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FEATURE
FEATURE
FEATURE
FEATURE
521st AMOW Year-in-Review, Pages 2-3
435th AGOW in 2024: Innovation, excellence, partnership, Pages 6-7
Resilience, mission ready, equality, certification at 65th ABG, Pages 8-9
One Mission, Twelve Months, Pages 10-11
January 10, 2025 | Volume 49, Number 1
Read the KA online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com
86th Airlift Wing 2024 Year-in-Review by Shannon Murphy 86th Airlift Wing Historian As the U.S. Air Force began its campaign and education on “Reoptimization for Great Power Competition” and the accompanying changes, Ramstein Air Base and the 86th Airlift Wing remained a steady presence and force in a geographic theater surrounded by conflict. The 86th AW was postured the entire year, supporting multiple mid-East conflicts. Operationally, the wing hosted the Royal Australian Air Force for their first deployment to Europe since World War II, flying operational missions for six months until their departure in April. The 37th Airlift Squadron continued to upgrade the Block 6 C-130J Super Hercules to the Block 8.1 model, with only one aircraft remaining, currently at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. In February, the 86th Maintenance Squadron partnered with installation partner the 435th Contingency Response See YEAR-IN-REVIEW, Pages 16-17
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Rigollet, 37th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, flies flew a C-130J aircraft departing Ramstein Air Base, March 20, 2024. Ramstein AB hosted a Fly Like a Girl event, which included a C-130J flight with all female aviators, aircrew and jumpers, paying tribute to the great accomplishments of women in the military and aviation, as well as a career fair with 15 other units, paying tribute to the great accomplishments of women in the military and aviation. Photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro
Winter ski, snowboard destinations If you are lucky enough to find yourself living in Europe, you should make sure you experience one of its crown jewels, the Alps. Here is a collection of can’t-miss destinations for your next ski or snowboard adventure — the season is still going strong! See WINTER SKI, Page 30
“Den of Thieves 2” is the
featured movie of the we ek, Pa
ge 29
Photo by gorillaimages/Shutterstock.com
by Bret Helenius contributing writer