Members of the Nigerian air force’s quick response force visited Ramstein AB, Germany, earlier this month for subject-matter exchange with airmen from the 435th Contingency Response Group. “Our goal is to address their needs and concerns to improve their own airfield assessment, security forces, and emergency medical support,” said SSgt. Luis Devotto, 435th CRG air advisor, in Ramstein’s Dec. 11 release. He added, “We are also building a plan for future familiarization activities.” The 435th CRG personnel, skilled in tasks like construction, airlift support, and airbase security, shared methods to help the Nigerians refine their own procedures. “There are many techniques that have been demonstrated for us over the last few days that I think will help,” said Nigerian Air Commodore Benard Chiobi, QRF commander. The contingent of five Nigerian airmen was at Ramstein from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6. (Ramstein report by A1C Holly Cook and Trevor Rhynes)
The Air Force overall reduced its size by 120 aircraft in fiscal year 2021, but kept about the same number of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft, according to data supplied by the service. The F-35 fleet saw the biggest increase while the B-1B bomber fleet saw the largest decline.