News

Reservists give Lucy a ride in the sky with NASA mission
August 19, 2021 — What do members of the 317th Airlift Squadron, the rock band, The Beatles, and NASA have in common? Well, a Reserve aircrew who flew a seemingly routine mission, July 30, from Colorado to Florida can answer the question. The cargo, aboard a Charleston C-17 Globemaster III, a large white shipping container from Buckley Space Force Base, Colo. directly to Kennedy Space Station, Fla. The shipping container contained NASA’s latest deep-space exploration spacecraft Lucy. We’ll get to the connection with The Beatles later... MORE

Charleston C-17 offload of Lucy spacecraft

437th Airlift Wing Airmen return from deployment
August 9, 2021 — Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing returned in mass from undisclosed locations to their friends and families waiting to welcome them home... MORE

Maj. Andrew Mills, 16th Airlift Squadron pilot, is welcomed home from his deployment by his son at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 8, 2021.

Department of the Air Force begins integrated personnel, pay system modernization
August 4, 2021 — Uniformed Total Force Airmen and Guardians are invited to create Air Force Integrated Personnel and Pay System accounts as part of a two-phase personnel and pay modernization program... MORE

Wanted: Innovative ideas for Spark Tank 2022
August 2, 2021 — Spark Tank 2022, a Department of the Air Force annual competition in which Airmen and Guardians pitch innovative solutions to operational problems, will accept submissions in early August 2021... MORE

Master Sgt. Justin Bauer from the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., was awarded the Spark Tank 2021 trophy for his idea, “Innovative Approach to C-130 Wheel Repair.” Spark Tank 2022, a Department of the Air Force annual competition in which Airmen and Guardians pitch innovative solutions to operational problems, will accept submissions in early August 2021.

DoD directs employees to start wearing face masks again
July 29, 2021 — Following guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Defense Department has directed employees working in areas at high risk for transmission to begin using face masks again as a measure to prevent the continued spread of the COVID-19 virus, especially the fast-moving, highly-transmittable Delta variant... MORE

Senate confirms Kendall to be Air Force Secretary
July 26, 2021 — Frank Kendall won confirmation from the Senate July 26 to be the 26th Secretary of the Air Force, placing an official with decades-long service in defense issues in the top civilian job at a time when the department is navigating new global challenges and wide-reaching modernization efforts. ... MORE

USCGC Hamilton Holds Change of Command Ceremony
July 26, 2021 — The United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Hamilton (WMSL 753) held a change of command at U.S. Coast Guard Base Charleston, S.C., July 23, 2021... MORE

Capt. Timothy P. Cronin, right, transferred command of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) to Capt. Matthew T. Brown, left, during a change of command ceremony held at U.S. Coast Guard Base Charleston, S.C., July 23, 2021. Vice Adm. Steven D. Poulin presided over the event. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian M. Wilbur)

Department of the Air Force approves special leave accrual for fiscal year 2021
July 23, 2021 — Air Force and Space Force members performing active service, and Reserve and Guard Airmen on Title 10 or Title 32 orders, can now accrue up to 120 days of annual leave for fiscal year 2021 instead of the typical 60 days of leave. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Delivers SOUTHCOM-Donated Field Hospital to Suriname
July 20, 2021 — A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft transported a large mobile field hospital from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, to Suriname July 16 that will be donated to the country’s Ministry of Health to help the South American nation deal with COVID-19 and other health emergencies... MORE

U.S. Air Force personnel and Surinamese locals unload field hospital equipment at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, Suriname, July 16, 2021.

SAPR training of the future at Joint Base Charleston
July 16, 2021 — Members of Joint Base Charleston play test a sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) training module which is currently being developed for use, July 15, 2021. The Air Mobility Command (AMC) partnered with a contracted company called Moth + Flame to develop SAPR specific skill based modules. ... MORE

Col. Marc Greene, commander of the 628th Air Base Wing and Joint Base Charleston, finishes play testing a sexual assault prevention and response training module that has been created by Air Mobility Command and a contracted company called Moth + Flame July 15th, 2021, at Joint Base Charleston S.C. This form of SAPR training is an is part of an effort to engage to engage the Airmen in a more effective manner.