Facility Excellence Team ensures KMC pride, ‘curb appeal’

  • Published
  • By The 86th Civil Engineer Group
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  As the "Gateway to Europe," the 86th Airlift Wing has the distinct privilege and responsibility of providing that first impression of U.S. Air Forces in Europe to the over 285,000 personnel that arrive or transit through the Kaiserslautern Military Community each year. This unique opportunity to showcase Air Force pride and professionalism is significantly enhanced through a vigorous group of Airmen comprising the Facilities Excellence Team.

Led, managed and equipped by NCOs from the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron, the bulk of the FE Team labor consists of Airmen from around the wing assigned to a rotating one to two-week duty, improving "first-impressions" across the KMC. The FE Team is on duty 52 weeks a year, seven days a week (some holiday exceptions), completing a variety of duties including litter patrol, trash collection and pickup of "things out-of-place," like fallen limbs or forgotten traffic cones in common areas.

The FE team focuses its efforts on publically visible areas along major base thoroughfares; high-visibility, high-traffic facilities and their grounds; and community recreational facilities and grounds areas, but you may see these busy orange-vested Airmen anywhere within the Ramstein perimeter and even on the major departure thoroughfares outside the base gates. With over 86 miles of roadway and over 5,000 acres to patrol inside the fence, the team's work never seems done and its impact upon the KMC's "curb appeal" is huge, contributing greatly to the pride we feel in our base.

Facility managers and housing residents are still responsible for the area in and around their facilities. Do your part in upholding the 86th AW's commitment to excellence and the FE Team's dedication to duty by maintaining your own clean, neat and attractive workplace. In doing so, the FE Team will spend less time and effort around your facility and then be able to range farther and wider across the KMC. The base Self-Help Store is a good place to start for tools and supplies that can help you help yourself. Give them a call at 480-5034 if you have specific questions.

It's a choice - please choose to participate in showcasing facility and base pride. When you see the orange-vested FE Team members taking care of business, a word of hearty appreciation for their efforts will likely bring a smile to their faces. If you notice areas which need additional attention or would like to talk to the FE Team leadership, call their hotline at 480-0208.