News Release: Ceremony marks Seventeenth Air Force activation Published Oct. 2, 2008 By Public Affairs 17th Air Force RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The Air Force will celebrate the stand up of Seventeenth Air Force Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. here, commemorating the Oct. 1 activation of the unit currently known as U.S. Air Forces in Europe's Detachment 5. Major General Ronald R. Ladnier will unfurl the unit's colors during the ceremony. He will serve as the commander for Seventeenth Air Force, also known as Air Forces Africa. The new unit will serve as the air component for U.S. Africa Command Seventeenth Air Force will support USAFRICOM via command and control of air forces to conduct sustained security engagement and operations as directed to promote air safety, security and development. Like USAFRICOM, Seventeenth Air Force is not set up like a traditional combatant command component. Its focus is upon continued support to existing US government initiatives to assist African nations in their goal of conflict prevention. A critical element of this effort is fostering cooperation with regional organizations such as the African Union and other partners on the continent. The 17th AF designation carries historical significance in USAFE and USAFRICOM, being first activated in 1953 in Morocco before spending decades at Ramstein and nearby Sembach Air Base. Conducting various missions under USAFE, 17th AF was inactivated in 1996. Media advisory: To attend the ceremony, contact 17th AF Public Affairs at +49 6371 47 9257, or by replying to Master Sgt. Jim Fisher at james.fisher@ramstein.af.mil.