My name is Brandon Rickard (nickname "Rick") and I was stationed at Zweibrucken Air Base from November 1988 to November 1990 as an A1C (Airman 1st class). I was assigned to the USAFE 26th Security Police Squadron SPOS C flight as a security specialist.

I joined the U.S. Air Force directly after I graduated from high school (McLean County, Kentucky) with the intent of getting into law enforcement (LE) but like so many others I was shanghaied by an NCO at the MEPS who informed me that the law enforcement bus had just left and that security was the same thing. Little did I know that there was no such thing as a law enforcement bus or that law enforcement and security were two different career fields but I can't complain since this NCO's deception led to me being stationed at the greatest base of my career-Sunny Zwei.
Like most of the 26th SPS family, I was assigned to live in the infamous dorm 18 (room 50) with some of the greatest people that I have ever met. Also like everyone else, my time at Zweibrucken ended too soon. I was then taken to my next and last base, KI Sawyer AFB in Gwinn, Michigan.  I was assigned to the SAC 410th Security Police Squadron SPOS D for two years before going TDA to SPOL EGG (Elite Gate Guard) for one and a half years. I finished my last six months in the Air Force with the SPOS B.

During my time at KI Sawyer I met and married my wife Amy who supported me after my ETS and while I spent two years in college at Northern Michigan University (NMU) where I completed my associates degree in justice studies. I then attended the NMU Regional Police Academy to obtain my certification as a police officer (MCOLES).

Shortly after my graduation from the academy I was hired to work as a full time police officer with Keweenaw Bay Indian Communities Tribal Police (Dept of the Interior/US Bureau of Indian Affairs-BIA) and I also took a job as a part time deputy with the Marquette County Sheriff's Office (Marquette, MI). I worked both jobs for three years and I reached the rank of corporal with the KBIC but the pay was much better at the sheriff's office so when they offered me a full time position I resigned from the KBIC and began working solely for the sheriff's department as a full time road patrol deputy.

After working for a few years I decided to complete my college degree so I re-enrolled at NMU and received my bachelors degree in criminal justice (2004) and I am now working towards my masters degree in criminal justice through NMU.

Unfortunately, the State of Michigan was hit with a two billion dollar budget deficit so I was reassigned to the MCSO corrections division in May of 2004 on a temporary basis. I will be returning to the road in April 2005 to the police work that I love.

I will never forget the great friendships that I made while at Zweibrucken or the great times that I had (Well, there are some that are foggy due to the vast quantities of Parkbrau Export that I consumed). It's hard to describe how pleased I was when Scott started this website or when he asked me to help out by being his assistant webmaster. I think we all owe him a debt of gratitude for allowing us to come together again.

Brandon "Rick" Rickard, Asst. Webmaster
"Badger" , Webmaster
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA; Zweibrucken AB was my first assignment as a freash-out-of-the-box airman no striper.  I arrived in late 1989 and stayed until the locking of the last gate in 1991.  I worked on SPOL-D as a law enforcement specialist where I conducted basic law enforcement duties on the base.  I can honestly say I cannot remember any of the "calls for service" I responded to but remember the job was both fun and stressful at times.

My late teens were spent in Dorm 18 learning how to party with the OG's in the squadron.   Time went too fast.  I went from "Jeep" to "Figmo" in way too short a time.
I value the lessons I learned and the friendships I made at Zwei, and can think of no better place for a young airman's first assignment.   The base, town, and country all hold memories for me I won't soon forget.

I served in Operation Desert Storm at King Khalied airbase during the first Gulf War with the 49th Ops Group (P) where I spent 3 months on the only operational F117 base in the theatre.  I spent time at Howard AB, Panama and McClellan AFB, CA.  As part of a pilot program at McClellan, I was selected to attend the local police academy while I was still on active duty to act as a liason between the Security Police and local law enforcement.  I graduated the sheriff's academy and separated from the Air Force in 1995.  I received my Bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice in 2000 and am currently pursuing my Master's degree in graphic arts.

I am currently a Deputy Sheriff in Sacramento CA.  I split my time between work and my design/illustration business. 

I hope you enjoy the site and feel free to email me with any additions or just to say hello.
Site Staff
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