News

Two JB Charleston K9s retire after years of being good boys
November 26, 2019 — The playing of the colors, the reading of career accomplishments and being hand-fed a treat from your presiding officer. That’s the scene for a military working dog retirement ceremony which the 628th Security Forces Squadron held for K9s Elmo and Tze, Nov 22, 2019 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C... MORE

Staff Sgt. Timothy Merrigan, a military working dog handler assigned to the 628th Security Forces Squadron, his K-9 Tze, Staff Sgt. Jenings Casey, 628th SFS MWD training supervisor and his K-9 Elmo, pose after Tze and Elmo's retirement ceremony, Nov. 22, 2019 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Elmo served honorably for 10 years before retiring due to age and back problems while Tze's career was cut short at seven years due to back problems of his own. Both K-9s now live with their former handlers after serving their country honorably.

Leadership through our leaders’ eyes: a SNCOs perspective
November 26, 2019 — Our second installment in the series is with Master Sgt. Calantha Pickel, 628th Force Support Squadron Airman Leadership School commandant, where she is the direct supervisor to three ALS instructors and between 264-300 Airmen per year at the schoolhouse. Pickel uses her experiences from her days as an Airman and NCO to remember what it’s like to be in the position those she supervises are in:... MORE

Master Sgt. Calantha Pickel, 628th Force Support Squadron airman leadership school commandant. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

437th Maintenance Squadron, Fabrication Flight
November 14, 2019 — Joint Base Charleston C-17 Globemaster IIIs perform several missions throughout the world to include combat and presidential support, training and humanitarian missions. As time goes on, aircraft need to be inspected and repaired for structural integrity, internal cracks, painting and exterior damage. The 437th Maintenance Squadron, Fabrication Flight is responsible for fixing and identifying such issues to ensure mission readiness... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Timothy Schwenning, 437th Maintenance Squadron, Fabrication Flight Non Destructive Inspection NCO in charge, checks the disbonds and delamination on the Nose Radome on a C-17 Nov.1, 2019, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. During the bond test, the inner and outer radome is inspected to ensure the adhesive bonds two or more material components together.

Innovation the greatest tool in the box
November 13, 2019 — After identifying a problem with time consuming processes, Airmen from the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Support Flight tool room researched ways to improve one of their most daunting tasks of keeping their benchstock supply at the appropriate levels to accommodate the C-17 Globemaster III high ops-tempo at JB Charleston... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Slade Muraira, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron shift leader, shows his shop members how to check out tools using their new automated tool crib at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Nov. 8, 2019. The Airmen and NCOs of the support tool room went through a yearlong process of requesting and justifying the purchase of an automated tool crib to not only improve the quality of life for their Airmen in the shop, but also to increase their work center’s positive impact on the JB Charleston flightline. The tool crib will save over 1000 man hours in labor by automatically keeping accountability of any of the tools and parts that are checked out as well as assisting in keeping a constant inventory on items in stock. The machine will also notify members when new parts should be ordered based on the supply and demand tempo of each individual part.

JB Charleston hosts L.I.F.T. Educators Day
November 8, 2019 — Approximately 40 local educational influencers visited the Joint Base Charleston Air Base Nov. 7, 2019, as part of a continuing effort to strengthen collaboration between leaders from the base and local community... MORE

Col. Terrence Adams, 628th Air Base Wing commander, welcomes educational influencers to Joint Base Charleston Nov. 7, 2019, as part of a continuing effort to strengthen collaboration between leaders from the base and local community.

Palmetto Challenge 19-2
November 7, 2019 — More than 140 Airmen from Joint Base Charleston took part in Palmetto Challenge, a global mobilization readiness exercise at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, and Pope Army Airfield, South Carolina, Nov. 1-7, 2019... MORE

Airmen evacuate the Emergency Operations Center after a simulated chemical attack during Palmetto Challenge at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., Nov. 3, 2019. The goal of the exercise was to develop and maintain full-spectrum readiness and ensure JB Charleston’s Airmen were ready for rapid mobilization and able to support Air Mobility Command and DOD priorities. Both active-duty and reserve Airmen from the 628th Air Base Wing, 437th Airlift Wing and 315th Airlift Wing came together to train in operating in an austere environment. More than 140 Airmen took part in the global mobilization readiness exercise at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, and Pope Army Airfield, S.C.

ATA Conference highlights Air Mobility Command priorities
November 7, 2019 — Approximately 2,000 attendees participated in forums, listened to speeches and attended workshops at the 51st Airlift/Tanker Association Convention, Technology Expo and Industry Interface, Oct. 23-26, in Orlando, Florida... MORE

First, second ladies visit JB Charleston
October 30, 2019 — First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence visited JB Charleston, South Carolina, Oct. 31st to get a first-hand look at emergency preparedness efforts within the base and local community... MORE

First Lady Melania Trump speaks to members of Team Charleston during a visit to Joint Base Charleston, S.C. October 30, 2019. While here, she and Second Lady Karen Pence met with Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and students from Lambs Elementary School to learn more about the community’s capabilities in disaster response, relief and recovery efforts.

43rd, 375th AES conduct TIS training at JB Charleston
October 29, 2019 — Members of the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron from Pope Army Air Field, North Carolina, and 375th AES from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, conducted a Transport Isolation System training exercise to maintain readiness at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, October 21-24... MORE

Members of the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron from Pope Army Air Field, N.C., and 375th AES from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. carry a simulated Ebola patient onto a C-17 Globemaster III during a Transport Isolation System training exercise at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., October 23, 2019. The TIS is a device used to transport Ebola patients, either by C-17 Globemaster III or C-130 Hercules, while preventing the spread of disease to medical personnel and aircrews until the patient can get to one of three designated hospitals in the United States that can treat Ebola patients. JB Charleston is currently the only military installation with a TIS. The TIS mission is a sub-specialty of the aeromedical evacuation mission which requires frequent training to maintain readiness.

JB Charleston participates in Red Ribbon Week
October 25, 2019 — According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens, 40 percent of 12th graders said they have used a drug at least once in the past year. Red Ribbon Week, which takes place October 23-31, is an awareness program that began in 1985 as a way to show opposition to drugs as stated by the Get Smart About Drugs foundation. Marrington Elementary School is celebrating Red Ribbon Week with various events and activities such as spirit days, fundraisers and an assembly featuring narcotic detection military working dogs. Students are always encouraged to not take drugs, but during Red Ribbon Week there is extra emphasis and students are given strategies to say no when confronted with negative choices. ... MORE

Master Sgt. Maurice Ferguson, a drug demand and reduction program manager assigned to the 315th Aerospace Medical Squadron, Staff Sgt. Christopher Morrison, a program manager with the 628th Force Support Squadron fitness center, and Ann Schuler, a counselor at Marrington Elementary School, speak to the students, October 23, 2019, at Marrington Elementary School on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Members of Team Charleston were at the school to educate students about Red Ribbon Week and drug prevention. Red Ribbon Week, which takes place October 23-31, is an awareness program that began in 1985 as a way to show opposition to drugs as stated by the Get Smart About Drugs foundation.