86th CRG serve in Cyprus; 435th MDG Airmen return Published Aug. 18, 2006 By Nate Cairney Kaiserslautern American RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The recent movement of personnel and supplies in and out of Lebanon and Cyprus has been a massive undertaking, requiring cooperation across all U.S. service branches. Ramstein Airmen have been at the heart of the matter since the beginning. Members of the 86th Contingency Response Group continue to operate in Cyprus, and Airmen from the 435th Medical Group recently returned to Germany. Operation Levant began in late July as an all-services response to the crisis in Lebanon. Thousands of Lebanon-based American citizens were whisked away to Cyprus, where some travelled through Ramstein on their way to the United States. "The first few weeks, we conducted the largest American evacuation since the Korean War," said Maj. Rob Waarvik, 86th CRG element commander. "Overall, we've helped move more than 10,000 people and 860 cargo tons of humanitarian supplies." The majority of the CRG team arrived July 22 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and immediately began providing in-transit tracking assistance and material handling equipment. The group continues to load, unload and track cargo, and pushes most of it to international airports in Pathos and Larnaca. They aren't alone in their efforts. According to Major Waarvik, the operation has been a joint effort of all four major service branches. "We've operated primarily under Naval leadership, and have been joined by a special ops group from Mildenhall, a Marine expeditionary group, and a handful of Army guys," he said. "It's been a good mix of the team concept. We really couldn't do any of this stuff without one another." While approximately 15 members of the CRG are staying in Cyprus to continue the humanitarian efforts in Lebanon, 21 Airmen from Ramstein's 435th Medical Group returned Aug. 7. While there, members of the 435th MDG partnered with a CRG doctor and 13 Navy personnel to provide extensive ship-to-plane medical coverage for Americans leaving Lebanon. According to Col. Carol Vermillion, the 435th MDG commander who deployed to Cyprus as the Expeditionary Medical Support commander, the experience was rewarding. "They (members of the 435th MDG) really felt like they had accomplished something," she said. "A lot of them said, 'this is why I came into the Air Force.'" Major Waarvik echoed those sentiments, saying his group was happy to answer the call. "Helping fellow American citizens is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of people," he said. "It's worthy work."