Airmen at Ramstein Unveil 'COVID Armada'

May 6, 2020 | BY AIR FORCE SENIOR AIRMAN KRISTOF RIXMANN

The 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron has outfitted several models of government vehicles in an effort to mitigate potential exposure to COVID-19 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Dubbed the "COVID Armada," the vehicles were equipped with a transparent, protective barrier to separate the driver from the passengers, and vice versa.

"Since the pandemic, we've been looking for preventive measures for our drivers and passengers," Air Force Master Sgt. Alan Brown, the ground transportation supervisor for the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron, said. "We move a lot of different people — patient transport, air crew, Ramstein base personnel. We've evolved from gloves and masks and physical distancing to the protective barriers we have now. As information about the pandemic becomes available, we continue to evolve our protective stance."

Several factors were considered during the construction of the protective barriers.

"Our mechanics designed a way to install the protective equipment while keeping drilling to a minimum by using preexisting holes found within the structure of the bus," Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Samuel Pastor, the management flight chief for the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron, said. "Once the protective equipment is no longer needed, reconfiguring the bus to its original state will not pose a challenge."

In addition to efficiency, the team also took visibility into consideration. The protective equipment is entirely transparent, giving drivers the same unobstructed view of both passengers and the road behind them.

After getting a chance to tour the squadron's newly outfitted fleet of government-owned vehicles, Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark R. August, the commander of the 86th Airlift Wing, and Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ernesto Rendon, the wing's command chief, expressed their pleasure with the squadron's ingenuity.

"I think the 86th Airlift Wing is at its best when we have a defined problem to solve," August said. "The 86th VRS approached the COVID-19 challenge with cost-effective solutions that truly emphasized airmen innovation."

"This team just proved if you give an airman a problem to solve, they're going to figure it out," Rendon added.

(Air Force Senior Airman Kristof Rixmann is assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing.)