WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Airmen from four 445th Airlift Wing squadrons participated in a two-week training exercise as part of their annual tour at Ramstein Air Base, Germany that began April 15, 2016. The 91 reserve Airmen trained alongside their active duty counterparts on routine operational procedures.
Airmen from the 445th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 445th Force Support Squadron, 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and the 87th Aerial Port were transported via a 445th C-17 Globemaster III to Ramstein. Once they landed, the Airmen were briefed and separated to meet up with their active duty brethren. They worked together to train and perform routine operational procedures in order to learn about each other’s jobs and gain experience in a different environment.
Working in such an environment can be intimidating for Airmen new to Ramstein's way of doing things. The 445th LRS worked in tandem with Ramstein LRS Airmen to build and distribute 300 sets of Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear for an upcoming exercise scheduled to take place in the second week of the tour. This required working out of a large warehouse they were unfamiliar with and alongside people they didn't know.
"It's beneficial for our reserve members to see a different perspective, an active duty perspective," said Maj. Dennis Park, 445th LRS director of operations and officer in charge of the tour.
The reservists’ presence at Ramstein also proved beneficial for the active duty Airmen as well. Multiple Airmen found themselves learning new methods about their own job from the 445th.
"Not only were we able to help them out, but we picked up on some of their practices," said Senior Airman Matthew Yeager, 445th FSS Communications Element, client systems technician.
Overall, job effectiveness is not the only perk of the tour, it helps build the Airmen's professional careers as well.
"It's all about the different connections you make, meeting people you would otherwise never meet," said Tech. Sgt. Precious Sims, 445th Airlift Wing Chaplain Corps chaplain assistant. Sims believes that building your network of experts is just as important as building your own skill set. Meeting people and learning new things along the way helps build effective airmen throughout the world.