News

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' review seeks broadest input
March 9, 2010 — The Defense Department's review on the potential impact of repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military will solicit input from troops of every service and rank - as well as their families - through surveys, focus groups and social media tools, the team heading up the review told Congress March 3. Jeh C. Johnson, the Pentagon's general... MORE

Firefighters in Haiti keep the heat at bay
February 17, 2010 — While Haiti relief flights from Joint Base Charleston wind down, there is still a group of Airmen who are busy as can be.Chief Master Sgt. Denny Heitman, the fire chief with the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron fire emergency services flight here, and firefighters from around the Air Force are in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where they are in charge of... MORE

Staff Sgt. Richard Nielsen moves boxes to prepare for a flight to Haiti on Charleston AFB, Jan. 22. Firefighters will take different types of gear with them to deployed locations for different environmental hazards. These specific firemen will be providing fire protection for the aircraft at the airport in Haiti. Sergeant Nielsen is a firefighter with Shaw AFB, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katie Gieratz)(RELEASED)

Air Force fiscal 2011 budget balances for today's fight, postures for future challenges
February 11, 2010 — Air Force officials here reinforced their commitment to fund and support today's operations while posturing for future challenges through the service's portion of the president's fiscal year 2011 budget announced Feb. 1. "The $119.6 billion budget proposal supports the Air Force core functions and our Airmen at home and abroad, balancing current... MORE

The Air Force FY 2011 budget request supports a balanced approach in today's operations while ensuring new capabilities, force structure, skills and technologies to meet tomorrow's challenges. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

A cost too great: JBC reinforces culture of responsibility
February 3, 2010 — Three things rarely heard are, "Why yes, I did enjoy my last root canal," or "No thank you, I do not wish to get promoted," and "I'm going to get drunk tonight and drive into a telephone pole."Even though Airmen don't plan to drink and drive, sometimes they find themselves walking, or stumbling, to their car with keys in hand. Perhaps they had a... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Graham instructs students during an Alive at 25 class at the education center here Feb. 3. Sergeant Graham teaches the class in civilian attire to help students relax in a less structured learning environment and be open about the issues they face. Sergeant Graham is a ground safety technician with the 628th Air Base Wing Safety Office. (U.S. Air Force photo/James M. Bowman)

C-17 Stage office keeps fleet moving
January 25, 2010 — When Charleston Air Force Base became the air hub for C-17 Globemaster III's providing relief supplies of water, food and medical needs, the 437th Airlift Wing established a C-17 stage to manage the vast number of aircrews supporting Operation Unified Response."As support for Operation Unified Response became a large operation it became beneficial... MORE

C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from Charleston, McChord and Elmendorf AFB sit on the flightline after participating in relief efforts for Haiti, Jan. 26, 2010. Numerous C-17s land at Charleston AFB as part of a staging process in support of Operation Unified Response. See story page 6. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Michael Zimmerman)

628 SFS executes Operation Sober Roads 2
January 13, 2010 — The 628th Security Forces Squadron conducted a concentrated effort against the unlawful use of alcohol here Jan. 9 and 10, dubbed Operation Sober Roads 2.Preceding the recent event, an initial Operation Sober Roads undertaking was conducted in September.The order to conduct Operation Sober Roads 2 was commander directed, with the objective of... MORE

Patrolmen with the 628th Security Forces Squadron conduct a mandatory sobriety checkpoint screening at the Dorchester Road main gate in the early morning Jan. 10. The checkpoint was conducted as part of the commander directed Operation Sober Roads 2. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katie Gieratz)

Justice files: general, special courts-martial May to Oct.
December 7, 2009 — Four Charleston Airmen were tried at the following courts-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice between May and October. One was tried at a general court-martial and three were tried at special courts-martial.At the general court-martial, a senior master sergeant from the 437th Communications Squadron was found guilty by a military... MORE

According to base officials, the 4th Fighter Wing Legal Office has seen a rise in drug cases in 2009. The Air Force has zero tolerance for drug use, and offenders will be tried by court martial or military judge. There are three different types of courts martial; general, summary and special. In a general court martial, the maximum punishment for a guilty verdict is higher than that of a summary or special trial. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Whitney Lambert)

AMC awards $100K to 437 AW for thinking 'green'
December 2, 2009 — Although the end result may not yet be clear, the phrase "going green" is getting the hard push in the mainstream recently.Hardly a single episode of popularized television programming flickers by from start to end without at least a few commercials geared at getting people to "think green" too.On the small scale, average consumers might be... MORE

Lt. Gen. Vern Findley, center, presents Col. John Wood, left, and Chief Master Sgt. Mike Ivey with a $100,000 check at Scott AFB, Ill., Nov. 18 to award Charleston AFB's outstanding energy conservation practices during fiscal year 2008. Eleven Air Mobility Command installations competed for top energy conservation awards, with Charleston AFB taking top honors. General Findley is the AMC vice commander, Colonel Wood is the 437th Airlift Wing commander and Chief Ivey is the 437 AW command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tristin English)

Justice files: special, summary courts-martial May to Oct.
December 2, 2009 — Six Charleston Airmen were tried at the following courts-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice between May and October. Of the six, four were tried at special courts-martial and two were tried at summary courts-martial.An airman first class from the 437th Force Support Squadron was found guilty at a special court-martial by a military... MORE

437 AW Justice Files: Sept., Oct.
November 4, 2009 — Charleston Airmen received the following non-judicial punishments under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice during September and October. The maximum punishment under Article 15 depends on the rank of the Airman being offered the Article 15 and the rank of the officer imposing punishment. If the commander finds that an Airman... MORE