NCOA Heritage Room

Senior Master Sgt. Rich Rizzo, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing air transportation superintendent, places bricks along the wall of the 521st AMOW heritage room at the Kisling NCO Academy on Kapaun Air Station, Germany. The heritage room was completed Feb. 15, 2013 by four volunteers from the 521st AMOW who had a commitment to their wing heritage and professional development. (Courtesy photo)

NCOA Heritage Room

First Lt. Nicole Mancos, 721st Aerial Port Squadron air terminal operations flight commander, paints a mural for the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing heritage room at the Kisling NCO Academy on Kapaun Air Station, Germany. The heritage room was completed Feb. 15, 2013 by four volunteers from the 521st AMOW. (Courtesy photo)

NCOA Heritage Room

Members from the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing pose for a picture in their newly completed heritage room at the Kisling NCO Academy on Kapaun Air Station, Germany, Feb. 15, 2013. The heritage room was completed by four volunteers from the 521st AMOW who had a commitment to their wing heritage and professional development. (U.S. Air Force photo / 2nd Lt. Kay M. Nissen)

Airmen create learning environment, promote wing heritage

Published Feb. 25, 2013
By 2nd Lt. Kay M. Nissen
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

KAPAUN AIR STATION, Germany -- Members from the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing unveiled a revamped classroom Feb. 15 at the NCO academy here.

The Airmen weren't a part of a civil engineering construction team, but instead were four volunteers from the 521st AMOW who had a commitment to their wing heritage and professional development.

"I've always had a knack for artsy projects and interior design so I thought this was a great opportunity to show our AMOW support in the NCO academy," said 1st Lt. Nicole Mancos, 721st Aerial Port Squadron air terminal operations flight commander. "It was for our future leaders to have a great classroom environment."

The project started in July 2012 when Senior Master Sgt. Rich Rizzo, 521st AMOW air transportation superintendent, called for volunteers for this unique opportunity. In addition to Mancos, Master Sgt. Colin Loring, 726th Air Mobility Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Lauren Camarena, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, answered the call.

The room included a refurbished brick wall, a custom Airman's creed mirror and a new paint job. Highlights included 11 graphics representing the AMOW's 11 squadrons, which were custom designed by Loring, as well as a mural depicting the locations of the squadrons which was painted by Mancos.

"It's very rewarding, and a sense of accomplishment," said Camarena, who contributed to the 250-plus man-hours needed to complete the project. "We put our stamp - our mark on the wall."

The 521st AMOW celebrated 71 years since its establishment this month, and the new "Galaxy" room helped commemorate the wing's heritage. The first students to pass through the classroom began classes Feb. 26.

"This is now the showcase room," said Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Moore, United States Air Forces in Europe Headquarters commandant of Kisling NCOA. "We're proud of this room and are very thankful for the work the 521st put into it."