News

Tricare Prime Versus Tricare Select: Should You Change or Keep Your Plan?
November 28, 2018 — Tricare Open Season is from Nov. 12 through Dec. 10, 2018. This is the annual period when you can enroll in or change your Tricare Prime or Tricare Select plan. If you miss open season, you'll only be able to make enrollment changes within 90 days of a Qualifying Life Event or during the next Tricare Open Season in Fall 2019. To help you pick the program that's right for you, here's an overview of the differences between Tricare Prime and Tricare Select. ... MORE

315th wins Aircrew Excellence Award
November 28, 2018 — The skillful response and handling of an in-flight crisis by a 315th Airlift Wing crew leads to a national level award. On Aug. 17, 2018, an all Reserve Charleston-based C-17 crew, carrying medical evacuation patients, experienced a cabin pressure malfunction then, successfully completed their mission, despite poor weather conditions and emergency oxygen system malfunctions, earning the 2018 4th Air Force Aircrew Excellence Award... MORE

315th OG demonstrates readiness during exercise
November 23, 2018 — Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 315th Operations Group tested their expeditionary combat support capabilities during a recent operational readiness exercise here... MORE

A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to 315th Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Charleston, S.C., deploys flares as part of an operational readiness exercise Nov. 17, 2018. The exercise provided the 315th Operations Group with hands-on training in a variety of airlift and aeromedical evacuation tactics during simulated combat events. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Priest)

437th Operations Group unveils refurbished training helo
November 20, 2018 — 437th Maintenance Squadron Airmen pose in front of a training helicopter they repaired for the 437th Operations Group special operations unit Nov. 16, 2018, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The helicopter, donated by the Defense Logistics Agency, was refurbished by the 437th MXS for the special operations unit to use for training. It will be used by... MORE

437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airmen pose in front of a training helicopter they repaired for the 437th Operations Group special operations unit Nov. 16, 2018, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The helicopter, donated by the Defense Logistics Agency, was refurbished by the 437th MXS for the special operations unit to use for training. It will be used by their loadmasters to train winching and helicopter loading procedures, as well as rapid loading and offloading procedures in blacked out conditions.

Team Charleston celebrates USMC 243rd birthday
November 19, 2018 — Team Charleston Marines bring in the cake to celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps' 243rd birthday at the annual Marine Corps’ Ball held at the Charleston Area Convention Center Nov. 17, 2018, in Charleston, S.C. Retired Marine Corps Col. Arthur Sass, now a naval science instructor at Eau Claire High School, delivered the keynote address during the... MORE

Team Charleston Marines bring in the cake to celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps' 243rd birthday at the annual Marine Corps’ Ball held at the Charleston Area Convention Center Nov. 17, 2018, in Charleston, S.C. Retired Marine Corps Col. Arthur Sass, now a naval science instructor at Eau Claire High School, delivered the keynote address during the ceremony. The Marine Corps was established on Nov. 10, 1775 and its birthday is celebrated with a traditional ball and cake-cutting ceremony.

Charleston CG cutter seizes 19 thousand pounds of cocaine
November 19, 2018 — The crew of the Charleston-based Coast Guard Cutter James offloaded approximately 18.5 tons of cocaine Nov. 15, 2018, in Port Everglades, Fla. The drugs, seized in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, were worth more than an estimated $500 million... MORE

Pictured is the Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL-754) crew.

JB Charleston executes full-spectrum readiness exercise
November 19, 2018 — The 628th Air Base Wing, 437th Airlift Wing and 315th Airlift Wing teamed up for a total force rapid mobility exercise Nov. 12-17, 2018. The exercise focused on total force readiness, mobilization, base defense and quick-response airlift capabilities, according to Col. Rockie Wilson, 628th Mission Support Group commander and leader of one of the exercise’s simulated air expeditionary groups. ... MORE

Capt. Christopher Long, 315th Airlift Wing officer in charge of accessories, listens to a radio transmission during a readiness exercise Nov. 16, 2018, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. To keep the training as realistic as possible, participants from across JB Charleston received the equipment, weapons and specialty uniform items they would use in real-world situations. The simulated scenarios enabled senior base leaders and subject matter experts to ensure the readiness of JB Charleston’s quick response capabilities.

Foreign Naval officers dive into Air Mobility
November 16, 2018 — Approximately 56 foreign and joint military officers from 52 foreign naval services from around the world visited Joint Base Charleston Nov. 13, 2018, to learn about the mission and capabilities of Air Mobility Command as well as JB Charleston’s role as the gateway to the Atlantic. This is the first time international students from the Naval Command College’s Arleigh Burke Fellowship have visited JB Charleston. The program is one of several at the NCC, which is part of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. It is the Navy’s flagship senior developmental education program, focusing on educating and developing future leaders by building strategic and cultural perspective—as well as trust, confidence and cooperation—between American and international officers. ... MORE

A group of Naval War College students, comprised of foreign and joint military officers, stand outside a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft during a Nov. 13, 2018, visit to Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The visit educated naval officers about air mobility operations and was the first time international students from the Naval Command College’s Arleigh Burke Fellowship program had visited JB Charleston. The NCC is part of the U.S. Naval War College, located in Newport, Rhode Island, and focuses on educating and developing future leaders by building strategic and cultural perspective and enhancing the capability to advise senior leaders and policy-makers.

British Royal Navy visits Port of Charleston
November 15, 2018 — The HMS Monmouth, a ship of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy, visited the Port of Charleston Nov. 8-12, 2018. The ship, also known as the “Black Duke” by its crew, was greeted upon arrival by Capt. Kevin Byrne, Joint Base Charleston deputy commander; Cmdr. William Edenbeck, Naval Support Activity Charleston executive officer; and Master Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Lonsdale, NSA Charleston command master chief. The Monmouth has been up and down the Eastern Seaboard participating in exercises and supporting events with the U.S. military. The ship recently supported Fleet Week Baltimore and has engaged in a number of training exercises. ... MORE

U.S. Navy Capt. Kevin Byrne, Joint Base Charleston deputy commander, walks aboard the HMS Monmouth during the ship’s visit Nov. 8-12, 2018, at the Port of Charleston. The British Royal Navy ship hosted several events throughout Veterans Day weekend engaging with Charleston's military and civilian leadership.

JB Charleston makes AMC history with new leadership course
November 15, 2018 — Company Grade Officers and senior NCOs at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., took part in military leadership training history, Nov. 6-8, 2018. JB Charleston was the first base in Air Mobility Command and third overall in the Air Force to host a flight leadership training program, Flight Commander’s Edge. ... MORE

Students engage each other during a group discussion portion of the new Flight Commander’s Edge course, Nov. 7, 2018, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.