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Easter egg hunt brings smiles for Month of the Military Child, Page 9
Fueling the Force: Nutrition’s Role in Readiness, Page 12
Airlifter of the month - Staff Sgt. Briona Brown, Page 15
In loving memory; 76 AS embarks on the annual Grant’s Ride, Pages 16 & 17
April 10, 2026 | Volume 50, Number 14
86 Vehicle Readiness Squadron’s mission is more than a ride
Read the KA online at KaiserslauternAmerican.com Story & photos by Airman Paden Henry 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Lopez-Gonzales, 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron ground transportation support, lifts himself into a forklift at Ramstein Air Base, March 25. It is a 24/7 operation capable of ensuring readiness to handle any mission they receive.
From dispatch and licensing to ground transportation operations, the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron supports a steady flow of movement across Ramstein Air Base. The job is less about routines and more about reacting without losing sight of the bigger picture. One of the biggest misconceptions of the career field is that it’s simple. “That all we do is drive buses,” said Senior Airman Leonardo De Leon Ortiz, 86th VRS ground transportation support. It’s an easy thought; most people only see the surface level and that a bus pulls up and it’s just a quick ride from point A to point B. What they don’t see behind the curtains is everything that had to line up before that moment even happened. The level of coordination, the calls, last minute changes and the problem that needed solving five minutes prior. The 86th VRS handles everything from transporting aircrew after 16-hour flights to delivering See MISSION on Page 3
Görlitz: Beauty on Germany’s eastern edge Perched on Germany’s eastern edge near the Polish border and along the Neisse River, Görlitz is often described as one of the country’s most beautiful towns. Once you arrive, it’s easy to see why. See GÖRLITZ, Page 30
“Beast” is the featured movie of the week, Page 29
Photo by clearlens/Shutterstock.com
by MilitaryInGermany.com