News

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)

Airmen in Action
July 9, 2008 — MORE

Airman 1st Class Jacob Lurvey, left and Airman 1st Class Matthew Baldyga, right, go through their Airman's Manual at Charleston AFB July 9. Airmen across the base are participating in weekly exercises to prepare for the Headquarters Air Mobility Command operational readiness inspection in August. Airmen Lurvey and Baldyga are ground radio technicians with the 437th Communications Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jennifer Arredondo)

Airman in Action
July 9, 2008 — MORE

Senior Airman Michael Reed demonstrates a function check on an M-16 rifle July 16 at Charleston AFB. Airmen across the base are participating in weekly exercises to prepare for the Headquarters Air Mobility Command operational readiness inspection in August. Airman Reed is a structural maintainer with the 437th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cynthia Spalding)

CAFB looking for traffic violators
July 9, 2008 — Team Charleston members who illegally use cell phones and neglect to use seat belts while driving on base are getting ticketed for those offenses more aggressively. With the Air Mobility Command operational readiness inspection coming up in August, base leadership wants to get the attention of drivers on base, to include active-duty Airmen,... MORE

Airman 1st Class Dustin Miller checks the license and registration of a Team Charleston motorist while Tech. Sgt. James Sanscrainte maintains an overwatch position. The 437th Security Forces Squadron is taking a more proactive approach in citing violators who fail to adhere to base vehicle laws regarding use of cell phones and seat belts. Airman Miller and Sergeant Sanscrainte are patrolmen assigned to the 437 SFS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Sam Hymas)

Team Charleston welcomes new 437 MOS commander
July 9, 2008 — The 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony here July 3. Maj. James Blackman, former maintenance operations officer for 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Beale AFB, Calif., replaced Maj. Stephen Sanders. Major Sanders went on to be a student at the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB,... MORE

News briefs
July 9, 2008 — Spotlight Retirement: The 15th Airlift Squadron will host a retirement ceremony for Lt. Col. Joseph Heirigs July 11 at 10 a.m. in the Charleston Club. For more information, contact Capt. John Anacker at 963-2522. 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... MORE

MDG sacrifices game to Flyers by forfeit
July 8, 2008 — MORE

Kelby Hagerla hits a home run for the Flyers during a game at the base softball field July 7. The Flyers beat the Medical Group by forfeiture during intramural softball playoffs which began this week. Hagerla is with the 16th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Timothy Taylor)

C-17 crew returns rescued contractors to America
July 8, 2008 — Three Americans flew to freedom aboard an Air Mobility Command C-17 July 2 after being held more than five years in captivity by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The three military contractors -- Marc Gozalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, all employees of the Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. -- were rescued by the... MORE

Col. John "Red" Millander welcomes home the Charleston AFB C-17 crew that flew to Colombia and returned July 3. The crew assisted in the release of three Americans being held as prisoners by the Revolutionary Armed Forces in Colombia for five years. Colonel Millander is the 437th Airlift Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cynthia Spalding)