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RAF FAIRFORD, England — Members of Team Ramstein participated in a successful off-station training April 23 to 27 here.
“This has been a very successful mission, especially in regards to getting out the door in a deployment aspect and being operational within 24 hours,” said Capt. Ryan Wilson, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot and mission commander, Fairford OST. “We got planes off the ground the next evening and were able to start the training mission.”
A variety of training was held over the week. Aircrew with the 37th AS practiced airdrops and low-level flights in unfamiliar airspace; maintainers of the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron kept four aircraft ready to fly two missions a day; and finally, security forces Airmen of the 435th Contingency Response Group provided around-the-clock, real-world security for the OST. Airmen of the 86th AMXS also hit the ground running, ensuring almost all operations went smoothly.
“We’ve been able to successfully operate in a bare-bones environment, having to bring our own equipment with us,” said Master Sgt. Shane Hiett, 86th AMXS aircraft section chief.
Airmen with the 435th CRG put the finishing touches on the team environment by providing security. “During real-world operations, we all need to team up to ensure the mission is completed,” said the Expeditionary Contingency Response Element commander. “It makes sense for us to train with each other, so we can understand how other groups operate. We were extremely successful in supporting the 37th’s training and the 86th [Airlift Wing’s] ability to execute real-world missions.” With more than three airdrops and five low-level flights, these groups worked together to accomplish deployment training. “We were able to adapt to not only the airspace, work with maintainers to get equipment they need because this is a bare-bones base and the CRG has ensured our airdrops get off successfully,” said Wilson. “Overall it has been great to work as a team to get the mission out. I think adapting is what we do best.”
