Fly, fight and win...in 2010...and beyond

  • Published
  • By Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon
  • 86th Airlift Wing commander
Happy 2010 to Team Ramstein! If 2009 was any indication, the 86th Airlift Wing's "fly, fight, and win" mission here in Europe will keep growing in 2010.

Fly: In April we will receive our our 14th, and final, C-130J Super Herc and become fully operational soon thereafter. Meanwhile our guard and reserve team mates in the 38th AS seamlessly added additional C-130 E and H crews and aircraft to support our J-model transition. And making it look easy our DV airlift fleet in the 76 AS and 306 AS routinely deliver our nations most important customers inside and outside the European Theater. Finally, throughout 2010 we will continue to fly and to exercise with our wingmen in the 435th AGOW to prepare for our Operational Readiness Inspection this coming September.

Fight: We begin this year with more than 600 of our fellow Airmen in the wing deployed in the fight to Afghanistan and Iraq. Defenders, transporters, maintainers, operators, EOD, firefighters, ATC, and dozens of others have answered the call. And when needed our medics laser-like focus brings our wounded warriors swiftly from the battle field to world class medical care.

Win: one of the paths for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan runs through Germany. As our nation adds 30,000 additional troops in Afghanistan you can expect our Ramstein tempo as well as the 86th AW's deployments and combat taskings to increase.

2009 was a very busy year and congratulations on a job well done. 2010 will be even busier...and challenging. As the 86th AW mission continues to grow staying focused is vital to "winning". And for Airmen in the 86th the keys to winning are: flying and fighting.

Thank each and every one of you and your families for serving. Despite the challenges ahead I can think of no better team than the 86th Airlift Wing to execute our fly, fight, and win mission in 2010...and beyond.