139th News

Maintainer bids farewell to 139th Airlift Wing after 36 years of service

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Audrey Chappell
  • 139th Airlift Wing

Senior Master Sgt. Terry Ramseier, fabrication section supervisor for the 139th Maintenance Squadron, retired after 36 years of service following a ceremony on July 14, 2019.

Ramseier joined the 139th Airlift Wing in 1983 starting out as an avionics instruments specialist. He transferred to the maintenance squadron in 1992 as part of the Isochronal Dock, in which he inspected C-130 Hercules aircraft. He says he originally didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, so he joined the military.

“God has led me to this place,” he said.

He deployed five times during his service including to Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Tabuk, Saudi Arabia during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Ramseier became fabrication section supervisor in 2015. He says he leads his airmen the way his mentor led him.

“My supervisor would say, ‘I work for you, you don’t work for me,’ and that stuck with me, and I try to lead my guys the same way. If I take care of them, they do their job well, which takes care of me,” Ramseier said.

Ramseier came from a military family, with his mother serving in the Army and his father and younger sister serving with the 139th Airlift Wing. He passes on the legacy with his sons and nephews serving, as well.

Ramseier plans to do volunteer work after retirement, and says he’ll visit the 139th Airlift Wing often.

“This has been a great career. I raised a family on it, it has provided for me, and I can walk out of here proud.”