Ramstein Air Base

Ramstein Air Base (IATA: RMS, ICAO: ETAR) (before 1958 Ramstein–Landstuhl) is a United States Air Force installation located in Rhineland-Palatinate, southwestern Germany. It serves as the headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM). The base plays a key role in supporting forward military operations, particularly those deploying to Eastern Europe and Africa. Designed in 1949 by the French Army and built by German contractors between 1951 and 1953, the Ramstein Air Base hosts over 16,200 military personnel, U.S. civilians, and contractors. The base is located near the town of Ramstein-Miesenbach, with the east gate about 16 km (10 mi; 9 nmi) from Kaiserslautern, commonly known as "K-Town" among Americans. Other nearby towns include Landstuhl, located 5 km (3 mi; 3 nmi) from the base's west gate. Ramstein AB is part of the larger Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), which houses around 54,000 American service members and over 5,400 U.S. civilian employees. Additionally, more than 6,200 German workers are employed within the KMC. Air Force units in the KMC employ nearly 9,800 military personnel, supported by approximately 11,100 family members.