A passenger empties his pockets on his way through a newly located security checkpoint at the Ramstein Passenger Terminal Jan. 18 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The metal detectors and carry-on baggage screening devices used to be at the front door of the terminal that caused long waits. The change is part of an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dan Bellis)
A passenger empties his pockets on his way through a newly located security checkpoint at the Ramstein Passenger Terminal Jan. 18 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The metal detectors and carry-on baggage screening devices used to be at the front door of the terminal that caused long waits. The change is part of an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dan Bellis)
A passenger walks through a metal detector on his way through a newly located security checkpoint at the Ramstein Passenger Terminal Jan. 18 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The metal detectors and carry-on baggage screening devices used to be at the front door of the terminal which caused long waits. The change is part of an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dan Bellis)
by Staff Sgt. Dan Bellis
Detachment 4, Air Force News Agency
1/19/2007 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNEWS) -- As part of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century, the passenger terminal here has made life easier for passengers and other customers.
"Now we've mirrored ... a commercial airport," said Staff Sgt. Kristopher Worcester, who works at the 723rd Air Mobility Squadron and helped implement the AFSO 21 changes.
"The screening's done right before you go in the gate area and the baggage screening's done behind the scenes," he said.
Before implementing a few simple changes, everyone who set foot in the terminal had to go through a security checkpoint at the front door, including a metal detector and baggage screening that caused a choke point of sorts and slowed customer entry.
Sergeant Worcester has been working at the terminal for a few years and said the changes take a load off the customer.
"It makes me feel great that I can do something to help travelers. It's just nice to see everybody getting out of here with less stress as possible."
The 723rd AMS handles operations at the Ramstein Passenger Terminal, which is U.S. Air Forces in Europe's largest terminal.
