News - Page 621

General McNabb confirmed by Senate
August 4, 2008 — Gen. Duncan McNabb soon will assume command of the United States Transportation Command. With the Senate confirmation vote Aug. 1, the 34-year Air Force veteran will become the ninth USTRANSCOM commander. General McNabb provided testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee July 22 prior to the full Senate voting on his confirmation. The... MORE

General McNabb will be inducted into the Order of the Sword Sept. 6 (U.S. Air Force photo).

Senate confirms General Schwartz as next chief of staff
August 4, 2008 — Gen. Norton Schwartz, a 35-year veteran in special operations, will be the 19th Air Force chief of staff, after receiving a Senate confirmation vote which occurred Aug. 1. General Schwartz provided testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee July 22, before the full Senate voted on his confirmation. Now the president must appoint the general... MORE

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz. He is the 19th chief of staff. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Sergeant improves process, saves time
August 4, 2008 — An Airman with the 437th Maintenance Squadron Wheel and Tire Shop has helped save man-hours with a better way of cleaning C-17 nose-wheel bolts that need to be inspected. Tech. Sgt. Eddie Melendez, 437 MXS Wheel and Tire Shop aircraft maintenance craftsman, realized Airmen at the wheel and tire shop were spending too many hours cleaning and... MORE

The now Tech. Sgt. Eddie Melendez cleans C-17 nose-wheel bolts with a power drill and brush cleaner at the 437th Maintenance Squadron Wheel and Tire Shop July 24. Because of the change in the cleaning of the bolts, it now takes 1:15 to clean 12 bolts compared to it taking more than an hour prior to the change. Sergeant Melendez is an aircraft maintenance craftsman with the 437 MXS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jennifer Arredondo)

We are Team Charleston - We are ready!
July 30, 2008 — MORE

Col. Joseph Mancy briefs Charleston's deploying operational readiness inspection members at the base theater July 30 one last time before the ORI begins. The ORI will start Aug. 3 and send Charleston's Airmen to a simulated air base in East Asia. Colonel Mancy is the 437th Operations Group commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Timothy Taylor)

ECST improved to help Airmen deploy
July 30, 2008 — Charleston AFB is leading the way in improving the way Airmen are trained to be ready to deploy using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century thinking in improving the expeditionary combat skills training course here. In January, the training was expanded to include how to fight in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear explosive... MORE

Airman 1st Class Lee Olson participates in a simulated gas attack while doing expeditionary combat skills training on base December 2006. More than 230 Airmen have participated in the revamped class that started in January this year. Airman Olson is with the 437th Medical Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Desiree Palacios)

Outdoor Recreation Center offers lifeguard classes
July 30, 2008 — MORE

Allison Clayton watches as Stephen Still and Jordan Aarant practice compact jumps into the base pool July 26. The American Red Cross sponsored lifeguard training on base and offered it through the Outdoor Recreation Center. Mrs. Clayton is a lifeguard at the base swimming pool and Stephen, 15, is the son of retired Col. Bernie Still and Jordan, 15, is the son of Kim Muir. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cynthia Spalding)

Gate construction to be completed soon, improve traffic flow
July 30, 2008 — A construction project is currently underway at the Dorchester Gate on Charleston AFB and is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 24. The project, which was awarded Sept. 27, 2007, was created in an effort to make the traffic flow quicker and smoother while entering or exiting through the front gate. "What we're doing is improving the original design... MORE

Donald Marchant prepares an area for paving by the Dorchester Gate July 30. The construction project to help improve the traffic flow around the gate is estimated to be completed Aug. 24. Mr. Marchant is a contracted foreman with an off-base agency. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Melissa White)

We are Team Charleston - We are ready!
July 30, 2008 — MORE

Master Sgt. Earl Wellman inspects the contents of his mobility bag one last time on base July 30 before the operational readiness inspection. Airmen across the base have been participating in weekly exercises to prepare for the ORI which begins Aug. 3. Sergeant Wellman is a production superintendent for the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Melissa White)

Team Charleston welcomes AMC IG Inspectors
July 30, 2008 — Team Charleston will welcome the Air Mobility Command Inspector General's office as they arrive to begin their inspection of Charleston AFB in an operational readiness inspection starting Sunday. The base will be looked at on its effectiveness in performing a wartime, contingency, force sustainment and operational mission. "During the ORI, the wing... MORE

Warrior of the Week: Airman 1st Class Spencer Keeley
July 30, 2008 — Airman 1st Class Spencer Keeley is a member of the 14th Airlift Squadron and has been stationed at Charleston AFB for six months. She is currently on a deployment to Southwest Asia where she serves as a C-17 loadmaster with the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. As a C-17 loadmaster, her duties include preparing the jet, supervising the uploads... MORE

Airman 1st Class Spencer Keeley (Courtesy photo)