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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein bags groceries for an Airman at the commissary on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 21, 2017. Gen. Goldfein worked as a bagger at the Ramstein commissary as a teenager. He passed through Ramstein on his way back to the states after visiting Airmen at several locations in the Middle East.Paper or Plastic? CSAF returns to Ramstein roots
                        
                        
                        Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein bags groceries for an Airman at the commissary on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 21, 2017. Goldfein worked as a bagger at the Ramstein AB commissary as a teenager. He passed through Ramstein AB on his way back to the states after visiting Airmen at several locations in the Middle East. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Sharida Jackson)
                
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        Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein listens to Charlie Searchwell, commissary head bagger, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 21, 2017. As a teenager, Gen. Goldfein worked with Searchwell as a bagger at the Ramstein commissary. Searchwell has worked at the commissary for nearly 50 years and has known Goldfein for more than 40 years. The CSAF passed through Ramstein on his way back to the states after visiting Airmen at various locations throughout the Middle East.Paper or Plastic? CSAF returns to Ramstein roots
                        
                        
                        Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein listens to Charlie Searchwell, the commissary head bagger, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 21, 2017. As a teenager, Goldfein worked with Searchwell as a bagger at the Ramstein AB commissary. Searchwell has worked at the commissary for nearly 50 years and has known Goldfein for more than 40 years. The CSAF passed through Ramstein AB on his way back to the states after visiting Airmen at various locations throughout the Middle East. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Sharida Jackson)
                
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Paper or Plastic? CSAF returns to Ramstein rootsPublished Aug. 24, 2017
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Sharida Jackson
                    
                    
                    86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
            **RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --**Beep. Beep. Beep. A cashier scans items and sends them down the conveyor belt to the bagger. ‘Baggers work for tips only’ are the words displayed on signs near the registers.
Baggers can range anywhere from teenagers to retirees. They might even go on to become four-star generals. 
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein recently visited the Ramstein Air Base Commissary, but this was not his first time here. As a teenager, he worked as a bagger in the 1970s while his family was stationed at Ramstein Air Base.
“I remember working here,” said Goldfein. “This was one of my first jobs and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to work with such great people.”
Goldfein worked for Head Bagger Charlie Searchwell during his youth at Ramstein AB, who has worked at the commissary for nearly 50 years. Searchwell described Goldfein as hard working, friendly, and appreciative. 
“A lot of chiefs, colonels, and leaders come back,” Searchwell said. “They don’t forget their first job.”
Goldfein and Searchwell embraced and chatted briefly upon seeing each other, reminiscing on their time spent working together. 
“He was a great boss,” said Goldfein. “He had high standards and wouldn’t put up with folks not showing up on time.”
Goldfein passed through Ramstein AB on his way back to the states after visiting Airmen at various installations across the Middle East.
During the Ramstein AB visit, Goldfein met with baggers, greeted shoppers, and bagged groceries for customers with his former boss.
Chief Master Sgt. Jackie Harris, the 24th Intelligence Squadron superintendent, was stunned that the Air Force chief of staff was returning to his Ramstein AB roots as a bagger.
“He’s down here bagging groceries, you rarely see that,” said Harris. “This is servant leadership at its best.”Ramstein AB 



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