Motivational program ending at Ramstein

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mara Title
  • Detachment 4, Air Force News Agency
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNEWS) --  After three years of helping Airmen get back on track, the Ramstein Area Motivational Program, or RAMP, correctional custody facility is closing its doors. More than 200 Airmen have come through the program, with a huge majority of them successfully completing the training.

RAMP opened its doors Jan. 1, 2004, but was available only to local Kaiserslautern Military Community units. It then expanded its service to all United States Air Forces in Europe Airmen in May of the same year.

Master Sgt. Leroy Lefiti, RAMP superintendent, said he's sure RAMP's positive impact is career-lasting. He said the program also has affected him and his staff.

"There's a tendency when you're dealing with the young Airmen today that, 'Well you know I'm the experienced one, so then, let me talk and you listen.' However, from a listening aspect, I've learned more than anything," he said.

The No. 1 thing Sergeant Lefiti said he instilled in his staff was that each Airman has great significance.

"We let them know exactly how important they are when they come in to us," he said. "They are often down on themselves, and the whole situation is negative for them. So the first thing we do is let them know exactly how important they are to the Air Force, and to our country."

Staff Sgt. Joe Gallina, RAMP NCO in charge, said everyone has learned something from this program.

"It has helped me as far as supervision goes," he said. "I have supervised a lot of Airmen, 222 to be exact, who have come through here, and various cadre who have worked here at RAMP as well. So I've got a vast array of knowledge of different types of supervisory tools and when to use them in different situations."

"A lot of people think that RAMP was a punishment tool," said Lt. Col. Julie Robel, 435th Mission Support Squadron commander, "but it was not.  RAMP was a rehabilitation tool. It was given to the commanders as yet another tool, non-judicial punishment, that they could use when they had faith and thought they could rehabilitate someone they thought had just made a mistake who was recoverable. It really was to come back, learn the basics, and remember why you came into the military." 

Colonel Robel said with RAMP's closure, NCO's and officers must make sure they mentor, behave as positive role models and enforce the standards even more than they currently do.

Although RAMP is closing its doors, the lessons instilled by the cadre have continued to impact the Airmen who passed through here. 

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