News

Aero Club has new wings
July 16, 2008 — MORE

Thomas Rivers performs a preflight inspection on the "Duchess," a Beechcraft BE-76 at the Charleston AFB Aero Club July 16. The Duchess is a new twin-engine aircraft that allows pilots to earn their rating on multiple-engine aircraft. Mr. Rivers is a task force officer with the U.S. Marshals Service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Sam Hymas)

News briefs
July 16, 2008 — Spotlight Change of command: The 437th Aerial Port Squadron will have a change of command ceremony July 18 at 2 p.m. in the Charleston Club. To RSVP or for more information, call Mary Copper at 963-3211. Retirement: The 437th Airlift Wing Inspector General's Office will host a retirement ceremony for Master Sgt. Marcus Gaines July 18 at 2:30 p.m... MORE

Team Charleston youth named an MLB S.T.A.R.
July 16, 2008 — A Charleston AFB youth was recently awarded the 2008 Major League Baseball S.T.A.R. Award for the state of South Carolina by MLB and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Austin Fields, 15, the son of Master Sgt. Leland Fields, 437th Operations Support Squadron, and Melanie Fields, 437th Force Support Squadron Youth Programs assistant sports director,... MORE

Austin Fields prepares to swing at a recent Team Lowcountry Patriots game. Austin has been named the Major League Baseball S.T.A.R. for South Carolina by MLB and the Boys & Girls Club of America. Austin is the son of Master Sgt. Leland Fields, 437th Operations Support Squadron, and Melanie Fields, 437th Force Support Squadron Youth Programs assistant sports director. (Courtesy photo)

Bush Signs $162 billion supplemental war funding bill
July 16, 2008 — President Bush signed a $162 billion supplemental bill June 30 that principally will fund U.S. military operations abroad. President Bush thanked congressional leaders of both parties for agreeing to provide what he described as "vital funds" to men and women in uniform serving in harm's way. "I appreciate that Republicans and Democrats in Congress... MORE

Marathon registration figures on pace to shatter '07 record
July 15, 2008 — If current figures are an accurate predictor, the 2008 U.S. Air Force Marathon appears well on its way to shattering last year's registration record of more than 6,700 runners and could approach the 10,000 mark. As of July 13, the total number of runners registered for the 12th annual event stood at 3,001. That compares with 1,659 total registered... MORE

17 AS welcomes new commander
July 15, 2008 — The 17th Airlift Squadron will welcome a new commander during a change of command ceremony July 17 here. Lt. Col. Richard Williamson, former operations officer for the 21st Airlift Squadron at Travis AFB, Calif., replaced Lt. Col. Scott DeThomas. Colonel DeThomas will be a student at the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. Colonel... MORE

Burger King closes due to structural problems
July 15, 2008 — Officials from Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron closed the base Burger King June 23 after the building was deemed unsafe to operate as a free-standing building. The unsafe conditions included damage to the roof in the kitchen area and to a weight-bearing external wall between the dining room and kitchen... MORE

Officials from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron closed the base Burger King June 23 after structural problems were detected in the roof and weight-bearing walls. Breakfast is now being served at Charley?s Monday through Friday beginning at 6:30 a.m. due to the closure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Sean Houlihan)

Honor Guard Spotlight: Senior Airman Joseph Truesdale
July 15, 2008 — Name: Senior Airman Joseph Truesdale Hometown: Pageland, S.C. Squadron and job title: 437th Operations Support Squadron aviation resource manager Time in the Air Force: four-and-a-half years Time in the Honor Guard: three years and seven months What inspired you to join the Honor Guard? I started out by being volunteered at my last base; however,... MORE

Senior Airman Joseph Truesdale
(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katie Gieratz)

Service members now have more choices for death gratuity benefit
July 15, 2008 — A new law governing the death gratuity election for the Department of Defense was put into effect July 1. One of the current benefits is a one-time payment of $100,000 to survivors or whomever active-duty Airmen designate for the benefit upon the passing of that individual. Prior to July 1, death gratuity payments were limited to the spouse, then... MORE

Pentagon officials reopen bidding on tanker contract
July 11, 2008 — Defense Department officials have reopened the bidding process for a multibillion-dollar midair refueling tanker contract, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said July 9. The announcement comes after Government Accountability Office officials last month found improper practices related to the $35 billion contract awarded in February to the... MORE

A KC-135 Stratotanker undergoes an isochronal inspection at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. The inspection begins with all access panels being removed to check flight controls. Air Force officials announced the selection of the Northrop Grumman company to replace the aging KC-135 and to produce up to 179 of the new air refuelers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Franklin J. Perkins)