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***image1******image2***The 38th Combat Support Wing, headquartered on Kapaun Air Station, is deactivating after three years.
The wing, composed of 3,500 personnel, was created in May of 2004 to ensure support for personnel assigned to 28 geographically separated units in nine countries located throughout Europe. Due to U.S. Air Force transformation, the wing will deactivate and neighboring bases will gain a new mission and personnel, said Capt. Joel Harper, U.S. Air Forces in Europe public affairs.
“The 38th Combat Support Wing did an outstanding job achieving its mission,” said Brig. Gen. Michael A. Snodgrass, director of Plans, Programs and Analysis for USAFE. “Due to several challenges facing the Air Force, including the need to recapitalize our aging air and space fleet, we are streamlining our organization and seeking ways to work more efficiently.”
Units that previously fell under the 38th CSW will be aligned under neighboring U.S. Air Force installations for support or will become geographically separated units to USAFE wings because of mission requirements, said Col. Earl Matthews, 435th Air Base Wing commander and former 38th CSW commander. The USAFE staff carefully studied each unit and reorganized the units under the best construct possible to ensure those units receive the support needed to carry on their mission.
Ramstein’s 86th Airlift Wing and 435th ABW are among the gaining wings.
The 86th AW adds approximately 400 people to the wing by gaining the 496th Air Base Squadron at Morón Air Base, Spain and the 38th Construction and Training Squadron, located one mile outside Ramstein’s West Gate.
The 435th ABW gains approximately 700 people with the addition of the 431st Air Base Group, Vogelweh and the 2nd Air Postal Squadron, Ramstein Air Base.
“We are excited to add these units and their missions to our family,” said Colonel Matthews.
Editor’s Note: The official ceremony to deactivate the 38th CSW will occur soon. The Kaiserslautern American will announce the ceremony when a date is confirmed.
