Photo By Capt. Lou Burton | Lt. Col. Christopher Cagle, 435th Construction and Training Squadron commander, cuts a...... read more read more
Subscribe
RAMSETIN AIR BASE, Germany - The 435th Construction and Training Squadron hosted a ceremony celebrating their 75th anniversary at the CTS compound, Sept. 19, 2025.
The squadrons’ legacy began in 1950 as the 7329th Labor Service Unit comprised of only civilians.
“With its original home at Rhein Main Air Base, and what is now Frankfurt Airport, the 7329th was initially tasked to support construction at Rhein Main AB,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Cagle, 435th Construction and Training Squadron commander. “But soon the unit was tasked to support construction efforts at Landstuhl Air Base and Ramstein Air Base.”
The organization’s original home was at Rhein Main Air Base, which is now Frankfurt Airport. While initially tasked to support construction at Rhein Main Air Base, the unit was eventually tasked to support construction efforts at Landstuhl Air Base and Ramstein Air Base.
“While working at Landstuhl and Ramstein, the all-civilian 7329th was billeted, initially in tents, right here on the same plot of land as our compound,” said Cagle. “By 1953, the 7329th was permanently reassigned to Ramstein and the compound that we know today began to take shape with more permanent infrastructure being built, some of which still stands.”
By 1971, an aircraft arresting system depot was established with active-duty Airmen assigned to operate it. Then in 1979, a training mission was assigned to the unit with additional active-duty Airmen assigned to deliver contingency skills training to others.
“By this point, the three missions that we know today had been assigned to the squadron; construction, training, and aircraft arresting system depot,” said Cagle. “No other squadron in the United States Air Force has those three missions and, in that way, CTS truly is a ‘one-of-kind’ organization.”
For the last 75 years, the 435th CTS has undertaken a multitude of construction projects spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Handling everything in-house, from initial planning and design, to sourcing materials, maintaining construction equipment, and deploying resources to remote project sites; this unit has built airfields and completed airfield markings using its own dedicated personnel and equipment.
The squadron also has a team of instructors that have provided contingency skills training to thousands of combat support Airmen across the total force on how to operate in a contingency environment.
“In the Depot, our team ensures safety of flight in this theater by overhauling BAK-12 systems for USAFE main operating bases,” said Cagle. “We posture and deploy mobile aircraft arresting systems to support named exercises, emergencies, and real-world contingencies.”
These mix of mission sets make the 435th CTS a unique entity in the Air Force. With military and civilian personnel from the Engineer, Force Support, Contracting, Logistics, Finance, and Communications communities, that are spread across eight flights, develops a wide range of solutions.
“No other squadron in the U.S. Air Force has a construction, training, and depot mission,” said Cagle. “Only CTS has all three in one organization.”
And while mission is unique, the most important part of the squadron are the people.
“The members of this squadron show a special kind of teamwork, partnership, and problem-solving ability that I haven’t seen elsewhere,” said Cagle. “To me, this speaks to a kind of deep-rooted commitment and loyalty to mission, organization, and to each other, akin to the way that a family operates. That is the thing that makes this squadron special, the 435 CTS is a family.”
The impact felt on the mission from accomplished by the 435th CTS was highlighted by the 435th Contingency Response Group commander, Col. Damon Field.
“The 435th CTS enhance the resilience, efficiency, safety and overall operational capability of this theater,” said Field. “In other words, the professionals at the 435th Construction and Training Squadron make deterrence in Europe a reality.”
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2025 04:55 |
| Story ID: | 549242 |
| Location: | DE |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 435th Construction and Training Squadron celebrates 75-year legacy, by Capt. Lou Burton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
