SEAC visits Ramstein, highlights AMOW Airmen

The 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing hosted the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Aug. 14 through 16 on Ramstein.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia visited the wing to highlight the resiliency program and learn about the aeromedical evacuation assets of the wing.

“(The 521st AMOW) is a unit that is doing some really great things in regards to readiness and resiliency,” Battaglia said. “I know there are many good units out there that are doing similar things, but the 521st happened to be the first one that I found.”

The wing, he said, set itself apart from others because of the family feel of those who work in the units.

“Just walk in to any one of our units, spread across six time zones on three continents, and I think you’ll see what sets us apart,” said Chief Master Sgt. Gay Veale, 521st AMOW command chief. “There’s a sparkle in the eye, a ‘let me show you’ attitude and an instant vibe of a family working together to get the job done. That’s what others have noticed, and I think that’s exactly what caught SEAC’s attention during a short unit visit last fall.”

The SEAC decided to come here because of the 521st AMOW’s ability to maneuver and navigate through times of adversity with the least amount of turbulence to maintain an optimal level of performance.

At the end of the day, there is no perfect unit. The ultimate goal is to have units engage with one another to
see how they do and run things in order to become better.

“A large portion of the 521st command is resiliency trained, and that’s the starting point,” Battaglia said. “Resiliency carries on, not just from Airman to Airman, but from family member to family member, because that’s what the 521st promotes. It’s a family, and I believe that’s one of the indicators of why they do so well.”

During his two-day tour of Ramstein and the AMOW, Battaglia said visiting service members and their families was his most enjoyable part of the trip.

“The ability to hear Airmen talk about their jobs, roles and responsibilities in the organization and their understanding of their purpose of why they’re here and to hear them talk with such excitement couldn’t make me happier,” Battaglia said.

During his trip, he also took time to visit wounded warriors and staff at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

“It’s always a moving experience,” Battaglia said. “So I would pass to the rest of the force that, although we get caught up in our own jobs and activities, not to forget that we have a conflict going on.

“There are service members that are on the very forward edge of the battle area, getting hurt,” he continued. “So never forget that if you have any spare moment to take it upon yourself to wish them well for a safe and quick journey home.”