Beale Air Force Base, Calif. –
Picturesque castles and Oktoberfest are common destinations for travelers to Germany. Nine members of the 940th Wing Services Flight went to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in October. Although this annual tour assignment included some sight-seeing, it was no vacation.
The purpose of the trip was to obtain valuable training and provide backfill for the 86th Services Squadron in their main dining facility, flight line kitchen, and fitness center.
Chief Master Sgt. Frederick Reese, 940th SVF, said he and his Airmen gained valuable work experience in a high- tempo environment. Reese's job was to provide quality control on all the food facilities to determine if the facility meets the standards for the Hennessy Award. This award is given to services units who excel in food services.
"This is real world," said Reese. "We actually get to perform what we are trained to do."
Two other 940th SVF members, Master Sgt. Domingo Pesquera and Master Sgt. Margaret O'Malley, stepped in as bakers since the kitchen at the Ramstein dining facility was understaffed. The two sergeants had no previous baking experience, but helped anyway, eventually becoming proficient at the task.
Duty at the base fitness center was also on the 940th SVF troops' annual tour agenda. Tech. Sgt. Leslie Holmes worked at the gym during the second week of the tour. She performed customer service, conducted front desk head counts, and cleaned equipment.
Holmes said it was a great learning experience, and she enjoyed interacting with military members from different countries.
Their annual tour wasn't just all work and no fun. The group took advantage of opportunities to explore what Germany had to offer. Pesquera said they saw historical sites and had the chance to visit with Lt. Col. Dale Pudwill, former 940th SVF commander, who is now stationed at Ramstein AB.
O'Malley said the annual tour was a great experience, and she felt proud to support the troops who deploy into the war zone from that base.