RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) — Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe, accompanied by their spouses, Cindy Wilsbach and Doniel Wolfe, visited with Airmen from Ramstein Air Base’s 86th Airlift Wing and tenant units, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, Dec. 22 and 23.
The visit wrapped up a seven-base trip across the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility, providing both leaders an opportunity to engage with Airmen at all levels who are standing watch 365 days a year. They heard first-hand about the myriad missions, underscoring the strategic location of Ramstein AB that enables the projection of airpower and global reach.
The visit included an all-call involving members from across Ramstein AB, including the 86th Airlift Wing, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, 603rd Air Operations Center and 693rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, discussing how each unit can contribute to the leadership team’s vision for the future of the Air Force. Airmen also had the opportunity to ask questions of the top leaders of the service to hear their perspectives.
“USAFE-AFAFRICA projects combat airpower in Europe and deters aggression in the region,” Wilsbach stated. “We integrate with our partners so that we can respond to any emerging threats in this area of responsibility.”
Additionally, Wilsbach and Wolfe met with senior leadership from the tenant wings over lunch and held office calls with the Third Air Force and USAFE-AFAFRICA commanders, reinforcing varying mission sets and capabilities provided in daily operations and how they fit in with the Air Force’s strategic vision.
“Every single Airman has a connection to generating air power. From finance to fighters, we are all part of the mission to fly and fix to deter our adversaries,” Wolfe said. “We can’t lose sight of that. Every effort counts when considering modern near-peer threats.”
The leadership team also recognized five Airmen for exemplifying excellence, peer leadership and the warrior ethos essential to mission success.
The spouses of CSAF and CMSAF also played an active role in the visit, meeting with members of the Key Support Liaison program to better understand the family support landscape within the joint military community, including medical care, Department of Defense Education Activity schools, and childcare resources.
“Despite being the largest U.S. community outside of the United States, there are often additional difficulties associated with living away from home,” Cindy Wilsbach said. “In understanding these challenges and their support systems, we can help ensure that Airmen and families thrive personally and professionally during their time here.”
These engagements help support and strengthen the Kaiserslautern Military Community as a whole, keeping its Airmen resilient, ready and lethal in a theater where every minute of every mission counts toward homeland security.
“Our Airmen overseas are working hard to protect our national interests abroad, and often sacrificing time with loved ones,” Wilsbach said. “I’m incredibly proud to be serving with them, and I am continually impressed by their dedication, and commitment to the mission.”