185th ARW members get unique training in Germany

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bill Wiseman
  • 185th Air Refueling Wing

Members of the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, Iowa recently took advantage of an opportunity to for some training with their active duty counterparts at Ramstein Air Base, Germany for their two week summer camp.  The group, made up mostly of personnel from the 185th Force Support Squadron (FSS) and the 185th Small Air Terminal (SAT) spent two weeks at Ramstein working and training with the active duty forces during June, 2018.

“We choose to train at Ramstein, as it is one of the busiest Aerial Ports in the world, giving us the opportunity to train on things we can’t do in Sioux City,” said Master Sgt. Aaron Christensen of the 185th SAT. “Here we are working with different air frames, 747’s, C-5’s, C-130’s and C-141’S.” 

The training also provided the younger Airmen insight into how their role in the Air National Guard helps support the active duty Air Force.

 “This is a great opportunity for our young airmen to see how their job translates on the active duty side and what they might expect to see when they get deployed,” added Master Sgt. Julia Smith, 185th FSS.

Ramstein AB has the unique mission of DoD re-icing for fallen Americans before they are transferred to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. While at the base, the 185th FSS members had the honor to help prepare a fallen Airman’s remains for transfer.

“It was a humbling experience to be a part of,” said Tech. Sgt. Brennan Gill who helped with the re-icing process.

Both the human remains from current actions and those that have been discovered in other European and Asian areas travel through Ramstein.

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