ramstein after the ordered departure of dependents of service members and Department of Defense civilian personnel currently stationed in Turkey March 30. The removal of dependents is to ensure the safety and security of military families. The decision was intended to mitigate the risk to DOD elements and personnel, including family members, within the authorities and means of the command, while ensuring the combat effectiveness of U.S. forces and mission support to operations in Turkey.
An order to depart Turkey was given to U.S. military family members March 29 due to security concerns, which led many people through Ramstein.
Through this transition, members of the KMC have stepped in to provide support to fellow military families in their time of need.
Various agencies in the community offered temporary lodging, transportation, medical care, child care, school enrollment and other essentials needed.
“There are a lot of great things going on here,” said Michele Dresel, Airman and Family Readiness Center director. “Through other similar hard times, we’ve learned what small details may be overlooked, and we’ve been able to learn from that and make improvements for this situation to ensure we don’t miss anything.
“The families have each been assigned their own first sergeant to assist with anything they could possibly need, and we’re working side by side with him,” Dresel continued. “He assigned each family a sponsor to help them along the way to ensure the smoothest transition possible.”
Units came together to provide resources to families in order to make them as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
“We’re taking care of the families by enabling and facilitating base access,” said Staff Sgt. Bethany Wright, 86th Security Forces Squadron reports and analysis NCO. “By doing this, we’re alleviating the added stress of checking in every time they want to come back on base.”
Team Ramstein has been working tirelessly all week to refine processes and come together as an Air Force family during this time of need.
“It’s spectacular how, once the word got out that families were (ordered to leave) Turkey, people have stepped up in droves,” said Brig. Gen. Jon T. Thomas, 86th Airlift Wing commander. “It’s been individuals; it’s been organizations. The commissary stayed open late so families could do a little shopping before going to their temporary lodging facilities. It’s all across the community here, how generous and warm-hearted people, Airmen and Soldiers have been, and that’s exactly what we would hope for.”
