Ramstein newcomers compete in Amazing Base

Members new to Ramstein showed up ready to compete at the base’s first ever Amazing Base event on Ramstein Air Base, April 24.

The goal of Amazing Base was to welcome incoming spouses, government employees and civilians to the 86th Airlift Wing. The event introduced participants to on-base facilities, services and resources in a competitive and active way.

Teams of five ran and biked to various stations across Ramstein in an attempt to familiarize themselves with the base while competing in activities, winning prizes, and integrating into the community.

The Amazing Base brought unfamiliar faces together to encourage members to meet new people, and to advocate for people to get out and know that they are always welcome to events and activities on Ramstein.

“I think as adults, we wait to be invited, and you don’t have to,” said Kristin Moore, spouse of Brig. Gen. Richard Moore, 86th Airlift Wing commander and event coordinator. “Consider yourselves invited to anything Ramstein offers and come out and have a good time.”

The race kicked off Tuesday morning with a healthy breakfast, and led right into the festivities. Each team headed out to give their all in competitions such as a mini golf challenge, bowling, drunk goggle corn hole and an event where participants had to eat marmite.

To promote resiliency, Amazing Base also included stations such as the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Mental Health, and the Red Cross so that the newcomers knew where to go if they ever needed support during their time on station.

The challenges required team cohesion and motivation, and even though the activities were difficult, that didn’t stop the spouses from showing up to show out.

With 17 teams total and over 50 participants, the team Real Housewives of Ramstein came in first place, running the entire race in 1 hour and 13 minutes.

“The best thing about the event was watching the spouses become extremely competitive about this, they just took off like crazy,” said Chris Lowry, U.S. Air Forces Europe Community Support Coordinator.