Americans, Germans ink Ramstein support agreement Published Dec. 2, 2005 By Capt. Jonathan Friedman U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) -- German and U.S. Air Forces in Europe leaders signed an agreement that continues the Ramstein support arrangement between the two nations. The agreement covers logistical and administrative support provided to the German support unit at Ramstein, including housing and work space. Lt. Gen. Horst Martin, commander of Allied Component Command -- Air Headquarters Ramstein hosted the Dec. 1 event. It also included an official signing by Brig. Gen. Michael Snodgrass, USAFE plans and programs director and President Wolfgang Nowak, branch director of German Defense Administration West in Düsseldorf. "The refinement of this support agreement sets the tone and template for future support agreements," General Snodgrass said. "It allows newer NATO nations the opportunity to see how a support agreement is arranged. The bottom line is that these nations are able to work more effectively, faster, by having this agreement as an example." The previous agreement dated back to May 1988. It was updated because significant changes had happened. "It's important to conclusively establish the status and scope of the support," President Nowak said. "With the number of organizational changes in both the German and American structure, it was important to refine the agreement to reflect these changes." President Nowak said the 1988 agreement included some limitations and open areas that were not as conclusive as they should have been. This new agreement refines those areas. "This agreement is a great example of the spirit of friendship between our two nations," he said. (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)