Local trans company visits 86th VRS

The 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron welcomed four members of Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern for an orientation and tour of the squadron’s facilities
Oct. 26 on Ramstein.

“We continue to foster the professional cooperation between the city of Kaiserslautern bus company and the 86th VRS,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Coyne, 86th VRS commander. “The city was gracious enough to host us earlier in September; our goal was to return the favor and build the partnership.”

Like the 86th VRS, SWK manages a fleet of modern buses and a handful of older ones including a pre-’60s Mercedes-Benz, yellow bus — a bus that key members of the 86th VRS got to see Sept. 9, during a tour of the SWK facilities.

“It was a great visit; the VRS team is constantly seeking out ways to learn and apply better transportation related business practices from our host nation counterparts,” said Coyne. “During the city visit, we were able to take away some creative bus storage techniques and possible ways to increase fuel efficiency.”

Starting with a brief VRS mission overview, the visit then focused on the diverse vehicle management and operations missions that support 120 different organizations. The tour was hailed as a success for the SWK visitors and for the VRS.

“Thank you so much for having us over; exchanges such as this help solidify the partnership between the 86th Airlift Wing and the city of Kaiserslautern,” said Andrea Oliver, SWK director of U.S. business.

Although some of the vehicles differ, the main purpose is ingrained to all the Airmen who worked to make the visit a success.

“There are so many good things to come from this partnership,” said 2nd Lt. Matthew Edwards, vehicle management and analysis office in charge. “Like all organizations on base, we are trying to figure out a better way to do business; this is helping with that.”