CONTACT:
- Air Base: Base Defense Operations Center – (843) 963-3600 or 911
- Weapons Station: Base Defense Operations Center – (843) 794-7555 or 911
BACKGROUND
Mission:
To Provide force protection/law enforcement services to over 60 DoD and Federal agencies and over 86,500 Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilians, dependents and retirees on Joint Base Charleston-Air Base and Joint Base Charleston-Weapons Station. To Maintain law and order, provide resource protection/security for mission-essential, strategic and JCS directed assets. To Provide mission ready expeditionary support security forces to combatant commanders worldwide in support of joint and combined operations. To Deliver installation support to all Joint Base Charleston Mission Partners and mission ready forces to Combatant Commanders.
Vision:
Respected Joint Defenders Projecting Excellence Through Service & Commitment.
The unit is organized into five S-functions and staff. Commanders Staff, S1 (Personnel), S2 (Intelligence), S3 (Operations), S4 (Logistics), and S5 (Plans and Programs).
Since 9/11, the 628th SFS has supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and as of 30 January 2007 has deployed over 1700 Airmen supporting the Global War on Terror. The unit has been tasked on numerous occasions to support the United States Army on Police Transition Teams training Iraqi National Police and Confinement Operations. With the basic mission principles intact, the squadron has evolved through the years into a quality-oriented organization, always called on first when there is a need for quick response to protect global assets.
In 1941, after the Army Air Corps took control of the airfield to establish a defense for the eastern coast of the United States during World War II, the unit actively participated in every major campaign of the war as the military police for the 437th Troop Carrier Group. The unit was deactivated in 1945.
The 437th was constituted the 437th Air Police Squadron on 28 July 1950, was activated in the Reserves on 1 August 1950 and order to active service on 10 August 1950. The unit was stationed at O’Hare Field, Chicago International Airport, Illinois; Shaw AFB, South Carolina and moved to Brady Field, Japan. After serving during the Korean Conflict, the unit was inactivated on 10 June 1952 at O’Hare Field. Again, activated on 1 March 1955 as the 1608th Air Police Squadron, under the command of Major John A. Taylor.
The unit as again deactivated on 27 December 1965 and organized on 8 January 1966 at Charleston AFB, South Carolina and redesignated as the 437th Security Police Squadron on 8 March 1967, under the command of Lt Col Phillip Riebman. On 1 July 1997, the squadron was redesignated the 437th Security Forces Squadron with Major Gregory D. Moultrie as the commander. On 10 October 2010, the squadron was againredesignated the 628th Security Forces Squadron under the command of Major Christopher J. Callis.
Through time, the mission of squadron has changed and adapted to new world contingencies, technologies, and power shifts. In the past, missions have included deployments to Korea, Vietnam, Guyana, Haiti, Grenada, Operations Desert Storm/Shield, Restore Hope, Continue Hope, Support Hope, Provide Relief, Vigilant Warrior, Maintain Democracy, Sea Signal, Provide Promise, Joint Endeavor, Shining Hope, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Allies Refuge, Resolute Support, Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel.
ASSIGNMENTS
437th Troop Carrier Group: 1941 - 1945
437th Air Base Group: 1 August 1950 – 10 June 1952
437th Air Base Group: 15 June 1952 – 16 November 1957
Military Air Transport Service: 27 December 1965
437th Air Base Group: 8 January 1966 – 1 October 1991
437th Support Group: 1 October 1991 – 1 April 1995
437th Mission Support Group: 1 April 1995 – 10 October 2010
628th Mission Support Group: 10 October 2010 – Present
STATIONS
Charleston Army Airfield, South Carolina: 1942
Baer Field, Indiana: 1943
O’Hare Field, Illinois: 1 August 1950
Shaw AFB, South Carolina: 14 August – 16 October 1950
Brady Field, Japan: 8 November 1950 – 10 June 1952
O’Hare Field, Illinois: 15 June 1952 – 16 November 1957
Charleston AFB, South Carolina: 8 January 1966 – 10 October 2010
Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina: 10 October 2020 – Present
HONORS
Service Streamers:
- EAME Theater (WWII)
- Korean Theater (Korean War)
- Global War on Terror (GWOT)
Campaign Streamers:
- Rome-Arno: 22 January 1944 – 9 September 1944
- Normandy: 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1945
- Southern France: 15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944
- Rhineland: 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945
- Ardennes-Alsace: 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945
- Central Europe: 22 March 1945 – 11 May 1945
- Antisubmarine: 1941 – 1945
- Assault Landing Credit: 23 – 24 March 1951
- CCF Intervention: 1950 – 1951
- First UN Counteroffensive: 1951
- CCF Spring Offensive: 22 April 1951 – 8 July 1951
- Second Korean Winter: 1951 – 1952
- Korea Summer-Fall: 1 May 1952 – 30 November 1952
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers:
- None
Meritorious Unit Awards:
- 1 July 2009 – 30 June 2010
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:
- 11 July 1966 – 10 July 1967
- 11 July 1967 – 10 July 1968
- 11 July 1968 – 12 June 1969
- 13 June 1969 – 12 June 1970
- 1 July 1972 – 30 June 1973
- 1 July 1982 – 30 June 1984
- 1 July 1984 – 30 June 1986
- 1 July 1988 – 30 June 1989
- 21 September 1989 – 31 October 1989
- 1 June 1989 – 30 June 1990
- 1 July 1993 – 30 June 1995
- 1 July 1995 – 30 June 1997
- 1 July 1997 – 30 June 1998
- 1 July 1998 – 30 June 2000
- 11 September 2001 – 30 June 2003 w/Valor
- 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2007
- 1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008
- 1 October 2010 – 30 September 2012
- 1 October 2012 – 30 September 2013
- 1 October 2015 – 30 September 2017
- 1 October 2017 – 30 September 2018
- 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2019
- 1 October 2019 – 30 September 2021
EMBLEM
Description: On a disc divided bendwise sinister Ultramarine Blue and Dark Blue, in sinister base a shield Gold Brown bordered Air Force Yellow and bearing a mullet within an annulet of the like, and to dexter chief a falcon volant White detailed Silver Gray with beak and talons Air Force Yellow, clutching a sword bendwise blade Silver Gray handled Air Force Yellow. Attached above the disc, a Blue scroll edged with a narrow Yellow border and inscribed “TERRA AER AQUA” in Yellow letters. Attached below the disc, a Blue scroll edged with a narrow Yellow border and inscribed “628TH SECURITY FORCES SQUADRON” in Yellow letters.
Significance: Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The falcon represents swiftness, the sword signifies decisive military action. The shield and star signify installation defense. The Latin motto, “TERRA AER AQUA” translates to “AIR LAND SEA” in English.
MOTTO (TERRA AER AQUA)
Commanders:
Lt Col Richard M. Cheng – 2022
Lt Col Jason O. Williams – 2019
Lt Col Michael B. Speck – 2017
Lt Col Warren B. Brainard – 2014
Lt Col James B. Hodges – 2013
Lt Col Francis K. Dorsch – 2011
Major Christopher J. Callis – 2010
Lt Col Seth J. McKee – 2006
Major Paul D. Stang, 2003
Major Jeffrey R. Hunt – 2000
Major Robert M. Eatman – 1999
Major Lyle W. Cary – 1998
Major Gregory D. Moultrie, 1997